The journey north from Vermont was uneventful. (Burlington-Chicago-Seattle-Anchorage-Fairbanks. It was fairly clear on the flight between Anchorage and Fairbanks and I was able to get a good view of the Alaska Range.
View of Mt. McKinley from the plane. Mt. Foraker is on the left with Mt. Hunter located just below in the middle.
Mt. McKinley at 20,035’ the highest peak in North America is probably the best known place in this area, however there are hundreds of lesser known beautiful and remote mountains here. PolarTREC teacher [Ken Williams] from Maine will be working with a science team on Mt. Hunter during May check out his blog: (http://www.polartrec.com/expeditions/reconstructing-the-past-climate-of-central-alaska) Teamed with my son Keese during late June and early July of 2010 I was able to climb to a point near the 17,000’ “summit camp” .
My son Keese and I at Windy Corner on the West Buttress Route, Mt. McKinley. June 2010
Just north of Denali National Park is the Eight mile lake research station where I’ll be working with researcher Elizabeth Webb for the next 5 weeks.
The research site near Healy, AK. from my plane. Located in the upper middle area of the picture.
Fairbanks, Alaska home of my alma mater the [UAF Nanooks] (http://www.uaf.edu/) and where the PolarTREC home offices are located.
Arriving on a cold sunny afternoon to Fairbanks, Alaska for PolarTREC orientation.