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The gateway to the Golden Heart Plaza park was reminiscent of the elk horn arches found at city center in Jackson Hole WY.
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“Unknown First Family” by Malcom Alexander, a statue featured at the center of the Golden Heart Plaza along the Chena River at the center of Fairbanks. [https://www.alaska.org/detail/golden-heart-plaza]
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On one of our night-time excursions, we stopped to see the famous Alaska pipeline, that conducts oil from Prudhoe Bay all the way across the state (800 mi) to the harbors in Valdez. We noted that the warm oil was well insulated-- the snow on the top of the pipe was not melting.
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The hot springs provided a pool for us to enjoy the contrast between geothermal waters and winter snow!
![IMG_3604 One of the ice sculptures that greeted us at the international ice sculpture competition in Fairbanks. See [https://www.icealaska.org]](IMG_3604.jpg)
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One of the ice sculptures that greeted us at the international ice sculpture competition in Fairbanks. See [https://www.icealaska.org]
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The award winner for the multi-block category.
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Our snowshoeing host explains the dangers of spring water that flows out onto the snow and ice.
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On the road. Our group of 14 fit in this specialized van- big windows, including one in the front that gave us a large view of the high mountains all around us.
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The cockpit of the tour van, operated by our intrepid driver/tour guide Harrison.
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The road into Denali Park was not yet open, but we could get as far as the entrance. The mountain in the background is one of the "foothills" to Denali (known as Mt McKinley prior to 2015).
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On a clear day one can see Denali. We were fortunate to have such a day.
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The mayor of Talkeetna sits outside his home, waiting to be let back in.
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Talkeetna Cabins, our home for two nights. Access was via the trench in the snow to its front deck.
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The Talkeetna airport. How many airport terminals are built from logs?
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Our pilot giving the preflight briefing where she reassured us by saying she was a mom, and would take care of us like her children. She also was a climber, having summited Denali seven times!
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This plane was equipped to land almost anywhere.
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Every passenger had their own window seat.
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A bird's eye view of the terrain around Talkeetna.
