Lakeview to Tangle River, AK Part 1 (6/26/2017)

Day 13
1964, the Plan: Mt McKinley National Park
1964, the Actuality: On Wednesday, July 29, the Explorer Scouts traveled from Lakeview to Tangle River, AK.
NB. Because we could not find any Tangle River along the route to Fairbanks, AK, our next stop will be Fairbanks.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Taken from the Alaskan Stoves hostel room at 1:20 am

We departed from Tok, taking a major detour from the route of the Explorer Scouts in 1964. We traveled back east on the Alaska Highway to Tetlin Junction, then turned north on the Taylor Highway/AK-5, heading to the town  of Chicken, 80 miles from Tok.

Taylor Highway heading up Mt Fairplay

Looking back at Mt Fairplay (1,689 m/5,541')

There were several long stretches of gravel road

One-lane traffic required us to wait, while the locals gabbed;
a pilot car led us when it was our turn

The last two miles to Chicken was a gravel road, that continued beyond Chicken to Eagle, AK. From Eagle most travelers go farther to Dawson City, YT.
Chicken was and is a gold mining town, that has become a tourist trap along the highway to Dawson City from Alaska. The touristy town of Chicken has three business enterprises, a challenge because there is no water, sewer or electric service, and certainly no phone or cell service. Residents use outhouses and have generators to create electricity. I am not sure how they get clean water for drinking and cooking.
Mining began here in 1886, and in 1902, the town was to be incorporated. The story is that the miners wanted to call the town Ptarmigan, after the local grouse that was so plentiful. However, since no one could spell it, they decided to call the town Chicken.
All the business enterprises had RV and camping space, food, and gift shops. You will see why it was confusing to plan what to see in Chicken by the names (which one was the real Chicken?!)

Business #1: Downtown Chicken, supposedly the "original"

The Big Orange Chicken of "Downtown"

Chicken Poop Outhouses (including wheelchair accessibility)

We had a coupon for a free gift!

Business #2: Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost

A scrap metal chicken (KSS)

Tamiko with Eggee (2009), created from recycled school lockers,
a gift of a shop teacher and his classes in Homer, AK

A stage for the Chickenstock MusicFest, held annually (KSS)

Pedro Dredge #4 and gold panning troughs

The gold dredges were so-called landlocked floating machines, using a bucket line to scoop up river gravel, allowing sand and gold to fall into the sluices while larger rocks were dumped behind.

Chicken Gold Camp & Outpost is also known for its scones, blueberry today

Business #3: Town of Chicken

One of "Town of Chicken" chickens

Kent on the pedestrian bridge to the camping sites

Kent with three chicken sculptures
(a Roadside America attraction)

The historic/"real" town itself was accessible only by a guided tour
from "Town of Chicken," which would not happen until the afternoon,
so we saw only the tin rooftops

Chicken, AK Post Office; apparently mail is
delivered to Chicken twice a week

We headed back to Tetlin Junction on the Taylor Highway/AK-5.

Following the pilot car on the one-lane section

The RV in front of us had a right-side panel swinging open, and after the one-lane section we tried to wave them over to let the driver know. I'm sure they thought we only wanted to pass them, but frantic waving and sounding the horn finally got them to stop.

In 2004, a wildfire ravaged the area between Mt Fairplay and Tetlin
Junction; fireweed is one of the first pioneer plants to grow after a fire,
but we were not there for the season of bright pink blooms

At Tetlin Junction, we turned on the Alaska Highway/AK-2 and headed northwest.

Vertical clouds? (they did not continue to the ground as rain does)

Tanana River Viewpoint, but the Alaska Range is hidden by clouds

Gerstle River Black Veterans Memorial Bridge (1944)
honors the 3,695 African American soldiers of the
93rd, 94th, 95th, 97th, and 388th United States Army Corps of Engineers
for their contribution in constructing the Alaska Highway

The side road appears to disappear into Panorama Peak?

On this side road we were supposed to see buffalo and yaks,
but only saw these goats

Tamiko with  giant mosquito sculptures in Delta Junction, AK
(a Roadside America attraction)

Selfie at the end of the Alaska Highway

The Alaska Highway officially ends in Delta Junction, AK at Mile 1422. Highway AK-2 continues on Richardson Highway, which has the designation of AK-4 between Valdez and Delta Junction. Richardson Highway was already prepared for motor traffic during WWII, and became the final connection to Fairbanks, AK from the Alaska Highway.

Sullivan Roadhouse (1906) was built to serve travelers on the
Fairbanks-Valdez Trail, but was originally located 18 miles SW

United States Army highway equipment in Delta Junction, AK

We continued on the Richardson Highway/AK-2, starting at Mile Marker 265.5 (miles from Valdez).

Rika's Roadhouse (1909) was another stop on the
Fairbanks-Valdez Trail until 1947

Historically chinking between logs was with moss, or
mud and sawdust, here roping was used (KSS)

The interior is decorated for the 1930s and 1940s

Rika's garden was a bit overgrown

Tanana River Pipeline Bridge suspends a 1,200' section of oil
pipeline over the river; the second longest bridge along the
1,287 km/800-mile length of the Prudhoe Bay to Valdez pipeline
(built 1974-1977 by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Company)
(a Roadside America attraction)

A female moose sighting

1964: Alaska Range perhaps (KSS)

2017: At last, we see the Alaska Range of mountains

The Tanana River seems to be brown because of all the woody
debris it collects, as well as being fed by glacial rivers

Day 13 continues...