More about Talkeetna...August 22, 2013 - morning of August 23, 2013.

Talkeetna is a mixed bag of complete derelict living to rustic cultural activities.  The local arts council is very busy with art, music, drama activities all year.  Including later today, we are going to a concert in the park from 5 pm - 7 pm.  Photos to come on this tomorrow.

There are so many abandoned vehicles it is impossible to count.  These are actually quite a cute pair right in the heart of the town of Talkeetna

This white van is parked on the side of the road.  Some times the side door is open, sometimes it is closed.  Once I saw the feet of someone (thing) hanging out of it.  No one seems to mind that this "home" is parked in Talkeetna.  It appears to be very true about coming to Alaska, if you want to be what you want to be, you are allowed to be! 

But, the main street of the town has lovely, flowered, artistic cabins which house art and tourist shops.

The Talkeetna Roadhouse is where we ate breakfast this morning.   I had the famous sourdough pancake (1 which hung over the plate).  The sourdough starter used today was "started" in 1903!  The pancake was amazing.  Their selection of pastries and such are simply divine!   I believe a HUGE sticky bun is in our future.  This is the location where all the hikers of Denali hang out.  This is how Ira and I knew about it.

This bar (West Rib Pub and Grille) was featured on The Travel Channel's Man vs. Food show for their "Seward's Folly" Burger.  This has over 5 lbs of meats and cheeses!  No, we didn't have it!

This is where Ira and I have booked our fly trip to Mt. McKinley (Denai).

Here is a grass air strip right in the village of Talkeetna

This is a common sight on all the waterways here.  Float planes parked, at the ready for good weather and tourists!

We visited the Denali Mountain museum and listened to a wonderful discussion about the mountain and the climbing aspects of it.  It is very nice to hear that Mt. McKinley (or called Denali by Alaskans) is regulated very carefully, much like Baxter State Park in Maine.  Climbers are carefully screened, they participate in training and then a review by the rangers to make sure they are ready and well-equipped for the climb.  You cannot even leave human waste behind as you are given a sealed container to haul out your waste.  No garbage can be left behind.  You must register when you go and register when you return.  If you do NOT register out on the day you specified you would return, they will send out a search party looking for you.  There are rangers at various locations on this 20,000 foot massive mountain! 

We learned other Alaskan things, too, such as:

• There are no snakes
• Alaskan spiders have 6 legs not 8
• There are no ticks
• After 11,000 in the mountains, there are no animals

The ranger was a great speaker and very informative.  He has only lived in Alaska for 4 years and says his zip code will never be anything other than Alaskan.

What would a trip to Talkeetna be, without a trip to the cemetery?   Actually, it was a recommendation to us by locals because of the history, and especially because of the Denali hikers memorial.  So, why not.

Here is one hiker memorial.  Notice the totem pole with 2 hikers climbing.

List of hikers who died by year.

Example of hiker memorial; two ice axes crossed.

This cemetery has a couple of Spirit Houses in it.  Spirit Houses were created when Russian met Native Alaskans culture.  When Alaskans turned Russian Orthodoxy around 1836, they were not allowed to cremate any longer.  Cremation was believed to set the spirits free to make their final journey.    The Spirit Houses were built for spirits to go, so they would not bother the living.  It was believed to take up to 40 days for the spirits to make their final journey after death.

Donald Sheldon rests in this cemetery.  Sheldon is a very famous Alaskan bush pilot who perfected the art of glacier landings.  Sheldon teamed up with a famous New England photographer and surveyor (Bradley Washburn) to survey Alaska.  Ira and I are very familiar with Bradley Washburn as he was key to recording the White Mountain areas of NH.  We have also viewed many, many of his spectacular aerial photographs of NE and Alaska. (Chris, Ira has a book about Sheldon if you want to read it!!!).

So, what are some of the random things we have learned about this area?  For one, the above photo shows a 4-wheeler trail.  These trails travel parallel to all the roads.  In the winter, they are for snowmachines (sleds).  4-wheelers are a common method of travel here, and they can be driven downtown, too.  You see them outside of the pubs and restaurants.  Cool way to travel and kids drive them too.  Rather neat!

From our interactions with many Alaskans at this point, I can tell you they are soft spoken people.  They have been incredibly helpful, kind; actually sweet.  And, these are not just service people we are talking about.  Because of the time we have spent locally, we have talked to locals in Achorage, Seward, Talkeetna and parts in between.   They are such nice, smiling people.   Perhaps when you live in an area where there are so few people and resources, you need to be nice to people because you never know when you will need them!  Here in Talkeetna, we are about 70 miles from Wasilla, which is the closest somewhat large community to have a good sized grocery store.  Anchorage, is really the best bet for anything you would want and that is 113 miles away.   You probably learn to rely on locals so you better be nice!  They truly have been wonderful people.

I've heard about the pace in Hawaii...there is the mainland's time and then there is "Hawaii" time.  I feel it is the same here.  People do not feel in such a rush and even drivers do not drive fast (we fit right in!!!).   When a store's sign says they are open at 10 - some say 10"ish" because who knows if it really will open at 10.   People have patience here and just accept the behavior of others. 

Today the weather began to break and we are praying it continues.  This morning we went to Talkeenta Air Taxi to book The Denali Grand Tour flight for tomorrow afternoon (hoping to give the weather time to clear out).  This flight will take us right up to and around Denali and that mountainous area.  Wow, right?  This was one of the main things we wanted to do and we hope we are able to.  Hopefully the photos will be worth sharing.   It's been really rainy here - enough so there are high-water warnings around - and we hoping our patience has paid off and things will work out.  The weather looks like the next few days will be okay.  That will include our time that we travel up to Denali National Park.  Now, wouldn't that be wonderful!!!  Fingers crossed, please.

Watch for more tomorrow!  Thanks for reading this.