Happy New Year!!

Small pause in my Alaskan posts because..........

........it's Chinese New Year!! My year-Year of the Horse!! 

The Alaskan Railroad

So this past Saturday morning I took a scenic train ride across Alaska. The Alaska Railroad Corporation runs a train once a week on Saturday's during the winter heading northbound to Fairbanks and then returning the next day.

I was able to snap a quick shot of our train before we boarded. In the winter the train has two cars for passengers, one dining car, the main engine, and then hauls a couple of freight cars. 

Here was a map of our route and the stops or highlights along the way.

The morning started off pretty foggy but progressively got better. It turned out to be a crystal clear day, great for sightseeing and photos! 

We saw some moose early in our trip. Unfortunately they were running away from the train and I couldn't get a very good shot. 

"Moving right along in search of good times and good news".......

do you know the rest? :P

Along the entire trip you'll see the remains of old telegraph poles from earlier times. The Alaskan government removed all the copper wire but left 

the poles standing. 

Mt. Denali 

Saw some Caribou at two different spots but unfortunately they were a little to far away from me to get a good shot and I got glare from the sun in one. Also so a pair of Dall sheep but had the same problem. But hey, at least I saw them!!

We couldn't have asked for a better day! Just perfect!!

Anchorage Museum

Yesterday I went to the Anchorage Museum where I wandered around learning more about the state and its culture.

 I was greeted at the entrance by this........young lady......:P

So the guy that wore these boots walked 353 miles in these things!! See below:

Woolly Mammoth Tusk: 

Many different tools used by The Eskimos:

If you look on the little whale, you can see he lines where they would 

section off the meat. 

Russian Blockhouse: See Below 

 Umiak: See Below

A bowl used by Shaman's

Different masks and tools used by them as well: See Below

Cool looking plate!

 More masks.

 Weapons for whale hunting and means of travel.

 On the left are different types of pipes carved from walrus tusk.

 Harpoons for hunting as well as two ivory carvings. 

Huge pot used to cook down whale blubber for oil.

Napkin Rings made of ivory.

 Cribbage board made of ivory.

They made just about anything out of ivory!

All you really needed to strike it rich: See Below

Juneau, ca. 1900

 Ruby 1912

 Golden City on Pedro Creek near Fairbanks 1905.

Piece of the Alaskan Pipeline.

I'm a huge fan of masks and they had a whole exhibit just on them!

Each mask has it's own meaning.