So the 3rd road out of Nome is the Nome to Council Road. It is 73 miles. I posted a few pictures a couple weeks ago. They included the train to No where, Safety Roadhouse, and at least one mining dredge. The "thing" you realize as you get close to Council is that there are TREES within driving distance of Nome!
This starts approximately 30 miles out of Nome. We are heading East-Northeast.
You can sort of see the willow buds. It really is Spring.
The Solomon River is just behind those willows.
We are heading toward Skookum Pass. Notice some green in the foreground, Really!
Rock formation and snow. Would look amazing with some green
Still not to Skookum Pass. You will likely notice the fog up ahead. It is more snow than fog.
This is Skookum Pass. It is snowing. It would/will be an amazing view if I can be here when/if there is a clear day.
This is looking back toward Nome
This is looking toward Council
Fog lifted a little. This picture does not do the elevation change justice. We are a few thousand feet above the valley.
Made it through the pass. Sun out for a little while. This is now the Fox River.
Fox River.
Looking back toward Skookum Pass.
If you look carefully you can see the spruce trees!
Couple spruce trees to the right.
That is the village of Council. You have to cross the Niukluk river to get there. There is NO bridge.
If you want to cross, they suggest you ask a local, so you know the appropriate/safe place.
Those things on the other side of the
Niukluk River are trees. Real actual trees.
We did not think the rental company, or the policy allowed us to take the
SUV through the water. Plus it was kind of a Rent-a-Wreck, so we were not too eager to attempt.
Heading back to Nome. See the yellow and orange buds! Color is coming!
Don't forget to enjoy the trees. Last we will see for a while.
So if you look carefully there is a very large female moose in this pic. Go left from the spruce tree. Lack of telephoto ability, and long distance, makes the moose look small. She is not quite up the slope
She is now in the opening. She has white spots on her sides. This was the second moose we saw with the white spots. The spots are scars. How powerful is a moose, you ask? Well the scars come from when brown/grizzly bears will jump on the moose's back. If the moose is able to move, the bear cannot hold on, but it tries, and its claws carve up the sides, as it slides back, and off the moose.
If the moose cannot move enough, well, then the bear has lunch, and the moose does not develop the scars. The deeper the snow, the less chance the moose can get away. The bears can actually move on the snow better than the moose. If the moose cannot get its footing it turns into lunch. If it can get its footing, the bear is likely hungry. This past winter was a low snow winter.
She is now almost past the opening. The white scars help make her visible. She looked like she was about to calf. Hopefully her calf can make it through the spring. That bear is likely still hungry.
This is the sign at the end of the road at the Niukluk River. Council is behind me. I thought this was a fitting picture with which to end this post.
This was the end of the 2014 Memorial Day photos.
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