Raven’s Brew tops Starbucks in Fairbanks
or maybe it should be “Raven’s Crew tops Starbucks.” Item – Ravens in Fairbanks, after a busy day of dumpster diving and food recycling, used to fly home to their roosts, which were...
Historic roadhouse at Black Rapids, Alaska escapes destruction
Black Rapids Roadhouse in Fall 2011 Roadhouses were essential in Alaska during the early historical period. Situated a day’s travel apart (about 25 miles) along main trails they provided shelter and food for travelers,...
Found Art – Alaska Minimalist
This is a photo (actually three stitched together) of 55-gallon barrels stacked behind a welding shop in my neighborhood. To me, the strong verticals of the fence posts and trees, circles of the...
Modern Placer Drift Mining – Chatanika Valley, Alaska
When its -40° F. above ground, its only +28° F. underground I had a mining engineer friend who, knowing I was interested in modern mining as well as mining history, invited me...
Dog mushing is essential at Denali National Park and Preserve
Dog mushing has been an important activity in the Denali region since before the establishment of Mount McKinley National Park (now Denali National Park and Preserve). Natives in the area traditionally used dog teams...
Mining Camp Blacksmith Shop–Fairbanks Creek, Alaska
Side of blacksmith shop at Fairbanks Creek. I was out at an old mining camp north of Fairbanks when there was just a little snow on the ground (way before the current cold...
Roadhouse Road Trip – Fall 2011
We took one last trip in our camper before freeze-up—a 500-mile round-trip down the Richardson Highway to Gakona Junction, up the Tok Cut-off to Tok, and then home via the Alaska Highway and Richardson...
The Alaska Road Commission – 55 years helping develop Alaska
An old horse-drawn grader (shown in the drawing) sits at the Alaska Department of Transportation offices on Peger Road in Fairbanks. Built by Western Wheeled Scraper in Aurora, Illinois, it is probably one of...
Art is Where you find It – Found Art – Formed Art
There is a weathered cedar fence beside my house and I get immense pleasure in watching it (simple things for simple minds). One of my art professors in college was very much into “found”...
The Trail to Eldorado, Chatanika Valley, Alaska
Last post I published a drawing of an old building at Little Eldorado Creek and talked about the area’s history. This time I’m putting up some photos from my hike out there a few...
