Today in Anchorage

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Start of the Tired Iron Classic

(air cooled machines built prior to 1980)

Winners:

Jurassic Classic (Old Guys Rule)

1. Urban Rahoi, 95 years old, riding a ’65 Polaris Mustang

Classic (air cooled)

1. Jim Binkley, ’74 Rupp Nitro

Wet Iron (liquid cooled)

1. Robin Stenvik, ’79 Ski-Doo Blizzard 7500

So this is a reference to the "Iron Dog" race,and the will of iron it requires, because near as I can recall those machines had aluminum blocks ?
 
So this is a reference to the "Iron Dog" race,and the will of iron it requires, because near as I can recall those machines had aluminum blocks ?

No, it's in reference to old snowmobiles. Most of the units DO have aluminum crankcase engines. But my first machine had a cast iron cased Kohler engine and an all steel track..
 
No, it's in reference to old snowmobiles. Most of the units DO have aluminum crankcase engines. But my first machine had a cast iron cased Kohler engine and an all steel track..

Well, that makes more sense of the universe.
 
Gave a 72 Evinrude to a buddy in the valley for parts. Hope his machine finished.
 
You shoulda paid the extra $75 for the landing.

I don't think we had that option.
That was our first trip, and we were choosing excursions through Princess. As first time cruisers we were the last to choose. I think we got really lucky. Part of it was the high price left some openings.

From the North side we boarded a pressurized twin engine, I think it was a Cessna. I know it wasn't a Piper Cherokee. It had no skis. It wasn't a STOL.
Pilot and 7 passengers. As it happened, 3 of the other passengers were certified pilots. They wanted to ride in front. The tour was supposed to be a summit circuit.
It was a clear day. So clear that the pilot decided to make 3 complete circuits so that he could video it to give to people who came on bad weather days to see what they missed. We got to see the base camp, the string of climbers, The Ruth , and the Sheldon.

From the south/ Talkeetna side Cheyenne & I got the helicopter ride. It was almost canceled, until a third person signed on. It wasn't an ordinary helicopter. It was a high priced French built model that could fly 200mph, faster than the single engine planes we passed. The day before he'd been carrying a camera crew to film some climbers from the air for a documentary. Had something to do with who they were.

We flew up the river to the Face of the Ruth, then up the canyon to the Sheldon. The walls seemed scarey close, but the pilot said they were 5000 feet away. The scale and mass of everything was unreal. On the way back I saw piles of gravel and scree on the edges converge to blacken the top, and even some evergreens growing on it near the bottom.

It was great to get both perspectives in good weather. About 5 years later we went back in the August when the governor was nominated for VP , both tours were no longer operating, so we couldn't rebook them.

I've done a lot of cool things as a tourist, but taking that helicopter ride, following the river to the foot of the mountain and following the glacier up the mountain and back is among the greatest experiences of my life. It just sort of put the forces that shaped Alaska into perspective.
 
I don't think we had that option.
That was our first trip, and we were choosing excursions through Princess. As first time cruisers we were the last to choose. I think we got really lucky. Part of it was the high price left some openings.

From the North side we boarded a pressurized twin engine, I think it was a Cessna. I know it wasn't a Piper Cherokee. It had no skis. It wasn't a STOL.
Pilot and 7 passengers. As it happened, 3 of the other passengers were certified pilots. They wanted to ride in front. The tour was supposed to be a summit circuit.
It was a clear day. So clear that the pilot decided to make 3 complete circuits so that he could video it to give to people who came on bad weather days to see what they missed. We got to see the base camp, the string of climbers, The Ruth , and the Sheldon.

From the south/ Talkeetna side Cheyenne & I got the helicopter ride. It was almost canceled, until a third person signed on. It wasn't an ordinary helicopter. It was a high priced French built model that could fly 200mph, faster than the single engine planes we passed. The day before he'd been carrying a camera crew to film some climbers from the air for a documentary. Had something to do with who they were.

We flew up the river to the Face of the Ruth, then up the canyon to the Sheldon. The walls seemed scarey close, but the pilot said they were 5000 feet away. The scale and mass of everything was unreal. On the way back I saw piles of gravel and scree on the edges converge to blacken the top, and even some evergreens growing on it near the bottom.

It was great to get both perspectives in good weather. About 5 years later we went back in the August when the governor was nominated for VP , both tours were no longer operating, so we couldn't rebook them.

I've done a lot of cool things as a tourist, but taking that helicopter ride, following the river to the foot of the mountain and following the glacier up the mountain and back is among the greatest experiences of my life. It just sort of put the forces that shaped Alaska into perspective.

We locals don't take those tours. But, If you're going to come to Alaska and only have the money for one excursion, flight seeing around Denali on a good day is the best thing you can do, IMO. There is no other way that "normal folk" can grasp the pure size of the mountain. The experience definitely lets you know that you are but a tiny part of the world.

(No offense on the "normal-folk" quip.)

Your helo was prolly a Gazelle. They are a very nice ride.

I've flown down the Great Gorge at about 500' off the ice. It's fucking fantastic! At the bottom of the glacier where the Ruth River boils up is a sight I'll never forget.

If you come again, you might think of forsaking Princess or the other boat companies with regard to land based excursions and just putz on your own. There's more variety, less structure and you're not herded about like cows.
 
We've been to Alaska three times. We also took a helicopter and walked on the Mendenhall glacier that first trip. We always book helicopter excursions, but ever since they have all been canceled due to weather.

On the first trip, you're worried about missing the bus or the ship, which they only promise to hold for you if you're on one of their excursions. Since then we've come to understand that most tour operators have airplanes or know somebody who does, and you can catch up at the next stop if anything goes that wrong.

We've gotten some great whale and bear watching, booking independently.
Amazing as that was, nothing is like getting a feel for that massive stand-alone mountain.
 
We've been to Alaska three times. We also took a helicopter and walked on the Mendenhall glacier that first trip. We always book helicopter excursions, but ever since they have all been canceled due to weather.

On the first trip, you're worried about missing the bus or the ship, which they only promise to hold for you if you're on one of their excursions. Since then we've come to understand that most tour operators have airplanes or know somebody who does, and you can catch up at the next stop if anything goes that wrong.

We've gotten some great whale and bear watching, booking independently.
Amazing as that was, nothing is like getting a feel for that massive stand-alone mountain.

Come for Iditarod and see a bit of real Alaska.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1/1957963_710325612332839_396396362_n.jpg
 
Uhh... I'm thinking about it.

Maybe one day. At least there'd be no mosquitos, cottonwood fluff, or midnight daylight at that time.
 
Uhh... I'm thinking about it.

Maybe one day. At least there'd be no mosquitos, cottonwood fluff, or midnight daylight at that time.

It's actually pretty darn nice, with regard to winter.

Best is to reserve a spot at Karl and Kirsten's Winterlake Lodge. They will treat you like royalty and you can watch the puppies go by.
 
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