Chena Hot Springs Road – Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The morning is cool and blustery. Although it didn’t get as cold last night as it did the night before (34 degrees) it felt colder because it rained overnight and it was still damp outside. We decided this would be a great day to go to Chena Hot Springs and do a soak.
They had several tours available, and the geothermal facilities tour looked interesting (Frank’s such an engineer geek!). Of course no tour can start without a visit to the goats first.
The current owner, Bernie Karl, got to wondering one day, if electricity can produce hot air/water and cold air/water, why couldn’t you reverse the process? So he got together with the University of Alaska and Carrier Corp and asked them how he could use hot water and cold water to make electricity. The result is a modified Carrier refrigeration chiller that uses hot spring water at 165 degrees to vaporize refrigerant 134a that turns a turbine to produce electricity and 40 degree water to condense the 134a. Right now he has 3 units capable of producing 200 kilowatts each. Two of the units can handle all of the resorts electric needs. Here’s what one looks like.
We learned that the resort is almost self sufficient. They still have to bring in some of their food from the outside. Every thing else they produce themselves.A year round greenhouse supplies all their lettuce, some veggies, herbs and tomato requirements. Using water from the hot springs they can keep the greenhouse at 75 degrees year round even when the outside temp drops to –50 degrees. The surplus vegetables they sell at a farmers market and in the activities center. Example: 3 tomatoes for $5.
After a nice lunch in the resort restaurant it was off to the hot springs. There were only about 10 other people in the hot springs when we got there. The spring area was large enough that every one was spread out and there was plenty of room. EJ and I found a spot in the water and set up a couple of chairs, sat back and just relaxed. We felt like we had the whole place all to ourselves it was so quiet. After about an hour, a tour bus showed up and we were invaded by loud, boisterous Russians. With the peace and tranquility gone, we decided it was time to go. But while it lasted, it was so relaxing.
In the picture above, notice the large rocks surrounding the hot spring. They’re not for decoration, they’re to keep the moose out of the water in the winter time.
On the way back to Big Guy, we observed that the leaves seemed more golden than they had earlier today.
Back at the RV, it seemed warmer than it had all day. We didn’t know if it was the after effect of the hot springs, or if it really was warmer. It was so nice sitting outside that we decide to build a fire.
Alas it was overcast, so no borealis tonight. EJ kept checking though.
| BG Miles Today | 0 | BG Total Miles | 7186 |
| Eat Out total $ | 1087.06 | BG Total Fuel $ | 4004.44 |
| Entertainment total $ | 609.63 | Total Camping $ | 1162.03 |
| E Miles Today | 37.9 | E Total Miles | 2641.15 |
| E Total Fuel $ | 534.72 | Day # of Trip | 98 |
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