May 29-30 Dan 13-14 Denali National Park

We spent three nights and two days in Denali just soaking up the wilderness and vastness of the area.  On Thursday and Friday, we took bus rides to Tolkat River which is 53 miles into the park.  The bus is the only way to go beyond 12 miles into the park.  The park road runs for 92 miles, but was only open to Tolkat River.  It will open up the rest of the way in the next week.  Views and wildlife were amazing. My words can't do it justice.  It was exciting to see caribou, moose, Dall sheep and Grizzly bear in their natural environment.  A special treat was a mother grizzly bear and two 5 month old cubs which were munching on roots about 6 feet from the road.  We even got a glimpse of about 2/3 of Mt McKinley.  Even though the weather didn't cooperate, we did see some mystical terrain.  On Friday, we went to the visitors center and saw a Park Service sled dog demonstration.  These sled dogs are working dogs and provide the only ground transportation into the park in the winter.  They are remarkable.  We finished our day on Friday about 10PM after getting back from out trip into the park.

May 28-Day 12 Tok to Denali National Park

We're up and going again.  Today had a luxury of a breakfast in a restaurant.  The name was Fast Eddys and it is an icon on the Alaskan Highway.  The road was lined with trees with the mountain vistas in the distance.  Our first stop was in Delta Junction, the end of the Alaskan Highway.  We made it--all 1442 miles.  After a short stop we were off to Fairbanks.  We stopped next to view the Alaskan Pipeline as it bridged a river and took a picture of Linda and Diana standing next to it.  Just before Fairbanks we found the North Pole.  Yes, this is the home of Santa who lives there.  In Fairbanks we visited the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  It is a superb museum and a must see.  It tracks the history of Alaska and its indigenous people.  While there I found a picture of my Uncle, Burke Riley who was in the territorial legislature which drafted the state constitution.  We then made a quick stop for a late lunch, some shopping and gas.  Finally, off to Denali.  We arrived around 7:30PM.  No animals today.  We drove 334 miles.

May 27-Day 11 Whitehorse to Tok Alaska

We're finally getting to Alaska.  We left Whitehorse around 9am.  We had a leisurely breakfast and wifi stop at Starbucks which was close to where our RV was parked.  Then we were off.  But--before we could leave the town, Linda and Diana had seen a picture of a statue of a horse and we had to stop.  We found the horse and managed to avoid a parking lot with no escape for a RV.  I have to admit, it was well done and made of recycled material donated by the people of the Yukon.  During the drive today the scenery was gorgeous but obscured by a haze.  The Kulane Mountains were spectacular.  They have the biggest icefields and glaciers in Canada.  We also learned what permafrost is.  It is frozen ground that when uncovered or thaws turns to a muddy soup.  It makes road building very difficult  Consequently, the road today was like a roller coaster.  Our drive speed slowed.  Then our selected lunch spot was closed.  The next spot open was 85 miles away.  So on we went to Beaver Creek, a wide spot in the road, for lunch.  After lunch we're on the road again but this time we find construction to repair some of the permafrost damage.  Twenty miles later we are finally at the US/Canadian border with no opportunity for a photo op because of the construction.  Diana saved the day with a shot from her IPad out the widow as we drove by.  US Customs was a breeze then we were back in the US and on our way 90 miles to Tok our stopping point for the night  We arrived in Tok at about 5:45 and settled in  We ate in the RV, Diana went for a walk, Linda looked around, and I caught up on the blogs.  Tonight is a time for showers, catching up on things and sleep.  Tomorrow we are off to Fairbanks and Denali National Park for three days where services are limited.  Animal count was better with 1 bear.  Miles driven was 382.

May 26-Day 10-Watson Lake to Whitehorse

We're through the Rockies now and heading West.  First up was a short hike to a Falls on the Rancheria River.  Then on to Teslin Lake for panoramic views and on into Whitehorse arriving at 3:30PM.  Views were great, but animal watching was a bust.  In Whitehorse, it was a little early for the tourist season, so not much was open.  We went to the tourist center, then to our RV parking spot at Walmart.  Apparently, Walmart stores everywhere allow RV overnight parking in their lots at no charge.  Diana even connected into the Walmart guest wifi.  Linda and I took the trolley downtown and Diana walked.  We got to the SS Klondike, a stern wheeler of gold rush days, and now a museum too late for a tour, but Diana made it.  We then toured downtown and walked back to the RV for dinner.  Its still getting lighter.  The picture below shows the RV in the Walmart lot at 11:30PM.  Animal count for the day was 3--all rabbits.  Total miles driven was 271.

May 25 Day 9 Fort Nelson BC to Watson Lake Yukon

We're off for the Yukon.  We left around 8am.  We have a long day.  First up was bear.  We averaged 6 bear per hour for the first couple of hours.  Then the views at Steamboat and Summit (the high point on the ALCAN at 4200 feet) in Stone Mountain Provincial Park were inspiring  Then down through Toad River and Muncho Lake which is still ice covered.  It has been a late Spring.  Then herds of Stone Sheep, cousins to Big Horn, were along the lake shore and rocky areas.  After Muncho Lake, we saw our first caribou.  We pulled into Liard River Hot Springs around 2PM for a late lunch in the RV and a soak in the hot springs.  The temperatures range from about 100 degrees to too hot to stand.  At 4PM we pulled out and headed to Watson Lake.  Then came the buffalo.  First was a herd of about 50 with bulls, cows and calves.  Then we saw small groups of bulls for the next 50 miles.  Finally we climbed to a spot overlooking the Liard River which was called Allen's Lookout.  The spot was used by bandits to spot river travelers to plunder.  Just before leaving BC and entering the Yukon, with Linda driving and Diana navigating, they stopped at what they thought was an entering the Yukon sign for a photo op.  I took the picture, but was skeptical.  Fifty miles later we crossed the real border and got the real picture.  Gotta be careful with those two in front.  Around 7Pm we rolled into Watson Lake.  First was a stop at the visitor center for local info.  Then we made a visit to the sign forest where visitors leave mainly road signs from all over the world.  Finally, we ended the touring with a visit to a planetarium for a show about the Northern Lights and origins of the Universe.  Around 10PM we were back in the RV for dinner and bed.  The animal count for today was a total of 122 (16 Bear, 2 Moose, 34 Stone Sheep, 4 Caribou, and 66 Wood Buffalo).  Total miles driven was 317.

May 24-Day 8 Grand Prairie, AB to Ft Nelson, BC

Our adventure on the Alaskan Highway is now going to begin.  We left Grand Prairie again about 8:30.  It seems that is becoming our normal departure time.  We got to Dawson Creek at 9:30 thanks to a time change.  Dawson Creek is on Pacific Time.  The Visitors Center was great.  They gave us info that covers the 1422 miles of the highway--places to stay and things to see.  Then we were off.  This portion of the highway is pretty normal, 60 MPH, nice road, no issues.  The highway was built in 9 months in 1942 at a cost of $140 million.  While most of the road has been rebuilt since then, I've included a picture of the Kiskatinaw curved wooden bridge which is original and while not on today's highway, is still used today.  We ate lunch at a little roadhouse, the Sheppard's Inn, which had great food.  The desserts and pastries on sale as you go out the door were too much for any of us to pass on.  About 3PM we started to see animals.  Today's count was 1 marmot (couldn't get a picture), 2 moose, and 4 bear.  We ended the day in Fort Nelson with a little laundry time.  We drove 365 miles today. 

May 23 Day 7 Jasper to Grand Prairie

We're over half way to Alaska.  Our odometer passed 2100 miles today.  We started the day early and went to Jasper for shopping (Linda and Diane) and coffee, danish, and blogging (Ken).  We then headed to the Jasper Skytram for a tram ride up 3000 feet to get a birds eye view of the Jasper valley.  Great views of the mountains, lakes and rivers.  Then it was on the road to Hinton for gas, lunch and supplies.  On the way we saw a heard of big horn sheep--boy are they agile on the rocks.  After lunch it was time to head north.  With Diana driving, we got our first serious rain of the trip. We got to our campground outside Grand Prairie at about 5:30 for an early stop and a luxury of a dinner downtown.  The days are definitely getting longer.  As I write this it is still daylight at 10PM.  Animal count for the day was 3 elk and 23 big horn sheep.  Mileage today was 286 miles.  Tomorrow we head for Dawson Creek and the start of the Canada/Alaskan Highway.  Wifi is going to be scarce for the next couple of days, so we'll post blogs as connectivity permits.