Alyseka Pipeline

Our bus driver was in contact with people in Coldfoot, our destination, and with the pilots for our return trip. Coldfoot was fogged in. They decided to fly the planes to the airstrip at one of the pipeline pump stations. We had about an hour to kill, so the bus driver brought us up close to the pipeline.


We went under the gate.


And closer.


With the people in the picture, you really get the perspective of size.




This is a close-up to show how the pipeline can slide from side to side due to heating and cooling and also in case of earthquakes. The pipes are insulated and the oil is very hot...over 100 degrees F., the whole trip across Alaska. That's over 800 miles of pipeline. It is above ground like this where there is permafrost. They do bury it if there is no permafrost.