Arctic Travel - California to Arctic and Back in Winter

Yeah, straight through. I work 12-14 hour days anyways to it wasn't too bad. Left Coldfoot at 0530-0600. Arrived in Fairbanks around 1200. Left Fairbanks at 1400 and arrived in Anchorage at 1900. Had the truck turned back in at the lot and at home with a cold brew in hand by 1930. Drove approximately 652 miles and used around 35 gallons of diesel.

 

nice!!!!

 

i got a chance in Jan./17 to work in Alaska, and that included driving to remote Telecom sites from Deadhorse to Coldfoot. This seemed as good a place as any to add some pics. These are pics of the Atigun Pass, north of Coldfoot. This was in a leased for the Dalton' vehicle from Delta Leasing in Prudhoe Bay. Vijay's descriptions helped prep for the trip, or at least a heads up for what to expect up here.

North Side bottom pullout awaiting the pass of a tanker.


The north side of the pass, see the Tanker coming down the 10-12% grade. There are no runaway lanes.


Cresting the pass, headed on South side.


South side looking downhill


near the north side crest, on a different day.

 

Caribou. Did not get to see a fox, or bison, but did see some arctic (rock) ptarmigan. Found wolf tracks too near Coldfoot.

 

this is by far one of the coolest threads i have ever seen! took a while to read through it and very glad i did. AWESOME TRIP AND PICTURES!!

 

If you don't mind me asking, were you looking at the fiber optic cabling/regen sites being installed? I'm curious because my employer is installing the GCI fiber in that exact stretch (Galbraith Lake to Coldfoot) parallel to Quintillions. I'm one of the technicians tasked with splicing it. I was last up in that stretch in October/November and I'll be back this spring to finish up.


South side of Atigun pass (seen on the left).

 

Yup.

 

Heh, small world.

 

I'm late to reply here but I'm glad you enjoyed the trip. It's beautiful up there!!!

 

and we're installing the equipment connecting to that fiber. Work schedule had two of us assigned to that, but now the schedule changed, Hope it changes back again so I can see that area in the summer.

 

Just got done and back tonight after splicing the 25 remaining points and certifying/testing it.

Started middle of May when everything was brown, now both sides of the pass are green and beautiful. Coldfoot was 60*F when I left at 0600, was supposed to reach the mid 70's today. Think I'll jump in the truck and head up there sometime in August for the sole purpose of hiking/climbing.

 

What's the thing on the grille for

 

Its a cover to help keep engine heat within the engine compartment. Pretty important at those low temperatures.