Fairbanks Alaska Riverboat Tour

We read a review of the Riverboat Discovery and it was recommended that people over 60 would enjoy it.   We parked our car and walked across the parking lot...  This was just a portion of the bus parking lot.  Knew there was going to be big crowds.

 

This is the smaller Paddle Wheeler that shoved off just ahead of us

 

 

The Chena Indian Village and Pioneer tour was very interesting.

The device in the river actually catches Salmon - up to 100 a day could be caught, cleaned and hung to dry.  A village had to catch, dry, and smoke enough salmon to survive the brutal winters.  They also had to feed their mush dogs - each dog requires one salmon a day. 

 

The open structure above right, is the drying rack.  A Native girl in traditional costume is cleaning salmon near the river. 

 

 

The racks above are salmon being smoked.  The salmon has to be sun dried for several days before it goes into the smoker.  If they put the salmon in immediately, it would mildew.

 

 

An Athabascan girl in traditional winter coat.  Many different animals are used to make the coat.  The designs are unique to each village.  The coat will keep you warm in 40 degrees below zero.  It is valued at between $15,000 and $20,000. 

 

 

Pelts were hung from a cache (storage building) to store the pelts and hides being tanned.  The building is on stilts so other animals could not get into the building. 

 

 

Reindeer were an important part of the Athabascan's lives.  Hides were used for tents, rope, and clothing.  Antlers and bone used for tools and sewing needles.  The meat dried for winter meals.  Every part of the animal was used for something - never anything wasted.

 

 

Had to get a picture of a moose in here too. 

 

 

 

Back on the river, we were shown where the fresh water of the Chena meets the melting glacial water.  The whiter area is the glacier water.  Stone is ground so fine from the moving glacial ice, it is like flour and is suspended in the water.   

 

Stopped at Susan Butcher's home and kennels.  She was the woman who won many of the Iditarod races.  1,100 mile race by dogsled from Anchorage to Nome.   Susan's husband took the dogs out on a short run around the lake (he's on the quad).  The dogs run 100 miles a day.  The dogs are mixed breeds - they are not pure bred Huskies or Malamutes.

 

 

They returned and were let loose - ran into water, playing and drinking.  They sure have a good time and work hard.