Chatanika

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Halloween Party in Chatanika, Alaska

I, Zeb the Duck, have news from Alaska.   Eider Duck, my Alaska cousin, sent me these pictures.     Eider and the humans go to Chatanika, Alaska, a town near Fairbanks, for the Halloween party.

Eider said he had a lot of fun.   Some people wear costumes.

Halloween in Chatanika, Alaska

Halloween in Chatanika, Alaska

Fun in Chatanika, Alaska

Fun in Chatanika, Alaska

The decorations are pretty fantastic.

Scarey

Scary

Eider says everybody has a lot of fun.

Really decorated

Really decorated

The bar and restaurant also has a few motel rooms, so many people stay for a night or two.

People have a wonderful time in Chatanika.

Halloween party in Chatanika, Alaska

Halloween party in Chatanika, Alaska

Eider, be careful.   Is this party safe for feathered creatures??

Eider. Watch your neck

Eider. Watch your neck

Thanks for sending these photos, Eider.   Looks like you had a crazy, but great, Halloween party.  We all hope you have fun for Halloween.  Remember, have fun and be safe.  Halloween is a holiday for all ages to have a great time.

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Chatanika Lodge, Alaska

Hi.  Zeb the Duck here and I am so surprised and embarrassed.  You all know my Alaska uncle and my Alaska cousin.  Today I got a letter and pictures from them and I learned my Alaska cousin has a name.  I never knew that.  The name is Eider and Eider is also a large sea duck that live and breeds in the Arctic.  Eiders can fly at speeds up to 70 mph.  I learned that from Wikipedia.  My cousin, Eider, is a true Alaskan!

Eider and family went to Chatanika Lodge, about 28 miles from Fairbanks.  These are some of the photos we received.   The entrance to the lodge has real moose antlers and much natural fur.

Entrance to Chatanika Lodge

Entrance to Chatanika Lodge

The eagles are carved from wood.   Here Eider is sitting on a rail made of spruce.

Eider on spruce rail with bumps

Eider on spruce rail with bumps

The bumps on the cedar are all natural.   These carved wooden bears are inviting on this winter day.

Eider on snowy bears

Eider on snowy bears

Eider is sitting on a snow bank and looks cold.

Eider on snow bank. Brrr

Eider on snow bank. Brrr

Take him inside Alaska uncle!

Inside the lodge is a small restaurant.

Eider on lamp shade near bear skin

Eider on lamp shade near bear skin

There are a lot of old Alaskan art and artifacts.  Here is Eider on a doll.

Eider on antique roll

Eider on antique doll

Eider is sitting on old sewing machine by a Harley Davidson motorcycle lamp.

Eider on sewing machine

Eider on sewing machine by Harley lamp

They visited Chatanika Lodge during Christmas, so we can see some decorations.

Looking at snowy outdoors

Looking at snowy outdoors

This time Eider is sitting on a bear trap.

Eider. You are on a bear trap!

Eider. You are on a bear trap!

Be careful cousin!  This is my cousin Cindy holding Eider by a dall sheep.

Cindy holding Eider near dall sheep

Cindy holding Eider near dall sheep

Dall sheep are known for their curled horns.  The horns grow in the spring and summer and then in fall and winter the growth slows and stops.  The growth pattern forms rings, called annuli, and the age of the dall sheep is determined from the horns.

In March Chatanika Lodge holds Chatanika Days festival.  One of the events is outhouse races.  Teams build outhouses, a person must be in outhouse and the teams race down a course.  This is the original outhouse entered by the lodge for the outhouse races.

Ready for outhouse races

Ready for outhouse races

Be careful Eider.

This looks like a great place.  To see more visit www.chatanikalodgeak.com  Thanks for sending pictures Eider.