Day 2 was a random roadtrip looping down the Richardson Highway (AK-2 & AK-4) down to Paxson and then looping back around to Fairbanks. This was the first major road built in Alaska dating back to a treacherous pack trail built in 1898 by the army to link up Valdez to the Klondike. Weather this day made for a relaxing drive, cool with a few clouds dotting the skies. . .
This pullout off the Richardson Highway near Moose Creek gave a scenic view of the Alaska Range about 125+/- miles south. . .
. . .a closer view of the Alaska Range peaks. . .
. . .another pull out, another peaceful view. Like Mt. McKinley, these peaks are also high enough to create their own weather. . .
. . .Alaska Range across the wide Tanana River. . .
. . .another look at the Alaska Range peaks with the Alaska Pipeline in the foreground. . .
. . .a sun bleached view down into the Alaska Range Mountains. . .
. . .closeup of the snow covered peaks. . .
. . .This is Birch Lake State Recreation Site, a somewhat surprise find on the side of the Richardson Highway. It was generally empty on this day, but it's aparently popular with jetskiers in the summer and ice fisherman in the winter. . .
. . .at another Richardson Highway pull off, the clouds were casting spiffy shadows on the Alaska Range mountains. . .
. . .the Alaska Pipeline crossing the delta of the Tanana River. . .
. . .and heading up the other side. . .
. . .south of Delta Junction, AK, looking down the Delta River towards the Alaska Range. . .
. . . Alaska Range across the Delta River. . .
. . .The Richardson Highway twisting through the Alaska Range foothills. . .
. . .a turnoff on the edge of the Delta River. . .
. . .looking up the Delta River towards the Alaska Range. . .
. . .these are the Richardson Highway markers speaking of the history of the road, and it's impact. . .
. . .this was an empty marker with just pieces of wood where a sign should be. there were about 50+/- other signatures on it, so i added mine. . .
. . .another Richardson Highway pulloff -- another spiffy view of a snow covered Alaska Range peak. . .
. . .panoramic view of the valley and Alaska Range. . .
. . .another pulloff -- another spiffy view of the snow covered Alaska Range across the Delta River. . .
. . .an overlook looking north over the Delta River. . .
. . .same overlook, same Delta River, but looking northwest. . .
. . .same overlook, looking south towards the Alaska Range. . .
. . .closeup of a glacier coming down the side of the mountain. . .
. . . a closer look at the local plantlife. . .
. . .the sun over the Richardson Highway and the Alaska Range. . .
. . .the turnoff from the Richardson (AK-4) to the Denali (AK-8) Highways. . .
