VIKING LODGE

Just back from an awesome week long visit to Viking Lodge in Wrangell St Elias National Park.  This homesteader's cabin was built in the early '70s and is available for public use at no charge.  Reservations, however, are required.


The difference between Caribou and Reindeer...Caribou can't fly

Its approximately 260 miles from Anchorage to the beginning of the Nabesna Road, making this a bit of a road trip.  Champ and I had decent weather for most of the trip but a
blowing snowstorm made the last 30 miles on the Tok Cutoff more fun than we wanted. Once we reached Nabesna Road the weather cleared.  After just a few miles , we were welcomed by a herd of caribou, two of which are pictured here.

A nice trail is always...nice!

The trail to Viking Lodge is located at mile 21 of the Nabesna Road.  We reached it at about 5pm ready to stretch our legs after the long drive.  Lucky for us, a prior user had established a nice firm trail through the snow to the cabin.  Pulling the sled was easy work for Champ and we soon made our way the 1/3 mile to Viking Lodge.  We reached the cabin with daylight to spare and in short order we had sledded two loads of gear to our temporary home.

The cabin is heated by a barrel stove.  In no time the cabin was warm despite the 8 degrees on the outside thermometer.  Champ decided his bed worked best if it was next to the stove.  A slight snowfall started as we settled in for the night but soon gave way to clear skies.  The long drive must have tired us out as we hit the hay by 9 pm.




Friday morning we were up early and soon had a fire roaring in the stove.  Having skipped dinner the night before, the ham and egg breakfast was thoroughly enjoyed.  I then spent the morning exploring around the cabin.  I found a number of spruce rounds buried in the snow so I fetched the snow shovel and dug several out.  Splitting them with an ax took up most of the morning but its always good to have extra firewood.  After a lunch of potato salad, Champ and I walked east along the Nabesna Road for a mile or so, marveling at the quiet and solitude.  Then we loaded up the sled with more supplies and headed back to the cabin.  Reading and resting occupied our time till dinner when we enjoyed a meal of chicken and dressing and green beans.  And kibble of course.  Following dinner, we planned to relax by the fire but plans changed with the arrival of our friend Carl the bush kangaroo.  We were glad to see Carl and certainly more than willing to help him haul the firewood he brought with him to the cabin.  With all the wood he brought, we weren't going to freeze no matter what the weather did!