Vegan in Fairbanks, Alaska
Day Trip to Castner Glacier

Having acclimated to driving about Fairbanks with some confidence, the perceived barrier of distance dissipated. I would travel south to enter the mouth of the Castner Glacier. And the 2 hour and 45 minute drive was gorgeous, with glimpses of Denali, the tallest mountain in the Northern hemisphere, and the rest Alaska Range along the way.

While it was extremely windy, I had to capture some of these mountains.

From the car would work just fine

Then I was in those mountains, following a trail of packed snow to the entrance to the glacier, Daniel Torrance-style. It was disorientating, the white, being secluded within it by myself.

But at the glacier, a good amount of folks. It was a gorgeous reward from the short hike that proved to be a bit strenuous in places. My feet sunk 2-3 feet in the soft snow with each step, creating a series of small inclines that kicked my butt cardiovascularly. Snow shoes would have helped.

But the intrepid are rewarded. There it is, a gorgeous shade of aquamarine–like the gemstone, the pretty Pisces’ gemstone on my Mom’s ring I used to clean with a toothbrush and windex when I was a kid. It looked just like this.

Cut with gold sediment

Spectacular

Well worth the effort

Now, a bunch of pictures

Tiny people

Surrounded

The most unreal, most beautiful place

After the hike back and in the car, this vegan charcuterie pack I picked up from Go Wild in Fairbanks was just what I needed. Never has something satisfied so many taste necessities with such intensity.

Heavenly caprese with Miyoko mozzarella, basil leaf and tomato…

Time for a gorgeous drive back. Heading to Castner was a very good decision.