Hiking to Angel Rocks

Monday 15th July
We had decided that we would like to go on a hike today, to see some of the countryside around Fairbanks and to enjoy the great weather. After a lovely pancake and maple syrup breakfast at the Grizzly Bear Lodge, we borrowed a book of day hikes from Anita and set off down the Chena Hot Springs Road for about 45 miles to the Angel Rocks trail, described in the book as "the premier day hike of Fairbanks". On the way we stopped to see a moose which was grazing on the banks of the river. The Angel Rocks are distinctive granite rock formations which stick up strikingly from the forest above the Chena River. There is only about 900 feet of ascent on the three and a half mile trail but it was a very hot day and I was soon overheating. The trail starts out by going along the river through the forest and there were lots and lots of mosquitos. James was well equipped, wearing long sleeves and a mosquitos net hat! He had also brought a Deet Spray which we sprayed liberally on each other. It helped a lot but it is nasty stuff! Some of it got on my lips and they were nipping, and it smelled awful. We plodded onwards and upwards through the forest, we were all sweltering. By the time we got to the top of the tree line and the first outcrops of rocks the Mosquitos had been left behind, and we could enjoy the amazing views across the valley. We had lunch at the top of the hill among the rocks, and then started making our way down. However little did I know that the worst was yet to come!
The day hikes book casually mentions "the first descent has slippery decomposed granite footings that may be a bit tricky for some hikers, but quickly evens out into a gradual slope..." However in fact the slippery bit goes on and on; I don't know if this might be due to the hot weather drying out the surface or if we were perhaps a bit off the trail by mistake. We slipped and slid down the hillside; I kept on falling so eventually I started sliding down on my bottom, using two small branches to protect my hands from the stones. My climbing trousers and underwear are so dirty but remarkably untorn! Once the path eventually evened out it still seemed to take ages to get back to the car and Davie ran ahead to switch on the engine and the air conditioning. By the time I arrived at the car I was so hot that I was gasping for breath and it took me some time to recover.
We thought that we might as well continue to the road end to the Chena Hot Springs resort, where we went for an afternoon swim in the hot sulphurous pool. However a discerning reader will notice the intrinsic flaw in this plan. Hot day, over-heated Susan, hot springs. And they were VERY hot springs! I went in anyway as much as I could bear it and then dozed in the shade for a while. James and Davie were made of sterner stuff and stayed in the hot pool for longer than me, and then they relaxed at the poolside as well. It was a very attractive setting and would be a great place to heat up on a cold day!
Later we had a lovely dinner in the bustling Lavelle's Bistro in downtown Fairbanks and talked about our adventures. We all have mosquito bites, mainly on our legs, and we are stiff and sore. It has been a great day!