Lupine Are Up!

Things are looking pretty green around here – finally. Slana looks like summer but here at the end of the road we are still more spring like. The wild flowers are starting to show up with lupine, and some dwarf fireweed the most obvious from the road. The Memorial Day weekend was busy. Of course that’s relative. There were probably around 10 campsites in use over the course of the entire road!

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Sunday, May 31, 2009.

Road Conditions As Of Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 3:00 pm:
Nabesna Road is a gravel and dirt surface and is in good to fair condition.

Mile 15 – Mile 17.5: The road is rough in this area with numerous pot holes.

Rock Creek is still very rough with one lane traffic only. DOT is moving fill in so watch for heavy trucks and other equipment in the area.

Trail Creek (Mile 29) is dry.

Lost Creek (Mile 30.8) has shallow water flowing across the road.

Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) has shallow water flowing across the road.

Mile 36 – Mile 42: Conditions deteriorate and are rough but still passable by any vehicle.

Insider Tips:

It’s always a struggle to describe Nabesna Road conditions. Lee and I drive the entire road round trip at least six times per week. We drive full size four wheel drive pickups. We try to describe conditions so that you realistically know what to expect without discouraging you from driving the road. In the end, you are the only one who knows your vehicle, driving ability and comfort level on gravel roads. We see everything from small sedans to large Class C motor homes that go all the way to the end of the road. We have also pulled four wheel drive vehicles out of numerous creek crossings. Write us a comment if you would like to see more details or additional information. We want your visit to be safe.

Wildlife Sightings:

Moose x2 (5/27)

Snow Shoe Hare (Daily)

Arctic Ground Squirrels (Daily)

Trumpeter Swans (Daily)

Goshawk (5/27)

Yellowlegs (5/27)

Barrow’s Golden Eye (5/27)

Getting Back to Normal

Things are getting back to normal on Nabesna Road. Steve DeWitt and his Slana DOT crew have done a great job repairing washouts and smoothing out channels in the stream crossings. We saw a pick-up camper and an out-of-state car with bikes on it so visitors are starting to arrive. Things are pretty wet on the trails and there's still a lot of ice on the lakes. But as you can see from this photo taken at the Slana River Bridge, Mile 1, Nabesna Road, the ice is out on the Slana.

Note: The next Nabesna Road update will be on Wednesday, May 6, 2009.

Conditions:
Nabesna Road is in fair condition. The road is rough in places, especially beyond Mile 27. Shallow water is crossing the road in numerous locations. Use caution as muddy water limits visibility, making it difficult to see possible channels. Watch for erosion to the road bed. The road shoulders are extremely soft.
Trail Creek (Mile 29) There is a moderate of water across the road. The water is spread out so no channels. We recommend clearance beyond this point. Use caution if taking a low clearance vehicle across.
Lost Creek (Mile 30.8) Same as above except that there is a potential for a channel to develop. The water is spread out but not over a large area.
Boyden Creek (Mile 34.3) has shallow water flowing across the road. Intermittent Drainages beyond Jack Creek (Mile 35.3) have shallow water crossing the road.

Insider Tips: When crossing water on Nabesna Road it is important to maintain your momentum until you are clear of all water. You don’t need to hit the water with a lot of speed. And, if you have four wheel drive use it. Help is a long way away.

Wildlife Sightings:
Caribou (5/4)
Lynx (5/4)
Wilson’s Warbler (5/3)
Barrow’s Golden Eye (5/3, 5/4)
Varied Thrush (5/4)
Yellow Legs (sp?) (5/4)
Golden Eagle (5/4)