September 21, 2025
When I arrived in Fairbanks two days ago I had just driven the final two hours north and east from Denali National Park. It was an uneventful trip, and I didn’t stop to take any pictures. The scenery was pretty much open and there really wasn’t much to see.
I have a long drive today to get way down to Gakona and will stop and take pictures throughout the day to memorialize my trip. Here are some of the things I saw as I drove south on Hwy 2 as far as Delta Junction.
My first stop was in North Pole, Alaska – about 14 miles from Anchorage.
Basically a tourist trap, and while I didn’t go inside I did at least stop to take pictures. Even the McDonald’s off the exit got in the spirit by painting their highway sign like a candy cane.
Further down the highway I would drive through Eielson Air Force Base. The sign as I approached indicated they have quite a bit of hardware and personnel here.
The highway ran parallel to the runway and control tower. I did stop to take pictures of some planes parked on the tarmac but will not post them. I will elaborate later in my trip when I pass through this area again before leaving this part of Alaska.
The rest of the drive as far as Delta Junction was mainly near low, tree covered mountains.
I did drive next to a very wide river for a short distance. The water level was pretty low right now but I suspect it gets considerably higher as snowmelt makes its way to it from mountains upstream in the Spring and Summer.
Later I drove over a bridge and on my left was a section of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. There were stanchions and support wires to carry it over the river.
I will see the pipeline again later in the day.
(Continued in next post)
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