Poker Flat Research Range

The University of Alaska has conducted auroral research since the 1920s. When sounding rockets were developed to study the upper atmosphere, the university decided to build a dedicated launch range. The UAF Geophysical Institute leased 5,132 acres from the State of Alaska, and the facilities at what became Poker Flat Research Range were completed in 1969.  Poker Flat has four launch pads, including two designed for severe weather, and can handle rockets weighing up to 35,000 pounds. The range includes an administrative facility, a concrete blockhouse used as mission control, rocket assembly buildings, a two-story science observatory, and a payload assembly building. Three S-band antennas collect telemetry, while a C-band radar tracks rocket payloads during flight.  More than 1,700 launches have been conducted at Poker Flat, making it an important site for studying Earth’s atmosphere and its interaction with the space environment.

Our guide, kyle

Recovered pay loads. There is a reward if you find any part of

the rocket. All you have to do is report its location. The reward

for the one on the left was $1600.

This is were the rockets are assembled here.

Photo from the internet

Looking the other way

The launch facilities 

The blockhouse

Keyle told us that there are frequent delays that require

adjustment or repair.

It could take a week or more for a launch to take place. 

The launch panel

Seen in the blockhouse

 S-band antennas and the C-band radar 

Photo from the internet

One is not allowed to take photos in the launch building. 

For winter launches the building is heated and the 

rocket is incased in styrofoam. It is mounted horizontally

on a long arm. When ready to launch, the launch building

is moved away and the rocket raised to the proper angle for launch.

The styrofoam is blown off during launch.  

Museum of the North

The University of Alaska Museum of the North, located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, is a fascinating multidisciplinary museum showcasing Alaska’s natural history, cultural heritage, and art. Its exhibits offer a remarkable look at the state’s wildlife, Native cultures, geology, and diverse artistic traditions.

A friend of Melinda, shown in blue, has a son named Grant who is working on his master’s degree in ornithology. He gave us a fascinating tour of his lab space and a behind-the-scenes look at the research and work that goes into studying birds.

Birds

and more birds

Blue Babe is a famous mummified steppe bison that lived approximately 36,000–50,000 years ago. Miners discovered the frozen carcass near Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1979. Remarkably preserved, Blue Babe bears deep claw marks believed to have been made by an ancient American lion. Its striking blue coloration is caused by vivianite, a mineral that formed in the iron-rich tissues of the animal. This a reproduction. 

In our behind the scenes tour we got to see Blue Babe's actual skull

Beautiful indigenous clothing. 

The water proof jacket is made from animal intestine 

Gorgeous woks of art

This garment made from salmon vertebra 

Leaving the museum we went to U of A's Large Animal Research Station

This is Bret's favorite Musk Ox

and these are his favorite Caribou 

Musk Ox need these massive horns to assert dominance 

when they charge each other at 30 mph 

A muskox’s undercoat is called qiviut. It is eight times warmer than sheep's wool and finer/softer than cashmere. Lacking lanolin, it is hypoallergenic and not itchy. 1-ounce pure qiviut lace yarn averaging $115 to $167.

Wood Bison fur

Wood Bison that are being reintroduced to Alaska 

They are larger than Plains Bison

Denali National Park

We camped 29 miles inside Denali National Park at the Teklanika River Campground. From our campsite, we explored the park by bike and used the shuttle bus to travel deeper into the wilderness. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous, with sweeping mountain vistas, rivers, and vast stretches of untouched wilderness. Along the way, we kept our eyes open for the park’s elusive wildlife, making every sighting an exciting part of our Denali adventure. 

The visiter center

Nice hike along Savage Creek 

Dall Sheep very high up

Grizzly on the prowl 

Caribou

Flight to Denali

Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet above sea level. Its vertical relief above the surrounding plateaus is one of the greatest on Earth, measuring about 18,000 feet. Denali is a granitic pluton, mostly pink quartz monzonite, lifted by tectonic pressure from the subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the North American plate. We booked a flight with Talkeeetna Air Taxi for a flight to Denali. 

There it is, on a rare sunny clear day

Here we go

There's Denali

Glaciers break up when they move rapidly down steep terrain 

We scored a perfect day to see the Alaska Range

We landed on Ruth Glacier

Sheldon's hostel sits at 6,000 ft and 10 miles from Denali. 

5 bedroom luxury lodge. 

Prices start around $2,300 per night per person.

If there's snow you got to throw snow balls 

or make a snow man

What a wonderful adventure