Mixing Science & Pleasure - Fairbanks, Alaska

After recently submitting a thesis and moving across the country, I was in desperate need of a break. Although attending a permafrost conference in Fairbanks, Alaska wasn’t the exact escape I had in mind, it’s what I had, so I decided to make the most of it.

I arrived a couple days early to ward off the zombiism I usually experience under the nearly 24-hour sun and fit in a ride along the Alaskan Railroad. The ride ran 180 miles between Fairbanks to Denali National Park and can be continued south to Anchorage. Most of my trip was spent in their Tiki snack bar or standing on the platform between cars getting the wind through my hair and whiffs of sweet-smelling spruce.

My visit to the park was accompanied by low-lying clouds and rain, which provided for dramatic scenes of the forest and surrounding mountains but precluded a view of the elusive Denali (also known as Mt. McKinley) the highest point in North America, which stands at a whopping 20,320 ft (with a vertical rise of about 18,000 ft-that’s more than Mt. Everest). Quite the bummer not to see it up close, but I still got some nice views from Fairbanks on clear days. I took a hike along the Savage River and felt the pressures of the world drift away with the steady flow of wind and misty rain that hit my face.

I was lucky enough to spot a caribou and moose on the ride back to the Wilderness Access Center (WAC). A nice part of this park is limited vehicle access, which greatly enhances the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the wildlife and reduces the congestion and pollution encountered at many other national parks. All cars go as far as the WAC where you then catch a shuttle into the park, which stops at all of the major campgrounds and hiking areas.

That evening I had a wonderful dinner at Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine, a nice family-owned restaurant that serves up locally-grown, organic veggies throughout the summer months. You wouldn’t think it, but they can grow some monster veggies up there in the summer.

Each night I had a swell time mingling with other permafrost aficionados, and later that week a group of us played hooky and took a trip to the Chena Hot Springs, about an hour outside of Fairbanks. The drive there was a treat in itself, but the hot springs proved to be just what I needed. A cosmo followed by an afternoon of swimming through hot waters and napping on the sun-baked rocks left my body feeling free of stress and happy as could be. The resort isn’t much, but the scenery is amazing, and I could have floated for hours while gazing at the evergreen mountains.

My stay in Alaska was capped by a delightful dinner at the Pump House Restaurant & Saloon. I was a bit weary at first by its touristy appeal, that and the fact that it was karaoke night, but we had a great table along the river with a beaver that would pop up every once in a while to say “hello friendly diners.” The seafood was amazing (I had some bites of friend’s dishes) and I thoroughly enjoyed my surprisingly tender reindeer drizzled with raspberry sauce and creamy scalloped potatoes-I drool as I write.

All this just goes to prove that a girl can have fun while doing business.

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Jackie Grom has been wandering the globe since the age of 19 after her first all-girls road trip across the United States. Since that time, she has lived in Spain, Australia, and Canada with bits of travel sprinkled throughout. She now finds herself residing in Chicago, IL and is enjoying the attributes of a more stationary life in her garden and kitchen, but can’t seem to help herself from cooking up more ways to get back on the road.

When not playing, Jackie researches polar regions and looks for new opportunities to experience the marvels of the environment.

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Comments

[Robyn]

White water rafting is another great option in Alaska. Chugach National forest is one of the best places I know for outdoor enthusiasts!