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posted: August 2nd, 2021 |
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This page begins with a trip to Twelvemile and Eagle Summits on July 6th and 7th for the first 16 Rows. Rows 17 through 25 show photos which we took on the first two days of our driving vacation around the state of Alaska - from Fairbanks to the Canadian Border, on the Top Of The World Highway. Click on any thumbnail to begin.
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| Begin July 6th & 7th |
Near Twelvemile Summit there is an area which we refer to as "Diversity Gulch" due to the very diverse collection of plant species which naturally grow there compared to other nearby areas. These three photos all show Monkshood (Aconitum delphinifolium) - such beautiful flowers, though the entire plant is highly poisonous.
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 July6_052_AconitumDelphinifolium _DiverGulchRC |
 July6th_063_TwelvemileSummit _AconitumDelphiniifoliumRC |
 July6_053_AconitumDelphinifolium _DiverGulchRC |
These three photos are all of Arctic Harebell (Campanula uniflora) - we did not find this one at Diversity Gulch though, this was on the mountain near Eagle Summit.
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 July7_14_CampanulaUniflora_ EagleSummitAreaRC |
 July7th_070_EagleSummit_ CampanulaUnifloraRC |
 July7_15_CampanulaUniflora_ EagleSummitAreaRC |
The first photo here shows Pink Plumes (Bistorta plumosa), while the second and third photos show Scamman's Springbeauty (Claytonia scammaniana) - this was at Diversity Gulch.
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 July6_116_BistortaPlumosa _DiverGulchRC |
 July6_072_ClaytoniaScammaniana _DiverGulchRC |
 July6th_123_TwelvemileSummit _ClaytoniaScammanianaRC |
These three photos all show Scamman's Springbeauty (Claytonia scammaniana) - this is such a bright red color that it is amazing. The true colors never show up in photos of this one.
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 July6th_124_TwelvemileSummit _ClaytoniaScammanianaRC |
 July6_079_ClaytoniaScammaniana _DiverGulchRC |
 July6th_144_TwelvemileSummit _ClaytoniaScammanianaRC |
Here are two more photos which show Scamman's Springbeauty (Claytonia scammaniana) - the center shot is an overview. The third photo shows a Northern Larkspur (Delphinium brachycentrum).
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 July6_110_ClaytoniaScammaniana _DiverGulchRC |
 July6th_218_TwelvemileSummit _ClaytoniaScammanianaRC |
 July6_130_DelphiniumBrachycentrum _DiverGulchRC |
These three shots all show Northern Larkspur (Delphinium brachycentrum) - and, as you can see, we have stumbled upon an Albino Form of this species. Our good fortune always astounds me.
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 July6_160_EagleSummit_Albino _DelphiniumBrachycentrumRC |
 July6_172_EagleSummit_Albino _DelphiniumBrachycentrumRC |
 July6_175_EagleSummit_Albino _DelphiniumBrachycentrumRC |
Here are two shots which show the beautiful Frigid Shooting-star (Dodecatheon frigidum). Sandwiched between them is a single shot of Little Weaselsnout (Lagotis minor).
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 July6_015_FrigidShooting Star_DiverGulchRC |
 July6_018_LagotisMinor _DiverGulchRC |
 July6_017_FrigidShooting Star_DiverGulchRC |
In this row are two shots of Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis asiatica) and sandwiched between them is another shot of Little Weaselsnout (Lagotis minor). Diversity Gulch is the only place in this area where we find the Alaska State Flower - the Alpine Forget-me-not.
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 July6_033_MyosotisAsiatica _DiverGulchRC |
 July6_159_EagleSummit_ LagotisMinorRC |
 July6th_059_TwelvemileSummit _MyosotisAsiaticaRC |
Here is another shot of the Alpine Forget-me-not (Myosotis asiatica) and then two shots of Yukon Saw-wort (Saussurea angustifolia var. yukonensis).
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 July6th_074_TwelvemileSummit _MyosotisAsiaticaRC |
 July6_043_SaussureaAngustifoliaVar Yukonensis_DiverGulchRC |
 July6_042_SaussureaAngustifoliaVar Yukonensis_DiverGulchRC |
In first position here is a shot of Oeder's Lousewort (Pedicularis oederi) and that is followed by two more shots of Yukon Saw-wort (Saussurea angustifolia var. yukonensis).
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 July7th_022_EagleSummit_ PedicularisOederiRC |
 July7th_146_EagleSummit_Saussurea AngustifoliaVarYukonensisRC |
 July7th_147_EagleSummit_Saussurea AngustifoliaVarYukonensisRC |
In first and second positions in this row are photos of Marsh Saxifrage (Saxifraga hirculus) and those are followed by a single shot of Moss Campion (Silene acaulis).
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 July6th_289_TwelvemileSummit _SaxifragaHirculusRC |
 July6th_290_TwelvemileSummit _SaxifragaHirculusRC |
 July6_003_SileneAcaulis _DiverGulchRC |
In first place in this row is a shot of some Willow (Salix sp.), but who knows what specific species. In the center is a photo of Black-tipped Groundsel (Senecio lugens) and in third position is an example of Northern Marsh Violet (Viola biflora).
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 July6th_052_ TwelvemileSummitRC |
 July6th_258_TwelvemileSummit _SenecioLugensRC |
 July6_027_ViolaBiflora _DiverGulchRC |
Here is another shot of the Northern Marsh Violet (Viola biflora) and that is followed by two scenery shots which were taken at Diversity Gulch.
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 July6_028_ViolaBiflora _DiverGulchRC |
 July6_055Rotate_ DiversityGulchSceneryRC |
 July6_059_ DiversityGulchSceneryRC |
Here are three more scenery shots. The first and third ones were taken near Twelvemile Summit and both show Kazuya. The center image is a two-shot panorama at Eagle Summit.
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 July6_084_DiversityGulch Scenery_KazuyaRC |
 July6_154_155_ReposPanoAdj_ EagleSummitSceneryRC |
 July6_149_DIversity GulchOverThereRC |
Just as we were arriving at Eagle Summit, this lone Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) stepped out in front of us - WHAT? July 6th is too early for these animals to be here. The second and third shots were taken at 2:25 AM and show sunrise time.
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 July6th_296_ EagleSummitRC |
 July7th_007_ EagleSummitRC |
 July7th_008_ EagleSummitRC |
In the first shot in this row you can see that we are in the clouds at 3:54 AM, but there is some visible blue sky there. The center shot was taken at 7:04 AM and we are still in the clouds. The third image is a collage which Kazuya created to show some of the flowers which we saw on this trip.
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 July7th_011_ EagleSummitRC |
 July7_03_EagleSummit Wayside_MorningRC |
 July6th_Forget MeNotCollage01RC |
| End July 6th & 7th, Begin July 12th |
Now you have joined us as we begin our vacation - a drive to some spots we love in the State of Alaska. The first two shots were taken along the Richardson Highway between Fairbanks and Delta Junction. They show the Tanana River and the Alaska Range. The third shot is of the Gerstle River and Bridge and was shot along the Alaska Highway between Delta Junction and Tok.
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 July12th_012_On TheWayToDeltaJCTRC |
 Jul12_03_04_AutoPano_ FairbanksToGerstleRiverRC |
 Jul12_11_Fairbanks ToGerstleRiverRC |
We kept seeing this strange plant as we drove and so we had to stop and shoot some photos of it. When we got home and keyed it out we found it to be Yellow Mountain-Avens (Dryas drummondii) which has gone to seed.
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 Jul12_12_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
 Jul12_13_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
 Jul12_16_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
The first shot shows that even here in Alaska the heat rising from the highways can create water mirages. The second and third shots snow more of the Yellow Mountain-Avens (Dryas drummondii). Of course the person in the center shot is Daniel.
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 Jul12_21_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
 July12th_017_OnTheWay ToTok_DryasDrummondiiRC |
 Jul12_30_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
Now we are on the Taylor Highway, headed north towards Chicken and Eagle, Alaska. In the first seven miles of this highway are these sand dunes which blew into here some 10,000 years ago, according to the literature we read. Of course the person is Kazuya. The third image was created from photos which were taken on the 13th and it shows Mount Fairplay from the Mount Fairplay Wayside.
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 Jul12_61_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
 Jul12_62_GerstleRiverTo Mile5TaylorHighwayRC |
 Jul13_02_03_04_AutoPanoAC_ MountFairplayWaysideAreaRC |
| End July 12th, Begin July 13th |
Here is where we spent the night of July 12th in our Topper Motel - the Mount Fairplay Wayside, at Mile 35 of the Taylor Highway. The center shot shows a nice specimen of Alpine Knotweed (Polygonum alpinum), while the third shot shows a Windmill Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis detonsa).
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 Jul13_Mt FairplayWaysideRC |
 July13th_009_TaylorHWY _PolygonumAlpinumRC |
 July13th_018_TaylorHWY _GentianopsisDetonsaRC |
The first two shots in this row show additional shots of the Windmill Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis detonsa). The third shot shows the namesake of Chicken, Alaska - home of the Annual Chickenstock Music Festival.
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 Jul13_12_Mount FairplayWaysideAreaRC |
 Jul13_11_Mount FairplayWaysideAreaRC |
 Jul13_28_TaylorHwy _ChickenAlaskaRC |
Here is a zoomed in shot of the Chicken, Alaska Chicken. In center position is a shot of Beautiful Downtown Chicken, Alaska. As we continued our drive we stopped at a spot where we found a great number of Northern Lady Slipper Orchids (Cypripedium passerinum), though they were finished blooming for this year.
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 July13th_035_ ChickenRC |
 Jul13_31_TaylorHwy _ChickenAlaskaRC |
 Jul13_38_TaylorHwy_ ChickenToTopWorldHwyRC |
Here are two scenery shots which were taken along the Taylor Highway as we continued towards Eagle. In the center is a photo of Foxtail Grass (Hordeum jubatum).
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 Jul13_45_TaylorHwy_ ChickenToTopWorldHwyRC |
 Jul13_46_TaylorHwy_ ChickenToTopWorldHwyRC |
 Jul13_49_TaylorHwy_ ChickenToTopWorldHwyRC |
Now we have left the Taylor Highway and are driving on the Top Of The World Highway, which crosses into Canada after about 13 miles. The first shot shows the scenery. The center shot shows some Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) and the third shot shows that we have arrived at the Alaska/Canada Border, and due to COVID, the border is closed.
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 July13th_088_Top OfTheWorldHWYRC |
 July13th_103_TopOfTheWorld HWY_ChamaenerionAngustifoliumRC |
 Jul13_52_Top WorldHighwayRC |
| End Page 1, but July 13th continues on Page 2 |
| Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 2 for the continuation of our vacation adventures, beginning at 11:44 AM on July 13th. |
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