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| Alaska Millennium Jubilee Concert Tour August 2000 |
| The Ensemble Choir from the Sacramento Catholic Gospel Choir Pictured l-r: Ted Sanders, Tenor/Percussion; Patricia Baker, Alto; Kathie Whitaker, Soprano; Gerri Sanders, Alto; Pat Molnar, Soprano; Arvis Whitaker, Tenor/Director; Joan Burcell, Soprano; and Francis (Scotty) Scott, Bass. Photos and story by Patricia Baker unless otherwise noted. |
| Five of the members arranged to fly into Anchorage, Alaska, to rendezvous at the airport with two couples who would be traveling over land and inside passage from Port Angeles, WA, to Haines and subsequently to Anchorage. On August 8, 2000, the entire group met as planned, and as a bonus picked up two additional people who were gracious enough to act as their tour guides. The tour guides (not pictured) were Maria Celli-Miller and Brandon Miller, daughter and grandson of Patricia Baker. The new arrivals picked up a vehicle and they all eagerly embarked upon the great adventure awaiting them, taking in as many sights as possible within two short weeks. |
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| One of the first sights taken in by the group during the tour was the Anchorage Zoo, the Native Heritage Center, and the small seaplane airport at Lake Spenard. |
| Photo by Pat Molnar |
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| The first concert was scheduled at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Anchorage and was well received with three encores and a standing ovation. Then the Ensemble set out for Fairbanks via Denali National Park. The second concert was held at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in North Pole. The gospel concert programs featured Arvis Whitaker, music director and soloist, Patricia Baker, Joan Burcell, Gerri Sanders, and Kathie Whitaker. |
| One exciting side trip taken by four members of the group was the Wilderness River Run down the Nenana River. Another side trip of immense interest and photo opportunity was the three and a half hour bus tour of Denali National Park. |
| The Ensemble was invited to share a wonderful home cooked meal in Fairbanks at the home of Theresa Tomczak, sister-in-law of Joan Burcell, President of the Sacramento Catholic Gospel Choir. The meal consisted of moose burgers, smoked salmon and many other delectable dishes. Four nights were spent in Fairbanks. While the group was visiting Fairbanks, they all decided to board a paddlewheel boat and went up the Chena River to visit an Athabascan native village. Along the way, the passengers saw a native woman demonstrating how she cleaned and prepared a silver salmon for smoking in 60 seconds. The passengers were also introduced to a group of Athabascan native college students employed by the paddlewheel company for the summer. One student taught everyone how to call a wild moose. The passengers met the three-time dog sled winner of the Ididerod Trail race, Susan Butcher and 100 of the dogs she owns and breeds at her camp along the river. |
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| Some of the group were fortunate one evening to see the Aurora Borealis in the late, cold night sky during their stay in Fairbanks. |
| After the concert and fellowship at St. Raphael's in Fairbanks, one couple and their guide stopped at the famous Wolf Run Restaurant to delight in a delicious and decadent dessert. |
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| Ted Sanders and Francis Scotty at Lake Spenard |
| Singers and Drummers from Bethel, Alaska - Photo by Patricia Baker |
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| On Saturday, August 19th, everyone packed their gear and headed out from Fairbanks to Tok. Along the way was the Alaskan Pipeline. After dinner at Fast Eddy's, and Mass at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, goodbyes were said to one of the couples who had to return to Haines, Alaska, the following day. The rest of the tour group started out early for the eight hour trip back to Anchorage. |
| On the way, several impromptu stops were made along the way until Matanuska Glacier loomed ahead. Not close enough for photos with a 35 mm camera, the group drove down the side of a steep, dusty, rocky road to get closer. Still too far away, they went to the bottom of the canyon, following alongside a swift, milky white river, eventually coming to a narrow bridge. Suddenly, the glacier was totally blocked from view by a forest of evergreens. After traveling for what seemed to be hours, they finally came to a clearing where a small building with a crossing guard abruptly stopped the vehicles and the toll was explained. The disappointed group headed back. The Ensemble finally reached Anchorage in the late afternoon, found their rustic hotel located across the seaplane hanger on Seward Lake and pondered the magnificence of the wondrous state of Alaska, the last frontier. |
| Dinner at Fast Eddy's by Patricia Baker |
| Matanuska Glacier by Patricia Baker |
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