Angelika In Alaska, there is not only permafrost but also the occasional active volcano. Therefore, it is not surprising that hot water also bubbles up from thermal springs. And lo and behold, near Fairbanks lie the so-called Chena Hot Springs, inviting visitors to take a leisurely dip. Conveniently, the springs are easily accessible by car via a country road, which was even well-cleared in winter. In 1905, two gold prospectors discovered the springs, and soon the hot water was used for tourist purposes. Back in the day, the journey to the springs naturally took a bit longer. Nowadays, in Chena Hot Springs, in addition to the bathing fun, there are various accommodation options and a restaurant. However, everything still has the rustic charm of Alaska. It is by no means a chic, modern wellness center.
We set off from Fairbanks with the rental car to spend a day at Chena Hot Springs. However, it took us forever to cover the 90 kilometers because we had to stop constantly to take photos, as there was a lot of beautiful scenery to see.
We also discovered moose by the roadside. How these huge creatures survive the winter in Alaska remained a mystery to us, as we only ever saw them nibbling on a few dried-up twigs. During the drive, Michael also pondered what might happen if one were to break down on the somewhat lonely road in the cold (it was -25 degrees Celsius) and the engine wouldn't start, leaving us without heating. Especially at night, when there are hardly any cars on the road, this could become a problem.
We always had hand and foot warmers in the car with us for this reason. These are those ingenious items that you can stick into your gloves or onto your socks, and they provide pleasant warmth to your feet or hands for hours through chemically generated energy. By the way, Michael's idea wasn't so far-fetched. When we later checked into our bed-and-breakfast in Anchorage, the owner told us that she used to live in Fairbanks and that one of her friends lived in a house on the way to Chena Hot Springs. One night, his car broke down in the freezing cold on the way there. He weighed his options and then decided to leave his car and run home to avoid freezing to death.
Upon arriving at Chena Hot Springs, we plugged our car into the engine heating outlet (see below) and, bundled up warmly, and made our way to the bathing area and the hot springs. We paid $10 per person for our day pass and bravely changed into our swimsuits in the changing rooms, which reminded me of school days and swimming lessons in indoor pools.
First, we then entered the indoor area with an ordinary swimming pool, but the highlight at Chena Hot Springs is the outdoor pool with 105F warm thermal water. However, to reach it, we had to venture out into the cold in our swimwear. Admittedly, the path through the open air to the hot water was perhaps 30 meters long, but at -13F outside temperature, it takes quite some determination, especially when your swimwear is wet on the way back. The hot water, of course, immediately compensates for that. While relaxing in the water, an amusing phenomenon occurred. The steam dampened our hair, and the cold formed pretty ice crystals in the damp hair.