Biking Alaska- Denali to Fairbanks
Morning at the mosquito onslaught at Sanctuary River meant a quick exit. After packing and being turned down for a ride by a full bus, we biked the 10 miles out of Denali from Sanctuary River (repeat scenery… ) to catch the free shuttle at the Savage River.
Once we were back on the Parks Highway it was about 60 miles north to Nenana, home of the world famous Nenana Ice Classic, where you can win hundreds of thousands of dollars by guessing the exact data and time (to the second) that a weight will break through the ice every spring.
Nenana to Fairbanks was only 50 miles or so, but hilly, somewhat hot (WHAAA??!!), and exhausting. I recall spending a decent amount of time in Fairbanks lying on the grass napping. Once sufficiently rested, we ditched our stuff in the campground downtown and spent the evening biking around the city, checking out the University, and watching the sunset from the banks of the Chena River that flows through the center of town. For a weekend night in July things seemed relatively quiet.
THE REPEAT SCENERY INCLUDED OUR BEST VIEW OF DENALI THE MOUNTAIN 🙂
MY BIGGEST REGRET OF THE TRIP WAS NOT PLACING A BET ON THE NENANA ICE CLASSIC.
SUNDAY NIGHT IN FAIRBANKS WAS WONDERFUL.
These are all excellent points my friend.
If you are gonna repeat scenery, Denali NP is a good place to go it.
I think you can still bet on the Ice Classic.
It was a lovely evening indeed. Lovely and quiet.
YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE ICE CLASSIC. I’LL BE IN NENANA NEXT WEEK.