From Fairbanks to Nenana, AK

After our visit with Santa at the North Pole we continued on to Chena Lake Recreation Area to check it out for a possible stay. Chena Lake has two distinct personalities: The Lake Park and The River Park. The two parks were created at the same time an earthfill dam was constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in response to devastating Chena River floods in 1967. The dam is 7.1 miles long and controls nearly 1,500 miles of watershed that would otherwise freely flow into Fairbanks.

We considered this as a campsite for our stay in Fairbanks, but large forest fires in the area have affected the local air quality and we didn't have any local "must sees" on our itinerary. So, we did our Costco and Walmart shopping on Sunday afternoon, June 30 then continued on to a full-service family owned and operated campground in Nenana, AK, about 50 miles away. Nenana RV Parks has sites ranging from primitive tent to water/electric RV. On site is a dump station, propane, hot showers, laundry, wi-fi, bicycles, fire pits, mini golf, $1 movie rentals, local arts and crafts, and much more! This is perfect place to hang out for the next four days.

We made plans to enjoy the 4th of July in this small Athabascan village of Nenana, a relaxing stay convenient to both Fairbanks and Denali National Park. Found just off mile marker 304.5, they are about 55 miles south of Fairbanks and 65 miles north of the National Park entrance.

The Railroad Depot was completed in 1923. That year, United States President Warren Harding arrived to drive the final, golden spike at the north end of the 700-foot-long (210 m) Mears Memorial Bridge built over the Tanana River as part of the state's railroad project.

This railroad truss bridge, the longest in the United States and its territories when completed, gave Nenana a rail transportation link north to Fairbanks and south to Seward, Alaska. The bridge still ranks as the longest span in Alaska and the third-longest truss bridge in the United States.

Residents of Nenana sponsor the Nenana Ice Classic, a nature-based lottery. The Ice Classic is Alaska's greatest guessing game! In Nenana during 1917 a group of engineers surveying for the Alaska Railroad bet $800 guessing when the ice would break up on the river. They formed a betting pool as they waited for the river to open and boats to arrive with needed supplies. This fun little guessing game has turned into an incredible tradition that has now continued for over 100 years!

Entrants buy a ticket for $3.00 each and pick a date in April or May and a time, to the closest minute, when they think the winter ice on the Tanana River will break up.

The competition is run as follows: a large striped tripod is placed on the frozen Tanana River and connected to a clock. The winner is whoever comes closest to guessing the precise time when the ice beneath weakens to the point that the tripod moves and stops the clock. Interest in the pool has increased and attracts bettors statewide. This lottery has paid out nearly $10 million in prize money, with the winning pool in recent years being near $300,000.

The Nenana Ice classic is a non-profit corporation formed by the residents of Nenana, Alaska, for the purpose of conducting an annual ice pool contest under special statutory authority enacted by the first state legislature in 1960. The Association was incorporated by the State of Alaska in December 1972. Previously it had operated as an unincorporated association. The Nenana Ice Classic is a Non-Profit Charitable Gaming Organization. The proceeds from ticket sales benefit many charitable organizations including but not limited to American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America KUAC, Fairbanks Food Bank, Nenana Public Library and Senior Center plus 4 Scholarship programs.

What a fun tradition! Here's the website if you want to try your luck and support the local community:https://www.nenanaakiceclassic.com

The three days prior to July 4th we caught up on our laundry and enjoyed long, hot showers using their facilities. On Tuesday, July 2nd we ventured south on the Parks Highway to stop in Healy, AK and Andeson, AK to check out some possible camping locations for later that week. Since we were going to be close to Denali National Park we also wanted to get eyes on the fire near Riley Creek Campground.

We have reservations for July 8 through 11 in that specific campground and as of Monday the entire park is closed. From the Parks Highway, north of the closed campground entrance, we observed a helicopter making multiple water drops on numerous spot fires across the river. At the time of this posting, the park is closed and expected to stay closed until Wednesday, July 11. We have been in contact with the reservation company and were told they will refund our fees for our three day stay in Denali National Park. It's a bummer traveling all this way having to miss this big feature of Alaska but it is out of our control so we'ill adapt to the situation. Stay tuned!

Fotunately, on the return to Nenana up from Denali, we were blessed to catch a glimpse of a solo female moose down by a small lake pool befire she headed back into the forest. A thankful consolation given the disappointing state of our present situation.

It was fun to celebrate the 4th of July in this small Alaskan town with the locals. We attended the parade made up of a combination of emergency vehicles, tractors, decorated hand-pulled wagons and kids on their decorated bicycles down the only main street. As the parade participants rode by they threw candy to the crowds of kids that lined the street. This was better than trick or treating because the candy came to you! Some of the other activities planned for the kids included digging for coins in a sawdust pile, a bicycle race and a "Beer Relay" for the big kids over 21.

With clean laundry we're ready to press on south in the direction of Denali National Park. Our plan is to stay in Anderson, AK at the Riverside Park City Campground for one night and evaluate over the weekend our options for the upcoming week.