DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Several of these were taken thru a peep hole that I maintained for hours in the window frost of the tour van. A little light traffic. All are north of Coldfoot, Alaska, in the Brooks Range. Temps were around -10F, and a little cooler. Hope you enjoy.

One of the stopping points, Dalton Hwy.

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Shot thru my little peep hole. Dalton Hwy.

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One of the stopping points, Dalton Hwy.

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On the road again

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What a scenic job!

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Thru the windshield, I was in the second row.

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Shot thru my little peep hole. Dalton Hwy.

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Thru the windshield, again.

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Shot thru my little peep hole. Dalton Hwy.

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Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Beautiful! Did you see any wildlife? Moose, wolves, caribou?

Katydid Loc: Davis, CA

Awesome photos of an amazing place!

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanks, Doug. Just what I needed to feel cooler during a hot-as-hell summer. Nice shots.

blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

Outstanding work Doug. As I said before, you are one brave soul.

SonyBug

I was there for all of 1959 and 60, and it is just "damn cold" in the winter. Will never forget it. Coldest day I ever had to walk from the barracks to the shop was -64.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Glad you find them beautiful. I am going to post some of the wildlife, in the next day or two, or three...

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Who woulda' thought snow could be so pretty? I agree, it is an awesome and amazing place!!! And interesting to boot!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Looking at all that snow maybe helps to at least to think cooler. Just think +10F, 0F, -20F, -35F... Thanks for the nice comment.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Not brave, just lost a lot of marbles. Think I found some in Alaska. Wait, those were snowballs! Glad you like them!!! Definitely different in winters snow. Still Awed by Alaska's beauty!

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

Ouch, that is cold! The week before we got to Fairbanks, they were having -53F. It 'warmed' up to only -20F. Most everyone up there wear 'Bunny Boots', but foot warmers in the socks works wonders! Of course, it will still freeze your lungs with breath, ouch. They don't close the schools until -50F.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

So tell me about this winter bus tour? My wife and I spent the winter in Anchorage a few years ago. We decided to go to North Pole Alaska for Christmas. We got to Glenallen and stopped for gas, it was -25 deg. There was ice on the inside of the glass with the heater going. We turned around and beat feet back to Anchorage. But we saw a wolf and caribou so it was almost a good trip.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

We used Northern Alaska Tour Company, to take us to Coldfoot. At Coldfoot, you can elect/pay to go to Atigan Pass (evening) and Wiseman (to see the aurora, from a different location, after dark). At Coldfoot, we also did a 1 hour dog sled ride, which was long enough for us, at about -15F.
The large coach takes you from Fairbanks, and meets up with a smaller van at the Arctic Circle, The large coach windows did NOT frost over. The smaller, 12 passenger van, windows frosted overr BAD! Fortunately, I had a Hot Hands hand warmer with me that I used to keep a peep hole, and I also could look out the front windshield some. The folks in the back were not so lucky, they mostly slept for the vast amount of travel time, as they could NOT SEE OUT. They missed sooo much scenery. They were Chinese visitors, but did have a blast playing in the snow during the stops.
The driver did furnish interesting information during/along the trip. There were two groups of Chinese visitors at Coldfoot who did NOT use a tour company. They found a rental agency that allowed travel on the Dalton Hwy. For photography, that would be the better way to go, in my humble opinion. Most people use the drive/fly option. One way drive, return fly. There is an airport at Coldfoot.
We rented a car in Fairbanks for a few days, and to see the winter sites there. Then took the bus tour. You can see the aurora just outside of Fairbanks. Many good locations around there, if you can get a local to show you. But then there is the Dalton and the Brooks Range...
We had to fly from Anchorage to Fairbanks due to the Chinese New Year. The train going up was sold out. I had not, on purpose, made reservations for the arctic trip, to allow planning around cloud cover. Glad I did, as the interior was socked in for the first week we were in Alaska, and would not have seen the aurora, or much else. But it made us miss the train ride up to Fairbanks, however we did get reservations to return to Anchorage. Plus had great weather for the arctic portion!
web site: http://www.northernalaska.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw2MTbBRASEiwAdYIpsRwsZOVibd_dAoix2x46oq7Cuu2AxpYejJIveJCEemUCY2nVNTtO2RoCOkQQAvD_BwE

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Thanks. I'll keep this info in my files.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

I keep a folder titled 'Travel tips' of places of interest to me. Particularly photogenic areas! Files are of each state and Canada, and...
Hope you get to use the info.