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This is Page 2 of 5 - the best of June 2017!
posted: July 1st, 2017
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As stated at the bottom of Page 1, this page continues our Grapefruit Rocks adventure of May 29th, at 1:04 PM for Rows 1 - 4.  Then we go to May 30th, a single shot taken on our home property, and then we take a trip to the Granite Tors 2-mile loop trail, out at about milepost 39.5 on the Chena Hot Springs Road.  In Row 18 we jump to June 5th and a trip to Eagle Summit (Steese Highway - Milepost 107), with a stopover at Twelvemile Summit (Steese Highway - Milepost 85.5).  This page ends with the final photo at Twelvemile Summit at 10:03 AM.  Click on any thumbnail to begin.

May 29th Continues from Page 1 (at 1:04 PM)
  Have you ever seen a Lichen as bright yellow as the one shown here? The second shot is looking over the top of Lower Grapefruit Rocks. You may recall that we started out looking up at them! The third shot is another of Androsace chamaejasme ssp. lehmanniana.
May29_128_GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29_128_
GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29_140_141_AutoPano_GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29_140_141_AutoPano
_GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29th_323_GrapefruitRocks_AndrosaceChamaejasmeSspLehmannianaRC
May29th_323_GrapefruitRocks_
AndrosaceChamaejasmeSspLehmannianaRC

  Now we are at the last of the huge rocks and we are taking a long break here and eating our lunch. The first shot in this row is of Erigeron purpuratus, the second shot is a Lloydia serotina, and the third shot is Mertensia paniculata.
May29th_344_GrapefruitRocks_ErigeronPurpuratusRC
May29th_344_Grapefruit
Rocks_ErigeronPurpuratusRC
May29th_328_GrapefruitRocks_LloydiaSerotinaRC
May29th_328_Grapefruit
Rocks_LloydiaSerotinaRC
May29th_367_GrapefruitRocks_MertensiaPaniculataRC
May29th_367_Grapefruit
Rocks_MertensiaPaniculataRC

  Now we are headed down, via a different trail than we came up by. Note the outlined area in the first photo, it shows the area of the next photo. The second photo gives you an idea of what people come here to practice doing.
May29_148_GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29_148_
GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29_149_GrapefruitRocksAreaRC
May29_149_
GrapefruitRocksAreaRC

  After we finished up at Grapefruit Rocks we headed back towards Fairbanks, but we still had some energy left, so we stopped at the Wickersham Dome Trailhead and hiked up that way for a short distance. The trail was quite muddy and there were very few flowers, so we did not go very far. These two shots show some scenery from the Wickersham Dome Trail.
May29th_378_WickershamDomeRC
May29th_378_
WickershamDomeRC
May29th_380_WickershamDomeRC
May29th_380_
WickershamDomeRC

End May 29th, Begin May 30th
  Here is a single shot of the dense Birch/Aspen forest which makes up our property.
May30th_015_Home_ForestRC
May30th_015_
Home_ForestRC

  While hiking the Granite Tors Short Loop Trail (around 2 - 3 miles, depending on which source you believe) we saw this White Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). Granite Tors Trail begins at about Milepost 39.5 on the Chena Hot Springs Road. The third shot shows the black spruce muskeg we are hiking through.
May30_06_GraniteTorsShortLoop_WhiteCrownedSparrowRC
May30_06_GraniteTorsShort
Loop_WhiteCrownedSparrowRC
May30_07_GraniteTorsShortLoop_WhiteCrownedSparrowRC
May30_07_GraniteTorsShort
Loop_WhiteCrownedSparrowRC
May30th_002_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_002_
GraniteTorsRC

  Here are some scenery shots we took as we hiked the Granite Tors Short Loop Trail. By the way, the Long Loop Trail is about 16 miles in length, if you're wondering why we are referring to this one as "short".
May30_09_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_09_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC
May30_10_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_10_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC
May30_11_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_11_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC

  Here are two shots of Rhododendron tomentosum (Labrador Tea) flowers and a shot of Andromeda polifolia var. polifolia.
May30th_018_GraniteTors_RhododendronTomentosumRC
May30th_018_Granite
Tors_RhododendronTomentosumRC
May30th_019_GraniteTors_RhododendronTomentosumRC
May30th_019_GraniteTors_
RhododendronTomentosumRC
May30_16_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_16_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC

  Here is another shot of Andromeda polifolia var. polifolia and then some shots which show scenery and Cottongrass.
May30th_022_GraniteTors_AndromedaPolifoliaVarPolifoliaRC
May30th_022_GraniteTors_
AndromedaPolifoliaVarPolifoliaRC
May30th_027_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_027
_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_029_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_029
_GraniteTorsRC

  After a while we came to a creek crossing and noticed that there was a beaver dam just a short distance upstream. We hiked around this area a bit and found some Anemone richardsonii in bloom, along with some other species of flowers.
May30th_035_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_035
_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_040_GraniteTors_AnemoneRichardsoniiRC
May30th_040_Granite
Tors_AnemoneRichardsoniiRC
May30_25_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_25_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC

  Here was a flower which we found that excited us! It's Viola epipsila ssp. repens, the Dwarf Marsh Violet. We did not expect to find this here, but there was an abundance of them.
May30th_043_GraniteTors_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_043_GraniteTors
_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_049_GraniteTors_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_049_GraniteTors
_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_053_GraniteTors_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_053_GraniteTors
_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC

  Here are two more examples of Viola epipsila ssp. repens (Dwarf Marsh Violet) and another example of Anemone richardsonii.
May30th_056_GraniteTors_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_056_GraniteTors
_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_064_GraniteTors_AnemoneRichardsoniiRC
May30th_064_GraniteTors
_AnemoneRichardsoniiRC
May30th_075_GraniteTors_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_075_GraniteTors
_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC

  In first position is another shot of Viola epipsila ssp. repens (Dwarf Marsh Violet). In second position is a shot of Kazuya shooting the violets. The third shot is a shot of the creek, backed up by another beaver dam.
May30th_084_GraniteTors_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30th_084_GraniteTors
_ViolaEpipsilaSspRepensRC
May30_34_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_34_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC
May30th_109_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_109_
GraniteTorsRC

  The first shot in this row is another of Anemone richardsonii, the second shot is a scenery shot and the third shot is another Viola epipsila ssp. repens.
May30_36_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_36_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC
May30th_110_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_110_
GraniteTorsRC
May30_47_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_47_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC

  We were amazed to find some Calypso bulbosa var. americana here too! The third shot shows some distant Tors.
May30th_142_GraniteTors_CalypsoBulbosaVarAmericanaRC
May30th_142_GraniteTors_
CalypsoBulbosaVarAmericanaRC
May30th_144_GraniteTors_CalypsoBulbosaVarAmericanaRC
May30th_144_GraniteTors_
CalypsoBulbosaVarAmericanaRC
May30th_149_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_149_
GraniteTorsRC

  The 16 mile loop trail goes to those Granite Tors which you can see in these photos.
May30th_150_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_150_
GraniteTorsRC
May30_58_GraniteTorsShortLoopRC
May30_58_Granite
TorsShortLoopRC
May30th_151_GraniteTorsRC
May30th_151_
GraniteTorsRC

  Kazuya managed to capture these two photos of Papilio canadensis - the Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - Amazing! By the way, if you decide to hike this Short Loop Trail, be aware that, at least at this time, it is NOT a Loop Trail. A bridge is washed out and you'll need to turn around and hike back the same way that you came from. There was a vague indication that this was the case, but it was not stated outright at the start of the trail that it was NOT a loop.
May30th_153Crop_GraniteTors_PapilioCanadensisRC
May30th_153Crop_Granite
Tors_PapilioCanadensisRC
May30th_159Crop_GraniteTors_PapilioCanadensisRC
May30th_159Crop_Granite
Tors_PapilioCanadensisRC

End May 30th, Begin June 5th
  Our next outing was on June 5th and 6th. We headed out the Steese Highway all the way to Eagle Summit. The first two shots in this row were taken at Mile 57.4, a rest stop near the Davidson Ditch Historical Site. The third shot was taken at the Twelvemile Summit Area near Mile 85.5. The outlined area shows the next photo.
Jun5_003_DavidsonDitchArea_SceneryRC
Jun5_003_Davidson
DitchArea_SceneryRC
June5th_004_DavidsonDitchRC
June5th_004_
DavidsonDitchRC
Jun5_007_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_007_
TwelvemileSummit_RC

  This cabin and outbuildings are visible inside the outlined area of the previous photo. We were unable to find any information at all regarding ownership of the property or cabin. They are on the Circle - Fairbanks Historic Trail, so we wonder if they are available for overnight accommodation by people using that ATV trail. The second shot is of Kalmia procumbens and the third shot is Pedicularis lanata.
Jun5_006_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_006_
TwelvemileSummit_RC
June5th_008_TwelvemileSummit_KalmiaProcumbensRC
June5th_008_Twelvemile
Summit_KalmiaProcumbensRC
June5th_011_TwelvemileSummit_PedicularisLanataRC
June5th_011_Twelvemile
Summit_PedicularisLanataRC

  Here are shots of Kalmia procumbens, Cassiope tetragona, and Pedicularis lanata.
June5th_013_TwelvemileSummit_KalmiaProcumbensRC
June5th_013_Twelvemile
Summit_KalmiaProcumbensRC
June5th_017_TwelvemileSummit_CassiopeTetragonaRC
June5th_017_Twelvemile
Summit_CassiopeTetragonaRC
Jun5_014_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_014_
TwelvemileSummit_RC

  The first shot here is another of Pedicularis lanata, but less developed than the previous shot. The second shot is Tephroseris kjellmanii and the third shot shows Pedicularis lanata and Anemone narcissiflora.
June5th_022_TwelvemileSummit_PedicularisLanataRC
June5th_022_Twelvemile
Summit_PedicularisLanataRC
June5th_041_TwelvemileSummit_TephroserisKjellmaniiRC
June5th_041_Twelvemile
Summit_TephroserisKjellmaniiRC
Jun5_038_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_038_
TwelvemileSummit_RC

  In this row are shots of Oxytropis nigrescens var. nigrescens, Anemone narcissiflora, and Kalmia procumbens.
June5th_044_TwelvemileSummit_OxytropisNigrescensVarNigrescensRC
June5th_044_TwelvemileSummit_
OxytropisNigrescensVarNigrescensRC
June5th_046_TwelvemileSummit_AnemoneNarcissifloraRC
June5th_046_TwelvemileSummit
_AnemoneNarcissifloraRC
Jun5_046_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_046_
TwelvemileSummit_RC

  Here are two shots of Diapensia lapponica ssp. obovata and then a 3-shot panorama of the Twelvemile Summit Area. You can see the Steese Highway climbing up to the Twelvemile Summit.
June5th_057_TwelvemileSummit_DiapensiaLapponicaSSPObovataRC
June5th_057_TwelvemileSummit_
DiapensiaLapponicaSSPObovataRC
June5th_063_TwelvemileSummit_DiapensiaLapponicaSSPObovataRC
June5th_063_TwelvemileSummit_
DiapensiaLapponicaSSPObovataRC
Jun5_065_066_067_AutoPano_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_065_066_067_AutoPano_
TwelvemileSummit_RC

  In first position in this row is another shot of Kalmia procumbens. In the center is a very interesting Synthyris borealis and in third position is Arctostaphylos alpina.
June5th_068_TwelvemileSummit_KalmiaProcumbensRC
June5th_068_Twelvemile
Summit_KalmiaProcumbensRC
Jun5_074_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_074_
TwelvemileSummit_RC
June5th_076_TwelvemileSummit_ArctostaphylosAlpinaRC
June5th_076_Twelvemile
Summit_ArctostaphylosAlpinaRC

  Here is a second (and final) shot of Synthyris borealis. The center photo shows Ranunculus nivalis and the third shot shows scenery and a very small Kazuya there.
June5th_078_TwelvemileSummit_SynthyrisBorealisRC
June5th_078_TwelvemileSummit
_SynthyrisBorealisRC
June5th_083_EagleSummit_RanunculusNivalisRC
June5th_083_EagleSummit
_RanunculusNivalisRC
Jun5_079_TwelvemileSummit_RC
Jun5_079_
TwelvemileSummit_RC

End Page 2, but June 5th Continues on Page 3
Thanks so much for taking the time to look at this page. Now, please go on to Page 3 for the continuation of this Eagle Summit adventure, beginning at 11:05 AM. Go To Page:


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