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UER Forum > UE Photography > Impromptu Alaska GTA (Viewed 1324 times)
skatchkins 


Location: The Desert
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1476 likes




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Impromptu Alaska GTA
< on 10/20/2017 6:43 PM >
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My buddy and I were talking about bucket list things since he's turning 40 and I'm not far behind. He's a staunch non-birthday celebrater but had recently seen that you could drive to the Arctic Circle and mused that he gave it a thought since RT tickets to Fairbanks could be had for $300. One thing led to another after finding out he already had already taken time off for his birthday (in 2wks) to be alone. I made the complimentary wife call and three sentences in she said, "Go to Alaska!"

I found out the plane ticket price and the 200mi distance up to the Circle sign were the only info he had at the time so we got in gear figuring out where to stay and what rental companies even let you drive their vehicle on the long haul road up. It turns out there's only one or two keen with their vehicles on the Dalton Highway and they want $250+ a day. On a whim, Bob called an Anchorage 4x4 company and asked if they happened to have any vehicles left up in Fairbanks at the time and not only did they (a Jeep Grand Cherokee), but it was only $75/day. We got a cheap Air BnB cabin in the woods outside of Faibanks and a small cabin in Wiseman (63mi N of the circle) since the drive up is supposed to take 8hrs.

Anyway, we got into FB at 1:00am and went to the parking lot to search for our rental. Since the company doesn't operate out of FB, they said they left the vehicle in long term parking and oh, it's not a Cherokee anymore, there was a problem with it so we got a free upgrade to a newer 4wd Suburban. So we're looking around the lot now for a newer suburban but with no info on color or plate #, only that the keys are stashed in the gas hatch. It takes a while walking around the lot until we finally see a Burb, and oh look, there's a number on the side, a sticker that says GAS ONLY on the hatch and a CB like we're supposed to have. We pop the hatch and yep, phew there's the key (and a spare just in case), let's get out of the 2am cold now. We pay the parking ticket (that's funny, it's for 4 days - I guess we'll ask for reimbursement - but again, they don't rent in this town so maybe someone got their brother to drop it off, they already switched the vehicle on us and left us little info) and head off 20mi out to a motel to crash out.

Well Bob gets to admitting that something doesn't feel right. He loves the vehicle, it has already got some Dalton dirt on it so he doesn't feel bad for the road that's in store for it, but he starts remembering "they may have said 2017 suburban, this could be a little older. Check the glove box for any info." There's a couple work papers in there but again, those could left by anyone - but here's the manual and it says 2013. I assure him it's fine, "the girl on the phone first told us the keys would be under the hood until you reminded her that wouldn't work on a Chevy. It's just a small operation they're just happy someone's using the vehicle while it's up here." He stops just before the hotel and says, he can't shake it, "we need to go back and check that parking lot again."

So we do. It's now 2:30am. Plenty of trucks, some Yukons. Bob finds a piece of paper from the company with no plate or color still, but a VIN number. Our Suburban doesn't match up. We still find no other Burb and we're about to call it quits. I walk the long way back and wait, here's another one hidden way back here. I flashlight the VIN and I get a match. I pop the gas cap and wow, keys. We totally stole someone's vehicle. I write a note "Sorry, wrong Suburban with keys in the gas hatch. We paid your parking." I didn't know what else made sense to put at almost 3 in the morn so I added, "Rock on."



Arrive 1am
Day 1 - Drive to Arctic Circle and up to Wiseman (town of maybe 10) cabin
Day 2 - Old cabin man convinces us to drive 100 more miles north (best decision of the trip). We turn around there in the ice and drive back to Fairbanks and cabin
Day 3 - Explore old abandoned mining camps all day while it's snowing
Depart 1am

Special shoutout to member AKphill for his UE database mine camp locations.
And thank goodness for 4wd.


Antigun Pass, AK by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Slippery Slope by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Wiseman Creek at Koyukuk River by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Abandoned mining by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Abandoned mining by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Alaskan pipeline by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Abandoned gold mine by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Who goes there? by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Abandoned mining by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr


Reappropriation by No Stone Unturned Photography, on Flickr




[last edit 10/20/2017 6:50 PM by skatchkins - edited 2 times]

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Desertify Urbex 


Location: Maine
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 149 likes




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Re: Impromptu Alaska GTA
< Reply # 1 on 10/21/2017 2:32 PM >
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That's a great idea for a turning 40 trip and a great stolen car memory! I'm almost there myself. Looks like you found some obscure frozen in time locations as well. Very unique trip.




Gamewolf66 


Total Likes: 24 likes




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Re: Impromptu Alaska GTA
< Reply # 2 on 10/23/2017 8:56 PM >
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Posted on Forum: UER Forum
That pipeline is wallpaper levels of quality (That means it's really good!)




skatchkins 


Location: The Desert
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 1476 likes




 |  |  | No Stone Unturned Photography
Re: Impromptu Alaska GTA
< Reply # 3 on 10/24/2017 9:48 PM >
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Posted on Forum: UER Forum
Thanks




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randomesquephoto 


Total Likes: 1671 likes


Don't be a Maxx

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Re: Impromptu Alaska GTA
< Reply # 4 on 10/26/2017 12:57 PM >
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Damn fine.




RIP Blackhawk
AKphill 


Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Gender: Male
Total Likes: 10 likes


Exploring the 49th state.

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Re: Impromptu Alaska GTA
< Reply # 5 on 10/26/2017 11:36 PM >
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Nice stuff! Glad to see some of the old mine camps are still standing up there. Can't say the same about a lot of the old dredges though.




Ansch 


Location: Switzerland
Gender: Male
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Re: Impromptu Alaska GTA
< Reply # 6 on 11/9/2017 8:29 PM >
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Nice.




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UER Forum > UE Photography > Impromptu Alaska GTA (Viewed 1324 times)


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