Coldfoot is a ce
nsus-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S
. state of Alaska. The population was 13 at the 2000 census. Coldfoot primarily serves as a truck stop on the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. It has a restaurant and a small number of overnight accommodations (converted pipeline construction camp quarters). Bus tours along the highway typically take two days with passengers spending the night in Coldfoot. The BLM, USFWS, and NPS jointly staff a small visitor center during the summer. The Coldfoot truck stop was founded by Iditarod champion Dick Mackey who started his operation by selling hamburgers out of a converted school bus.
Truckers helped build the existing truck stop and cafe. The town was originally a mining camp named Slate Creek, and around 1900 got its present name when prospectors going up the nearby Koyukuk River would get "cold feet" and turn around. In 1902 Coldfoot had two roadhouses, two stores, seven saloons, and a gambling house. A post office operated from 1902 to 1912, then reopened in 1984. Coldfoot Airport, on the west side of th
e Dalton Highway, consists of a 4,000-foot (1220 m) gravel strip.
Pleep couldn't be happier. He's finally found a kinsman in the great white north. Here's Rob with his monkey, Curious George. They've driven up from LA on their Harley. Pleep's been bumming the last week or so as DOC keeps running into all kinds of relations - moose, caribou, elk, etc. Pleep's been crying into his drinks at night so now we think he'll be happier tonight.
nsus-designated place (CDP) in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area in the U.S
. state of Alaska. The population was 13 at the 2000 census. Coldfoot primarily serves as a truck stop on the Dalton Highway from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. It has a restaurant and a small number of overnight accommodations (converted pipeline construction camp quarters). Bus tours along the highway typically take two days with passengers spending the night in Coldfoot. The BLM, USFWS, and NPS jointly staff a small visitor center during the summer. The Coldfoot truck stop was founded by Iditarod champion Dick Mackey who started his operation by selling hamburgers out of a converted school bus.Truckers helped build the existing truck stop and cafe. The town was originally a mining camp named Slate Creek, and around 1900 got its present name when prospectors going up the nearby Koyukuk River would get "cold feet" and turn around. In 1902 Coldfoot had two roadhouses, two stores, seven saloons, and a gambling house. A post office operated from 1902 to 1912, then reopened in 1984. Coldfoot Airport, on the west side of th
e Dalton Highway, consists of a 4,000-foot (1220 m) gravel strip.Pleep couldn't be happier. He's finally found a kinsman in the great white north. Here's Rob with his monkey, Curious George. They've driven up from LA on their Harley. Pleep's been bumming the last week or so as DOC keeps running into all kinds of relations - moose, caribou, elk, etc. Pleep's been crying into his drinks at night so now we think he'll be happier tonight.
Pam is starting to like the semis. These grey trucks go well with the black clothes. Starting out the morning in Prudhoe is dark and brrrrr-and this is July?
Keith and one of the Alaska Bloodsucking mosquitoes. Def. the most mosquito infested section of the road. Mosquito Trivia:
1. Only the females bite-yep the bloodsuckers of the family. 2. They can be cannibalistic-I can relate.
3. The English call mosquitoes "gnats"? huh? well what do you expect, they drink their beer warm.4. They've been around for 200 million years-wonderful.
5. Last count? 100 Trillion of which 90 Trillion are here!
6. 3450 different species-yikes.
7. Excellent flyers making it hard to get-they move up, down, backwards and forward.-Swat!
8. Why do some of get a big bite bump and others nothing? I thought it was because I was way sweeter than Buba-nope, just reaction to the little buggers saliva.
9. DEET- my new fragrance.
We pick up two hi
ker float packers for the ride to Coldfoot-Brian and Ken. They have been hiking and rafting in the Brooks Mt. Range for the past two weeks. No cell, no watch, no IPOD...just hike and float the rivers. They even had a visitor, a 10 ft grizzly, visit their camp site. We are talking remote wilderness out here. They said they wished they would have brought a little more food and clothes. The opposite of Boca and Buba for sure. A bit hungry and def. looking forward to a cold beer.
ker float packers for the ride to Coldfoot-Brian and Ken. They have been hiking and rafting in the Brooks Mt. Range for the past two weeks. No cell, no watch, no IPOD...just hike and float the rivers. They even had a visitor, a 10 ft grizzly, visit their camp site. We are talking remote wilderness out here. They said they wished they would have brought a little more food and clothes. The opposite of Boca and Buba for sure. A bit hungry and def. looking forward to a cold beer..jpg)
Our tour guide Mike tells Boca "Get your darn monkey down off the Pipeline PLEASE!"
Now, where did that damn monkey get to? Buba has to keep glassing for Pleep again and again.
Finally, there he is - a trip to the out house and Buba finds that darn
monkey.
After a big day chasing us all around, Pleep promises his Mom that he will have cookies and milk and finish Michener's "Alaska" and then lights out, right to bed...
But, it turns out he is a little fibber. Party on with the boys. Plus, he points out lights out this time of year is - NEVER!
LOCAL BUMPERSTICKER: HAPPINESS IS AN OKIE FLYING SOUTH WITH A TEXAN UNDER EACH ARM. Ya gotta love these guys. We are talking beyond manly men. I asked why they do it- 2 weeks on 2 weeks off living in a trailor in Arctic cold, no booze, no Wendy's, no bowling alley, no pets and no babes.....Honey, we do it for the money! And we love the 2 week rotation...more time to fish and hunt of course.
In keeping with his new Alaskan buddies, Pleep has found his new mantra - Forever Wild & Free. We think he's going to have to curb this lifestyle by the time he hits Dawnie's condo in Chicago.
In keeping with his new Alaskan buddies, Pleep has found his new mantra - Forever Wild & Free. We think he's going to have to curb this lifestyle by the time he hits Dawnie's condo in Chicago.
