Vain attempt to lie in because we're too hot - having been forced to close the window during the night, through being too cold, the room has heated up again.
We're off on one of the trails so we ask reception if there is a trail guide and are unhelpfully told "No, follow the signs".
At the pool, where all activities are booked, there is a map showing routes, but no scale! It is better than nothing, and certainly better than the alleged signposing which seemed to be at the start of the trail and end of it and seldom in between.
Off we go and it always seems to be uphill. There are nice views back to Chena and after about an hour we decide to try and get a fix on where we are - arriving, as we have, at a junction and being, as there isn't, any signs. Guessing on the scale and assessing the various bends we've made I conclude that we are on the "Overlook Trail" and we continue. Eventually we meet fellow guests on their way down and it is revealed that we are on the "Ridge Trail" and nowhere near where I thought - I am not convinced that I could be so wrong. I had to concede that I was indeed wrong when we reached the sign "Bear Paw Butte".
The views are spectacular, albeit fir trees in snow as predicted a couple of days ago, but with rolling hills nearby and in the distance. We are at a height of about 2400ft and a bit short of the summit the route to which the trail markers were unclear - no surprise there, then.
Turning round, the route back was the basically the same as coming up though things always look different going the other way! This time at the junction, now I know where we are, we take what looks to be a shorter way back - wrong again. This route turned out to be no shorter and had the added "bonus" of a scramble down the [very steep] ski slope to get back into Chena. I was not flavour of the month with the other half.
Lunch was soup and biscuits before going off for a dog sled ride which was
all too short around a pre-set track which meant the dogs knew their way so
no calls to them when to turn. The poor dogs looked bored stiff having to spend
all day dragging tourists around the same bit of track. How they must yearn
for a chance of taking part in the Iditerod.
The dog-sled driver was a "deep south" type person slow talking - "Ya'all find
plenty 'o critters in thum thar forests, but a whole lot 'o forest for thum
to roam in" (or something like that - I can't do the accent).
As the sun sets we siesta and have a doze until 8.30pm when we go off for dinner.
Out aurora hunting at 10.00pm but nothing doing at all, so rather than stand around with camera gear we take it back to the room and have a wander around the resort. We go up to the aurorium located on higher ground up a very icy route and very dangerous in the dark.
Returning for a coffee break at 1.00am we go out again shortly after that and see only the merest hint of an auroral arc which came to nothing, so back in at 2.15am and bed.
Goto Day 6: Chena Hot Springs - Charley Dome Trail
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