Fairbanks, Gold Dredging & ther Riverboat Discovery Steamboat Ride

July 1902 Felix Pedro, from Italy discovered gold here. Sourdough miners usually went broke unless they turned to trapping/hunting or some other industry. ET Barnette, a crook wanted to make money from Gold Rush as a trading post owner. Literally stopped here, because it was as far as the boat he was riding on could go; thus becoming Fairbanks. He had a friend of his go down south to the exaggerate the size of the Gold Rush, so people would come. They did and went broke. 

Alyeska Pipeline

Half is above and half is below ground because of the permafrost. Pipeline can actually move with earthquakes up to 8.5 magnitude and climate changes. They have actual robots called (PIGS) that go thru the pipeline to clean and check it. The revenue from the pipeline represents 65 per cent of state’s budget. Each resident receives a dividend from it. (There is an Alaskan law that you can’t fire a rifle within 5 miles of the pipeline thanks to some idiot shooting it back in 2002.)

Fox, AK & Gold Dredge 8

Still lots of gold and active mining. (Trick to panning is shaking it well first with a forward motion because the Gold settles to bottom.) “Flash in the Pan” when you see the actual gold. 

The Fairbanks Exploration Company would seal the shafts off in the summer & work in the winter. They eventually became more scientific with studies & realized they needed to buy up lots of land all around here. They built a huge water pressure system to expose the gold. They built their own power plant in Fairbanks to operate all the equipment including the Goldstream Dredge No. 8. 

After the Roosevelt Administration they could only sell to the Federal Government, so profit went flat due to costs rising and new regulations making. Although, there are still lots of mom and pop operations because there is still plenty of ore up here.

Earl Hughes and his daughter sang to us. Very fun!

Mike's Flash in the Pan

You could hold this gold nugget but it was mind boggling for sure...

I had never seen this NCR style before...much more complicated

Another Mosler Safe as well; and check out the gold nugget...WOW!

Mike walking under the pipeline as we are leaving

Bush Program includes these companies: Fred Meyers, Amazon Prime, Costco and Walmart and operates all year round using bush pilots. You order online and they drop it into your yard within 10 days. (You have to have a designated drop spot in your yard.)

Bush pilots are so crucial up here that they have a separate airport for them.  Eighty two percent of Alaskans use the bush planes up here. One out 78 people up here are pilots. Some fly before they can drive. Piper Super Cub is one of their favorites. They can put floats, skis or wheels on them as needed. They haven’t been built in a long time, so those that exist are coveted and well maintained. 

Mary Binkley and her husband Jim inherited the boat building business here. They started this Steamboat river trip years ago focusing on the native cultures and eventually the mushers. (Judging by the size of their house they have been successful. ) They are into their third generation training their kids to read the River. We are on the Chena River. 

Riverboat Discovery

They have a 40 below room onboard so you can feel what it’s like in the winter. They get an average of 69” of snow here. 

Here's Mary, the 93 year old matriarch still going strong in her gorgeous home

One of the first Discovery's

They would use barges pushed by tugs like you see rotting in this photo

Some of the gorgeous homes along the Chena River here

Loved this tiny cabin with all the windows and boats

Cool contemporary one

Susan Butcher, another Iditarod winner with Trailbreaker Kennels. (She died from cancer in 2006). Her husband keeps the kennel running. They start bonding with the puppies before they can see. They use retired dogs to help train the new ones. They look for the “instinct to pull” and their "focus". He modifies this 4 wheel drive that weighs over 600 lbs with him on it. The dogs get up to over 20 miles an hour. Susan's dog, Granite, the runt became the greatest lead dog in history. Despite him having early heart issues, he lived to be 17. We picked up the book and had it personalized for Elle Belle. 

The dogs are happy to swim and play fetch.

I noticed this fireweed already turned white ;so they should have about six weeks until winter...meaning the end of cruise seaso

Jasmine is an Athabaskan Native and is our interpreter for the day. Many of the native families have their own fish camps along the river where they come to catch enough fish to help them get through the winter.

 They actually have a replicated Native Chena village that we visited. These natives lived here for over 10,000 years. They invented snowshoes to help them with hunting for the winter. They use every part of an animal even the liquid. Initially their structures were light and portable since they moved 6-7 times a year. They basically moved their caribou skins from place to place. The fungus "punk" grows on the birch trees and they could keep the punk smoldering to have instant fire from place to place. The punk smoke repels mosquitoes. 

They use birch for everything including reusable baby baskets that could be cleaned out. 

Showing us how to filet fish for drying/smoking purposes depending on it's use, people or dogs

Fish Camp with dog kennels too

Reindeer this time since they were definitely domestic

This treehouse was the same as a safe for their valuables

When the trappers, missionaries & explorers came they introduced log cabins to the natives. They would build caches (treehouses) to keep their valuables. Minks became known as the money pelts for trading. Today, they spend time with their elders to learn their culture. 

Modeling this fancy outerwear made with various pelts from a variety of animals

The men hunted while the women tanned the hides. Gross! It took weeks of difficult work. The clothes were then embellished with beads and/or fur. The designs and techniques were passed down within families. 

Post Office

Oil fire furnaces with wood stoves or fireplaces, as a back up are used up here. 

Time for play

Pretty shot of the Discovery

We really enjoyed all the various activities even if it began to feel like an Alaskan Disney trip. They were all interesting, informative and entertaining...