Following a day of rain and low clouds in Anchorage, we got out of town on Friday evening and flew up to Talkeetna. Jerry Shearer picked us up and took us to Shearerwood forest for a nice evening of dinner and games with Dana, Jerry, and Greg. I guess we will start roughing it tomorrow!
Two days later, we spent an afternoon waiting out thunderstorms in Bettles, before we flew up the Alatna River Valley. After much circling, low swoops, and conversation, we decided there wasn't a firm and long enough bar to land on (that we could also take off from). We abandoned our Alatna aspirations, and made for the Kobuk Sand Dunes. The Dunes provided myriad spots to set down, and we landed near the southeast edge, where fresh water was available, and we could easily make a fire with dry wood.
Our Kobuk morning began with a short hike up a large and sweeping dune. We then flew to Kotzebue for fuel. After some deliberation, weather checking, and a chat with the ranger at the NPS center, we decided to head south to Serpentine Hot Springs in Beringia National Park. Serpentine did not disappoint! An ample airstrip, bunkhouse, and bathhouse awaited us. It was delightful to cook, eat, and play some intense cribbage matches in the bunkhouse, and away from swarms of bugs.
Following a couple of great nights at the hots springs, we bid Serpentine adieu and headed east. We flew over an enormous lava flow (who knew?) and made a quick stop in Galena. We continued east to Nenana for fuel, and then had a lovely flight across the pass at Denali and back home. Time for Moose's Tooth and beer. A wonderful trip in the books!
