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Yukon

Road Trippin’: Doing the Funky Chicken

May 28, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

One of the quirkiest communities in the eastern Interior of Alaska is the village of Chicken. Located at about mile 66 of the Taylor Highway and is comprised of downtown Chicken, the Original Chicken Gold Camp/Chicken Creek Outpost and the Goldpanner.

Chicken got its name in 1902 when it was incorporated officially. Rumor has it that the residents wanted to call it Ptarmigan, because that was the wild bird of choice for local prospectors in search for gold. But when it came time to officially name the town no one could spell ptarmigan, so they settled on Chicken.

With only about 30 year-round residents and a deluge of tourists from the Lower 48, this little town near the Canadian border is very unique. There is little electricity for public use, few phones, little plumbing, and mail arrives only twice a week by bush plane, but with the lack of amenities this little hamlet makes up in eclectic charm.

For visitors, there are several several gift shops, cafes and even a bar. Be sure to check out the Chicken Gold Camp, the most complete dredge open to the public in Alaska.

If you are in Chicken in June (8th and 9th this year) you have to check out Chickenstock. Billed as the “Top of the World Music Festival” with an emphasis on bluegrass and jam sessions.

To get to Chicken you turn left on the Taylor Highway 12 miles east of Tok and head up the highway for more than an hour. There will be plenty of tour buses ferrying tourists to point north–Eagle, Boundary and Dawson City, Yukon so be carful.

It was a beautiful drive. It rained at times but that is okay. It can be expected in Alaska in the summer. Along the way I stopped at Mount Fairplay, and the Mosquito Fork bridge and got out and stretched my legs. Did you know that the largest caribou herd in North America traverses the Taylor Highway every fall on their great migration south?

Date of visit: May 27, 2012

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Road Trippin Tagged With: alaska, Chicken, Cook, Dawson City, Eagle, Taylor Highway, Top, Yukon

Iditarod 40: The Trail. Nulato to Kaltag

March 9, 2012 by robertforto Leave a Comment

Iditarod 40: The Trail. Nulato to Kaltag     47 Miles

The final stretch on the Yukon River before turning inland for the Kaltag Portage headed towards the coast. Kaltag always offers a warm welcome. Checkpoint is at Kaltag Community Center.

Kaltag — (KAL-tag) — (KAL) Lat 64.19 Long 158.45 — Population 205 — This town signals a brief respite from the driving winds as the trail from here leads overland through Kaltag Portage to the coast of Norton Sound where the winds take on new meaning. Kaltag is the home of Virginia Kalland, widow of Edgar Kalland who was one of the original mushers who helped carry lifesaving diphtheria serum along this trail 60 years ago. She also owns one of Kaltag’ s three stores. Note: The location for mushers check-in is at Rich Burnham’s house, but the official checkpoint and gathering spot is the community hall about a block away. Please don’t treat the Burnham home as a checkpoint.

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Filed Under: Alaska, Daily Post, Iditarod 40 Tagged With: alaska, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Kaltag, Kaltag Alaska, MUSH, Norton Sound, Nulato Alaska, Yukon

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