Mom's Visit: Day 2

Day 2 actually brought sunny skies and plenty of activity. After getting up early to get the snow tires put on the car, we packed up everything we would need for an overnight trip in a cabin without electricity and without running water. In the Chena River State Recreation Area, the Alaska Department of Natural Resources has some cabins available for rent, and that was where we were to spent Thursday night, at the North Fork Cabin. The internet said that it slept eight people, so there was sure to be enough room.

On the way to the cabin, we had to stop and feed Carrie and Duff's sled dogs, but I didn't get any pictures of that. Mom has plenty in her camera though because she was taking pictures while I did all of the work! I think there were 13 dogs in all, although I'm unsure of that number.

Anyway, on to the cabin, where we arrived in the late afternoon.


It was plenty big, and there was tons of fire wood to keep us warm. Mom unpacked the car while I split a log or two and started a small fire in the wood stove to begin the warming up process. It wasn't a big production yet though because we were on our way to tour the ice hotel at Chena Hot Springs, which was only about ten miles away. We had to be sure and make it in time for the last tour of the day. The ice hotel is kept at 19 degrees Fahrenheit, which wreaks havoc on camera batteries, but I did manage to get one picture before my battery putzed out.



No, that toilet doesn't really work, it is simply a piece of art, but it's comical all the same. After being out in the cold, it was nice to return to the cabin and try to warm up by the wood stove although I kept the door to the stove open a little too long, which made it a little smoky inside.



We rounded out the evening with a couple of games of Yahtzee next to the lantern.