Coldfoot Camp & Flying High

Today was our last day at Coldfoot. The day dawned clear and brisk again. Temperature was -18 C when we headed to breakfast. Another great feed washed down by much coffee. We were at the end of the supply week so the food stores were getting a bit low which made for entertaining ordering where you effectively got what was left.

Our flight was scheduled for 1-30pm. A bit of a hard case system sorting what time your flight is – based on weight, relationship status, need to be somewhere, the weather and no doubt some bribery. The two 9 seater planes fly in a couple of times a day from Fairbanks and those flying up are either staff or tourists like us who either go onto Deadhorse or work their way back to Fairbanks by road.

Our flight time gave us a chance to explore the camp a bit further. Once wrapped up we headed across the highway and explored the pipeline, stores area and the airport. All under several feet of snow but everybody works as if nothing

going on.

From there we headed out to the dog yard where a guy runs a team and provides rides to visitors. They are beautiful dogs and keen to run at every opportunity.

Loaded up the plane on time and headed off to Fairbanks. Flight time is about one hour ten and is over the most beautiful wilderness. There is nobody out there. Because of the beautiful day our views were spectacular. We could clearly see the Yukon river, frozen, bisecting the landscape.

Arrived safely back in Fairbanks and headed back to our hotel. After a rest we were picked up for another burst of looking for Auroras. This time we headed about 30 minutes out of Fairbanks up into the foothills and a warm yurt. Another dog team running but unfortunately the sky clouded over so we didn’t see any tonight.

Home about 1-30am after another eventful day.