FAIRBANKS to PRUDHOE BAY

After touring Fairbanks for three days , we headed to what would be the most northern place of this trip: Deadhorse, Prudhoe bay and the Arctic ocean . Leaving the rolly hills covered by spruce, aspens and others trees crossing the Yukon  river, we drove thru Atigun pass (4,800 ft) in the Brooks range down toward the ocean, discovering the tundra and its wildlife. A 1000 miles round trip on mostly  gravel or chip seal  roads with the steepest grade of 12% . A lot of  road maintenance re-construction with long berms of dirt and gravel in the middle  that challenge the driver and let not forget on some gravel section "the washboard are so severe your teeth rattle"...

The Dalton highway , as it is called , follow the  Trans alaska pipeline  which carry crude oil from Prudhoe bay to Valdez ( 800 miles long). Deadhorse is just a large camp for all contractors supporting the oil companies extracting zillions of barrels.

Down town Fairbanks ,pop 70,000 

Paved the first few miles

 We pull on the side as these trucks bringing supply or returning with equipment own the road

Refueling at one of the very few stations (4 ) along the way

The pipeline is half under half above ground

 We cross the Arctic circle  N66,33' W150 48'

Atigun pass

Caribous , The herd covering Alaska is more than 500,000 strong

 Power cord hanging down for the engine block heater. A common thing in Alaska, 

 oil rig