![]() The sheer scale of it could easily inspire boredom or unease, but for me, it was fascination. Only the occasional gorge or peak interrupted the soothing monotony of trees. We headed through Denali National Park and past the continent’s tallest mountain, wrapped in clouds. I spotted a moose and watched a black fox, stark against a white meadow, scare a flock of crows into flight. ![]() Old telegraph poles and the occasional cabin stood in varying states of decay. Soon, the settlements thinned into meadows, forests and mountains. The railroad is still a transportation corridor for certain snowbound homesteads, such as Sherman and Chase, where residents waited by the tracks for supplies. I wanted to understand the scale of the state by traveling through it, not over it, and it seemed luxurious to have nothing to do but watch the world go by.įrom the station in downtown Anchorage, we rattled past homes steaming with heat and the distant peaks of the Chugach mountain range, exhaling puffs of windblown snow. I, however, decided to take the train, a 12-hour roll through the deep freeze of central Alaska. To get from Anchorage to Fairbanks, most sensible people take a flight. After three trips to Alaska, I realized that I’d never truly understood the spirit of the state until I visited its remote northern reaches last winter, alone. I’d come seeking a sliver of peace, but I was also curious about the beauty of the interior. I’d spent the previous week on a raucous, bourbon-soaked ski trip with friends in Prince William Sound and was in need of detox. Most of the few winter visitors come with a purpose: to see the aurora borealis. It’s not an obvious destination for midwinter rest and relaxation. This part of Alaska is marked by harsh extremes - vicious wind, up to 20 hours of darkness and temperatures that regularly dive below zero. But it’s most notable for what surrounds it: a 7,000-square-mile borough of boreal forests, peaks and glaciers. Once an early 20th-century trading post that served gold miners, Fairbanks is now a flat, frozen college town of 32,000. It was hard to believe that we were just outside Alaska’s second-largest city. I eased my grip on the handle and watched an unbroken tableau of woods and fields unfurl below us. We floated through spruce forests and untracked meadows topped by a pale sky. But they quickly settled into a rhythmic trot, and the stab of adrenaline soon melted into calm. With a jerk, the dogs sprang into a gallop, and I shrieked. “Let’s go!” she said and smiled up at me, amused by my unease. ![]() I couldn’t believe that she trusted me to drive this thing. ![]() My dog-sled instructor, Leslie Goodwin, sat in the basket of my sled as I poured all my weight onto the foot brake. Ten Alaskan huskies yelped, jumped and trembled with excitement on a snowy hill 10 miles outside Fairbanks, Alaska. ![]() I have been recommending Serenity Float center to my friends, colleagues & everyone I come into contact with.In The Heart Of Alaska, Serenity Springs Eternal Paola speaks perfect english & is gracious, personable yet professional. Soothing music follows you around & smiles & positivity greet you everywhere. Serene tones & colors as you enter & move about. The facility is clean & there is even a Crossfit Cube on the first floor (wish I had more time). I felt rejuvenated & renewed after my visit. What a blessing it was to find this place. I got a lot more than I expected & an amazing massage from Daniella tooo! She sure did work out the kinks & tension I was carrying around. After really easy communication she fitted me into her schedule. Was in Bogota for one day & contacted the facility through the website. I've heard of the amazing health benefits but I travel a lot from continent to coast & just couldn't fit it in. I had been wanting to do this for a while. ![]()
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