Monday, July 11, 2011

 Today is the day for our day trip to Chena Hot Springs.  LeRoy and I drove about 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks to get to the hot springs, said to have curing posers in their hot water.  The Chena Hot Springs have been famous since 1905, curing crippled prospectors of their aches and pains.  These springs are similar to hot springs found in Carlsbad in Bohemia and is high in sodium bicarbonates.  These are natural mineral hot springs and the geothermal water here never reaches above 165 degrees.

The first 20 or so miles On the Chena Hot Springs Road had many frost heaves but the majority of the road was repaved in 2010.  We saw a couple of moose grazing in marshy areas along the roadside. Upon arrival at the resort we took a complimentary geothermal energy tour.  Our guide told us to grab some food for the goats or they wouldn't let us past them.  Only 2 of the 3 goats came out of their Quonset hut to eat the biscuits from our hands. 

The geothermal tour consisted of seeing the geothermal power plant with turbine/generators made with parts that were made from recycled parts.  More interesting to me was the "Chena Fresh" greenhouse.  In 2004 they started a small test greenhouse to experiment with a year-round greenhouse in the extreme Alaska weather.  Today they utilize the geothermal water and heat a 7,000 foot greenhouse, maintaining a 75 degree temperature,  The Chena Hot Springs Resort has received
many awards for its groundbreaking development of geothermal resources. It was amazing to see the lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers being hydroponically grown.  In the summer months they also
grow other root vegetables like potatoes.  They grow enough veggies here at the resort to sustain their own restaurant, provide produce to the University of Alaska, to sell some at the Fairbanks farmers market, and if I'm not mistaken, I saw several crates of tomatoes for the Fairbanks hospital.
We were so hungry for a good salad after our tour that headed to the restaurant and ordered a salad. 

Sad to say the massage therapist was no longer at the resort as she had to leave town.  The hair stylist was not in on Monday and would be in after we left on Tuesday morning.  So we relaxed in the hot springs and soaked away our worries.  Healers recommend soaking in the hot springs pool as it draws toxins from your body.  You may be especially thirsty after soaking so it is recommended you drink plenty of water to replenish your body fluids. This remote resort is open year-round.  People must come here to watch the Aurora Borealis in winter.  The front desk will even buzz your room between midnight and 2:00 a.m. so you don't miss the Aurora viewing.

At first I couldn't figure out what caught the attention of these two yearlings that have the run of the property.  Then I looked across the path going up into the woods and there she was, MAMA!
Also on site is the Aurora Ice Museum with ice carvings kept in chillers powered by the geothermal water.  You can even enjoy an appletini in your own ice-carved martini glass as the ice bar.  We passed on the ice museum as we just saw one in Fairbanks.  But after the 7:00 tour of the Chena Ice Museum, several people brought their ice glasses to the bar/restaurant and wanted another drink made in them.  Silly tourists - don't they know the alcohol goes into the ice and the glass will only melt indoors?  Even the bartender couldn't convince them to give up these ice glasses so he brought them bowls to place them into so they didn't make a watery mess all over the bar or tables.
We had to pay $10 to get on the Internet and get a password in the Activity Room.  The password is good for 24 hours only, unless you wanted to pay $15 for 2 days.