Fairbanks Midnight Sun Festival

Vendors lined the streets of downtown Fairbanks. It was hard to find parking, but Fairbanks has low elevation so it isn't too bad to walk.

I went to the Midnight Sun Festival last weekend. It was a nice chance to get outside, listen to music, and stock up on fair food and  ethnic food for weeks. To the left is the sign saying the festival goes from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. To the right is the sign outlining the various vendors. Some sold food, others sold items, and some were for organizations and music groups.

This jazz band was pretty neat.

We had fun singing along to this guy while others danced.

At one point during the fest, people could race rubber ducks down the Chena River.

 I also enjoyed people watching. This person wore a unicorn mask!

The festival is a family friendly event too. I saw people of all ages, and their pets. Games and a firetruck were set up for the kids while the adults could enjoy the shopping and music. Vendors sold all varieties of food and items. There was a vendor selling knives while another vendor sold pretty baby clothes. Many vendors had wheels to spin for prizes. Some vendors were for organizations such as the Fairbanks Food Bank and the Northern Alaska Environmental Center.

I saw all sorts of dogs. There was this big guy, a dalmatian, dachshund, and huskies. Too bad I don't have a dog of my own to bring along

Since the fest was in downtown Fairbanks, you could see the fountain there, the Chena River, and various shops and restaurants.

I enjoyed the wide variety of food, but nothing says Alaska like Reindeer dogs!

Be sure to bring the sunscreen. Contrary to popular belief, Fairbanks makes up for its long winter in the summer.

I had to go home early, but here you can see the light sky even though it is 12 a.m.

I also video taped the sky so you know i'm not playing with Photoshop! :)

I suggest you check out the Midnight Sun Festival if you are ever in Fairbanks during that time of year. It was a neat event. At the very least, you should stay up and enjoy the 21 hours of sunlight. You can learn more about our light here.

Exit Glacier

     I had the privilege of visiting Exit Glacier during a natural resource management field class. We discussed how the Kenai Fjords National Park and wildlife are managed. One of the biggest issues the park faces is how to manage the disappearing Exit Glacier. People come to the park specifically to see the glacier. Yet it melts with each passing year, making access more difficult and viewing opportunities less than desirable for some park visitors.

     You can visit this link to learn more about melting glaciers. (Just don't let the chaos of climate change dampen your outlook on visiting glaciers despite how they are different from the past).
   
My experience at the park was wonderful. We hiked to Exit Glacier through the rain, which I thought added to the scenery. Below are some of the pictures I took. You can also learn more about visiting Exit Glacier here. Enjoy!

Instead of pavement, the park trails near the glacier are gravel. Because of the glacier’s movement, all structures near it including trails and viewing stations must be made portable at a low cost. Doing so ensures the structures can be moved and repaired easily when the glacier moves again. The trails are wide and not too steep until we got within a mile or so of Exit Glacier.

Along the trail we saw signs depicting where

the Glacier's terminus (ending point)

used to be. I can't imagine such a

huge glacier as Exit Glacier in 1926!

Here is the old viewing station and a prime example of why
permanent structures are not a good idea near a glacier. The
glacier receded so it is now very far from the viewing station.
The viewing station was built to last though, so it just sits
as a relic of when people didn't have to hike to see the ice.

Here you can see how Exit Glacier's size changes over time. I found this impressive and somewhat sad.

Be sure to watch for puddles on a rainy day!

Lots of neat plants live near Exit Glacier, even though
the whole area is covered in gravel.

I present to you...Exit Glacier! It was named Exit Glacier after some people exploring Harding Ice Field decided the glacier was a good place to exit. I didn't want to leave though.

We also saw Exit Glacier's moraine. You can learn more about them here.

 Maybe my pictures will inspire you to visit Exit Glacier or some other glacier on your next vacation. They are special to see, especially since they change so rapidly. I am certainly glad I got the opportunity to visit Exit Glacier and learn about resource management at the same time.