4 months 3 bags 2 chances: USA 2019/2020 Alaska Fairbanks Day 1 arrive and MUSWH Jan 16 2020

For before we even start - how scared were we of going to Alaska?
VERY

Alaska turned out to be a winner. Maybe it was low expectations going in, but its the bit we talk about the most now that we are home.

Alaska is HUGE.
Seattle to Fairbanks was 3.5 hours of flying.
You think Texas is big.....its a pin prick! But still the second biggest state
Alaska 1.7million sq km vs Texas 660sq km

Questions for Alaska
What clothes are included in your tour? Do we need our own boots?
What should we have ourselves?? Suggest Walmart or sportsman warehouse
Arriving - picking up a car at airport - are we likely to encounter any issues with roads or all clear?
Is it snowing a lot or just really cold? We aren’t experienced with driving ice and snow...
Rental clothing$15 per day - what does that include?
What about shoe sizing - do you have boots for various sizes ?
Do you think we also might need: Gloves / mittens ( 2 layers?) advice on this...; Balaclavas; Headwear - do we need more than one layer??

Alaska Itinerary
All thanks to the marvelous Rochelle thanks to the marvelous Emily.
Did we drive her mental with all of our questions - can only be one answer.
Did she provide us with all we asked for and more? Oh yes.

Jan 16Thursday: arrive. Taste of Alaska lodge. Dog mushing / aurora watch tour
Jan 17 Friday. Chena hot springs / ice museum. More Aurora watching with Kory at lodge yurt
Jan 18 Sat. Skidoo rides, books, few winter items to return, Springfield suites check in, Moldovan dinner, rental return.
Jan 19 Sunday: Train - Fairbanks to Anchorage

Thursday Jan 16
Arrive
Winter Woolies get warm weather gear - Fred Meyers, Wal Mart, Sportsman’s warehouse.
Also, obviously, wear the fox hat..... a recurring theme to hat happiness (except if you are a fox).

Decked with masks, mittens, balaclavas various and still cold, we begin the drive to our accommodation.
“Taste of Alaska”. So pretty.
Meet Cory the owner and check out the bungalow.
Cory built it himself!
We love it. Even has a little bell so if anyone sees the aurora, they ring it and it rings in the other cabins.

Check in then Dinner - 3 mega steaks and a lil salmon.
Zoe and Drew rate this as the best meal of the trip.

Drive to Mushing / Aurora
Tour starts 21:00
Into the Yurt - genuine Mongolian. Warm ++
Amanda, Tom, Whitney the photographer from Montana, kindy the light brown and Maddie the grey/white pat me please dog.

Rug up for mushing.
Never been in a yoot before. Super warm just like outside isn't.

Big boots and bigger coats.
Giant toasted marshmallows head out to the frozen clear skies tundra
Dogs jumping with excitement
Two layers of fur
They don’t feel cold.
8 dogs per sled
8miles per hour. They can do that for hours!
Eerie light, dogs turn left or right mostly by knowing the route. Super clever.
Mushing on a frozen lake.
Man and dog and nature connected.
Quite the most extraordinary experience. Magic if magic could be that good.