Throughout the course of life, there are milestone significant events such as weddings, births, deaths, new jobs, buying a house, and the like which arise out of the normal “same old, same old” daily goings on. Then, there are other noteworthy occasions such as standing on the precipitous edge of the Grand Canyon, remembering watching the television broadcast of the first moon landing, or reuniting with hours of delightful conversation with a surprise visit from a cherished friend. Some events are tragically life-changing bringing on hardship while others are triumphantly wonderful in bringing an abundance of joy and easing life’s burdens.
And then, there are those relatively minor times which are neither a milestone to note in a journal or significantly noteworthy when life rises above normal and brings delight to the day. They are times when our senses are tickled with stuff that we deem as good. It could be a tasty, hearty meal with family, listening to a goosebump-supplying musical performance, an eagle soaring, and a personal favorite of ours, sitting close together on a porch swing in the evening.
We need a name for these times. They occur regularly in all our lives, at least we hope they do, and they lift our spirits and bring a smile to our faces as we recognize the goodness of the hour. The moments are not life changing, but delightful, nonetheless. Perhaps we can call these times, “moments of goodness.”
Here are a few of our “moments of goodness” captured on camera.
Chena Lake Fishing
Equipped with camp chairs, fishing gear, and indispensable bug spray, we set out to try our hand at fishing in Alaska. The lore of Alaska’s rivers and lakes brimming with fish had reached our ears, sounding as though Alaska is an angler’s paradise where the catch comes easy. At the Gold Dredge, a friendly soldier from the nearby base shared a secret spot on Chena Lake, North Pole, AK, using Google Maps. He assured us that this was the haven for arctic grayling and rainbow trout. The initial hour was spent doing the trial and error play of sorting out “what are they biting today.” After that, it seemed like every cast was rewarded with a tug and reeling in a nice rainbow trout. While none were record-breaking in size, each one was a treasure in its own right—perfect for a fresh, Alaskan meal.
19 Ounce nugget
Every day at work, I have the delightful task of meandering through the historic Gold Dredge, engaging with guests in lively conversation (a tough job, indeed, but I’m up for the challenge—LOL). One highlight I always recommend—and guests later thank me for—is visiting the 19-ounce gold nugget on display, the 25th largest nugget found in Alaska. Considering the rarity of even a 1-ounce nugget, a 19-ounce nugget is an extraordinary discovery. This isn’t just any exhibit; guests can actually touch, hold, and snap a photo with this rare piece of history. Most gold is discovered as “flour” gold dust—mere tiny specks. A step up from that is a “picker” or “flake,” sizable enough to pluck right out of a gold pan. But when a nugget tips the scales over 1 gram, it enters the realm of true gold nuggets, with those over an ounce being a phenomenal rarity.
Chatanika Dredge #3
North of Fox, Alaska, is the small unincorporated community of Chatanika. Noticing first the corduroy tailings by the side of the Steese Highway, we turned onto an unmarked dirt, tire track road, to find what we were searching for, an abandoned historic landmark, the Chatanika Dredge #3. Between 1926 and 1957, this dredge extracted approximately $70 million worth of gold from where it operated. We sought the dredge with the hopes of finding it and a spot to catch arctic grayling since its pond appeared connected to the Chatanika river. We didn’t fish because, after second thought, were unsure how the presence of the dredge in the water may affect the fish. But finding the monstrous hydraulic relic, which is a reminder of the dominance of the 1920s gold mining industry in Alaska, was a nice reward.
Felix Pedro Monument and Claim
Driving along the Steese highway, we saw a sign for an historic maker. In pulling over we found it to be a small monument dedicated to Felix Pedro. Born Felice Pedroni, he was an Italian immigrant whose significant contribution to Alaska’s history is marked by his discovery of gold in the Tanana River valley. This momentous event sparked the 1902 Fairbanks Gold Rush, leading to the development of Alaska’s largest gold district, often referred to as "America’s Klondike."
Pedro’s discovery on July 22, 1902, led to a stampede of prospectors staking claims and the establishment of the Fairbanks District, along with the mining town later named Fairbanks. In short, without Felix, there would be no Fairbanks.
Across the road from the monument, a sign officially announces the site of Pedro’s claim that may be panned by all who are interested. We just might do that before we leave the area.
Cleary Summit
Cleary Summit is a place where we will very likely return often during our time spent in interior Alaska. Located 14 minutes north of Gold Dredge 8, on the Steese Highway, after winding up and up to an elevation of 2233 feet, we found ourselves on Cleary Summit. The finding was unintentional. We were heading toward the Chatanika dredge. Suddenly, the landscape became a 360-degree visual feast. The Alaskan range with Denali was to the south and the White Mountain range to the north. With a bit of 2-wheeling through a muddy section, we made our way to the pinnacle. From August through April, it is an ideal place to see the Northern Lights.
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