Fairbanks

 We took a quick trip to Fairbanks this week, taking advantage of a few days off for UAA and Institute "spring break" (few signs of actual spring here, however).  One highlight was visiting the BP Ice Art Championships going on there this month.  This is the largest ice sculpting contest in the world.  It is held here because the bluish, glowing ice (cut from a lake in Fairbanks) is especially clear and fine, and because the temperatures are so low.  Luckily it got to only 15 below while we were there. 

 We were amazed at the fabulous creations!  Prize winners this year were from Russia and Japan and the United States.  Besides the art, there were huge ice slides for the kids, an ice house, an ice train, and twirling ice bowls for the kids to play on and in.  We stayed until our fingers and toes froze.

 Sculptors work on huge blocks of ice starting with chain saws and progressing to finer tools.  The night lighting shows the delicacy of the carving. 

This monument to the pioneers of Fairbanks was impressive.  The city, population about 32,000, was founded in 1901 as a trading post for gold prospectors.  Today it is home to a large military base and a branch of the University of Alaska. Fairbanks has long, cold winters (much colder than Anchorage) and short, hot summers.   

 

We also visited a section of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline running near Fairbanks.  Oil is pumped  from Prudhoe Bay-- the ''North Slope," to Valdez, 800 miles south on the Gulf of Alaska.  The pipeline, completed in 1977, is a modern engineering marvel. Much of the 4-foot diameter pipe is supported above ground because of the permafrost. 

We were blessed to have beautiful, clear weather for our trip up the Parks Highway to Fairbanks.  We got spectacular views of the mountains of the Alaska Range, including Mt McKinley (Denali). This is the highest peak in North America (20,320 feet), and on clear days can be seen all the way from Anchorage, over 200 miles to the south.

One of our favorite YSAs left this week for a mission to Brazil.  Mckenzie (second from left) was introduced to the Church in high school by some of her choir friends.  She was converted and has since been a great strength to her ward.  She recently graduated from University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree.  Independent and faithful, she will serve without the support of her parents.

The Thrill of the Iditarod

 Saturday we attended the ceremonial start of the Iditarod sled dog race which goes from Anchorage to Nome, over 1000 miles.  For the ceremonial start the mushers drive their teams through Anchorage along several miles of the city's extensive recreational trail system. Fans line the groomed trail cheering the teams, cooking hot dogs on grills, handing doughnuts to the mushers as they pass.  It is quite a party.  The musher pictured here, #2, is Martin Buser, a popular competitor who has won the race several times.  He stopped his sled to greet his fans who put up these flags.  This year 66 teams are competing.      

A driver must have at least 7 and no more than 20 dogs on the tow line to start the race.  At least 5 must be on the tow line at all times. These seemed happy and ready to run!  They wear small cloth booties to protect their paws for the long trip.  The booties must be replaced about three times a day during the race. A minimum of 56 pounds of dog food per dog must be distributed among 16 checkpoints along the trail. The dogs are checked by veterinarians before, during and after the race. No dogs may be added to a team once it has started out, and the musher must stay with his team and sled the whole way, no trading off.  It is a grueling test!