A: Skagway B: Whitehorse C: Teslin D: Boya Lake E: Kinaskan Lake F: Meziadin Lake G: Smithers

This is the final posting for our journey to Canada and Alaska for the summer of 2013. All I can say is the trip was awe-inspiring. The trip fuels the flame for more travel adventures. It was sad that it did end abruptly on a sour note. So now we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with life. Medical issues aside, life is good, we are bouncing back with updated priorities but have a new set of “marching orders”, at least for the next few months.

Looks like “smelling the roses” is over for this year!

Along the road we noted summer is coming to an end as there were no more roses to stop and smell as the locals are now harvesting the rose hips. The final leg was from Skagway (South Klondike Highway), back tracking along the Alaska Highway and then heading south on the Cassiar Highway. These highways are spectacular as well as fun to drive. It was easy to find impressive places to stay. The Provincial Parks along the Cassiar are exceptional. Our pace slowed to take advantage of that place at that point in time.

South Klondike but south of Skagway

Lots of folks make Emerald Lake a destination (Also called Rainbow Lake)

You climb many hills on the South Klondike Highway…but it was worth it!

South Klondike Highway – The Fireweed nearing the end of the summer

The South Klondike Highway had a number of steep grades however the views are spectacular. There are many turnouts to get that “one more” Photo. We kept meeting the same folks along the way. Many of them were from the Skagway Tour Ships in rental cars out exploring. One destination for many was Emerald Lake…very colorful as well as beautiful.

Whitehorse – USS Klondike

Whitehorse MacBride Museum – Sam Magee’s Cottage

Heading into Alaska in June we run out of time in Whitehorse, YT. We took a couple of more days to finish up what we had missed. Back in the day in this part of the world the mode of transportation was the steamboat. Parks Canada has done an excellent job restoring the S.S. Klondike an icon from the past. It is worth a stop. Although a bit eclectic, the locally run MacBride Museum was interesting. Sam Magee’s cabin is housed there. Sam Magee was made famous by Robert Service, poet who wrote the “Cremation of Sam Magee”. Whitehorse is “the” city in the Yukon with a unique personality of its own.

Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre

We heard some nice things about the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Center. We planned an overnight at Teslin. The Provincial Park on Teslin Lake ended up being the highlight of the stop as the Heritage Center was ok but overrated. Over the course of the trip we did many native Heritage Centers and found that the price of admission had nothing to do with the depth and breadth of the materials presented.

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Cassiar Highway

Along the way we had heard a lot about the Cassiar Highway both good and bad. It is 450 miles south from the Alaskan Highway to the Yellowhead Highway. The Yellowhead extends from Prince Rupert to Edmonton and is a main route. The Cassiar is narrow with no shoulder on the north and widens as you head south and was an easy driving experience (at least we had experienced much worse). Once again the views are terrific and the grades were not as bad as expected. By the way there is a side trip from Dease Lake to Telegraph Creek (a native village) which is outstanding, if you can take driving the narrow road along very high cliffs. Those who have done it said it is over the top in the way of an experience. We did not take the time to do it but wished we had!

Kayaking Boya Lake was fun

Boya Lake is colorful but no fish

Lots of Beaver action to check out around Boya

Boya Lake sunrise over the mountains

Boya Lake and Provincial Park

The first stop was Boya Lake. It is big rig friendly. The park and the lake are outstanding. We got the Kayaks in the water. The color of the lake is breathtaking. However there are no fish in the lake.

Kinaskan Lake from the RV park

Kinaskan Lake Provincial Park – nice beach

The next stop was Kinaskan Lake. There we had another great spot on the water. This is a great fishing lake and a destination for many.

Meziadian is a huge lake with lots of small islands plus great fishing

Great weather and views at the Meziadian Provincial Park

It is a great drive to Hyder, Alaska from the Cassiar

The final stop on the Cassiar was Meziadian Lake. This is a very nice park where we planned to spend some time. This is where the trip took that unexpected turn. The plan was to use the park as a base camp. The attraction was Hyder, Alaska about 45 miles west which is where the bears hang out feeding on Salmon this time of the year. This was highlighted as a must see by those who had been there. We ended up spending only one night before heading off to Smither’s to find me some medical help with my ailing leg.

Smithers, BC to Traverse City, MI 2.500 miles

Found more glaciers in the Canadian Rockies…

The Canadian Rockies have great view too!

Of course we have to make a stop in Wakefield Michigan where they make the best Pasties. The City RV park over looks Sunday Lake.

Seven Mile Beach a favorite stop in the Upper Peninsula

Good to see the Mackinaw Bridge only 100 miles from home!

We spent about a week in Smithers. Once I was given medical clearance to drive home we took on the 2,500 mile journey. It took eight days to make the trip. The route was through the Canadian Rockies to US 2. US 2 is the northern East/West route across the US. It is mostly two lanes and much of it through the Plains. Lots of small towns to keep you entertained along the way. It was good to see the Mackinaw Bridge and knowing that we were only 100 miles from home.

Back Home In Traverse City

It has been a little over a week since we got back. Our world is transitioning from life on the road to one of being home bound. The current read is we will be grounded here for at least the next six months. The fact that the house did not sell we now see as divine intervention. This gives us a nice place to hang out for the near-term. Although our winter plans have to change we are already starting the planning for next summer’s trip to Utah. Stay tuned to find out what comes next with the Traverse City Snyder’s.

For those of you who are planning a trip to Alaska we are always looking for opportunities to share our experience.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Skagway (Continued From Previous Post)

Malaspina To Skagway Via The Inside Passage

We now pick up as we leave Juneau for Skagway. The ferry time of 7am translate to a 5am check in. It was a warm and sunny day for the 6.5 hours trip.

Inside Passage

Inside Passage

Inside Passage – Hazy View

Inside Passage – Note the Glacier

Coming Into Skagway

The views on the way are breath taking.

Overlooking Skagway From Road to Dyea

Skagway sits in a valley and was the natural seaport for the gold miners to start their 1,500 mile land journey to the Klondike Gold Fields. Today it is the stopping off point for tour ships up to 30,000 folks on the street on any one day…today being one of those days. Back in 1898 there were over 80 saloons in town and today there are over 80 jewelry stores…

Skagway Main Street Looking South

Skagway Main Street Looking North

Across The Tracks

The history of Skagway is being told today by the National Park Service. The NPS theme for Skagway is similar to that of Dawson City in the Yukon Territory. The NPS has a strong presence here and has bought up part of the town to tell the story much the same as in Dawson City with the Yukon Government’s role. The two cities history link is the gold rush. Dawson City is the home for the Klondike gold and Skagway was the port of entry. In 1898 30,000 people with Gold Fever passed through the town on their way to Dawson City.

Skagway Color

Skagway Color

Skagway Buildings Are Over 100 Years Old

Skagway Is The Land Of The Tourist

There has never been a major fire here so many of the buildings date back to founding days. They are tastefully restored and now house shops for the very large tourist trade. There are over 850,000 visitors each year by tour boat and only 15,000 visitors by ferry or land.

Frank Reid – Town Hero Who Shot Jeff (Soapy) Smith

Soapy Smith – The Original Town Con Artist – See The Play When You Are In Town!

Where Dawson City was very safe and well protected by the Canadian Mounties Skagway was wide open. The original “bad guy” was Jeff (Soapy) Smith. A man named Frank Reid took him out in a shoot out becoming the town hero in 1898. Of course we had to visit the graves in the Miner’s Cemetery like everyone else.

White Pass – Steam Engine Tour

The railroad played an important part in the history for Skagway. It is now a tour attraction. Back in May we signed up for the White Pass Meadows Steam Engine Tour. Highly recommend this trip…however if you are on a ship tour you get the better seats.

Looking Forward From The Platform

Looking Back From The Platform

You Can Reach Out and Touch the Cliff

Keeping An Eye On The Tracks

Standing on the Platform…Camera In Hand!

Another View From the Platform

Inspiration Point!

inspiration Point View

Passing the Old Tressle – Photo Opt!

Near The Moonscape Area

Near the Meadows Area

Glacier Stream Along The Tracks

Small Stream Along The Tracks

White Pass Summit

Near White Pass

Border Crossing

Entertainment for the Photographers – Letting Off Steam!

The photos tell the story of the journey to the Meadows and back again.

Plenty of White Pass Rail History To Be Found In Skagway

Would You Believe This Snow Blower Was Built in 1898

There is plenty of train history here. There are lots of places to hear the story.

Other Tour Options – More Modern Locomotives

Other train tour options are by the newer locomotives…

Letting Off Steam

However I still like the old steam engines…

Taiya Inlet Near Dyea – Foot of the Chilkoot Trail – From Here The Miners Took The Water Route

Dyea Town Site Harbor – 1898 This Was Open Water

Dyea Town Site – Now A Part of History

We did a side trip to Dyea, a town that no longer exists…a tour is provided by NPS. It was competing for the miner’s dollars with Skagway and played an interesting role in how Skagway developed. It is also the trail head for the infamous Chilkoot Trail used by the hordes of miners heading north. Today it is a popular three to five day hike. The views getting to Dyea were good and driving the one lane road along the cliffs kept your interest.

Summer’s End? The Fireweed has Gone to Seed!

Is summer over? The Fireweed is done and is going to seed. This may be a sign to find a route and start heading south. Sadly tomorrow we are off to Whitehorse, YT and yes we will be leaving Alaska. The only way out of here by land is back north to the Alaskan Highway. The plan is to spend another month in Canada with the ultimate goal to experience the Canadian Rockies National Parks (Jasper, Banff, Yoho and Kootenay). We will be traveling south on the Cassiar Highway which will be another adventure all by itself. Plus there will be several side trips along the way. For those of you following the blog there will not be many more glacier pictures but you can expect more photos of the Canadian mountains.

The next post will be from Jasper in a couple of weeks.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Alaska Route: (A=Haines_ (B=Juneau) (C= Sitka) (Back To B=Juneau) (D=Skagway)

Inside Passage – Malaspina Coming into Port

The Alaskan journey for Larry and Jan continues. The blog now picks up in Haines where we catch the ferry for our travels on the Inside Passage. This leg of the journey took us to Juneau, then Sitka, back to Juneau finishing up in Skagway. We did make the two day trip to Sitka with the truck but without the RV. Once again Alaska has exceeded our expectations. Our time here (17 days) went very fast with more than enough to hold our interest and keep us very busy. We truly enjoyed the experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. The lesson learned here was our RV is almost too large for this ferry system. The ferries generally load from the side and require tight turns getting on and off. The length of our truck and rig is 56FT which was right on the edge. It required some tight maneuvers that seemed quite unnatural. Leaving Juneau the crew was much better at positioning the loading and communicating the delicate maneuvers required. To make a very long story short…when we arrived in Juneau in order to get off I had to back off (about a quarter mile) and then with the tight turns the RV was actually hitting the cab of the truck. However once we were loaded and unloaded the ferries were a great experience. Our favorite stops were Sitka and Skagway in that order.

Dalton – Set for the Movie White Fang – At Haines, AK

Lutak Inlet at Haines, AK

Chilkoot Lake

Chilkoot River

Salmon Run – Chilkoot River

Haines is a nice little town. No real downtown however. There is a book here written by a resident called “If You Lived Here I Would Know Your Name” which about sums it up. The movie White Fang was shot near here and the set has been moved to the Fairgrounds. Fun little experience and they even had a micro-brewery. The local museums were ok. We had a nice trip along the Inlet out to Chilkoot Lake. The lake is fed by a glacier and empties into the Chilkoot River. The Salmon were running and the fishermen were hauling them in. We had three nights here which was more than enough.

Downtown Juneau

A Temporary Juneau High Rise

Juneau was a bit different than I expected. In the summer there are over 30 tour ships a week so there are crowds of people. You can readily see the downtown theme is one that caters to the tour ship clientele. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails so one is able to get out and enjoy the area without the crowds.

Inside Passage in the Mist – Going to Juneau

Going to Juneau – Back Where the Sun Sets!

Traveling to Juneau from Haines was late in the day and very overcast. The views along the waterway were still great but the photos are not outstanding. It was interesting for us to be back south and find that sun does set. The ferry was two hours late departing and we were the last one off the ferry. We ended the day parking the RV after midnight and in the dark.

The Tracy Arm Fjord

Just Going is Half the Fun – Tracy Arm Fjord

Glacier Blue Water – Tracy Arm Fjord

Where There are Glaciers, There will be Waterfalls – Tracy Arm Fjord

Closing in on Sawyer Glacier – Iceberg That Just Flipped

Iceberg Blue

Ice Flows – Getting Closer…

Sawyer Glacier – Kenai Peninsula – Tracy Arm Fjord

Sawyer Glacier

The Closer You are the Bigger it Gets…

One Large Piece of Ice…

Calving Action Shot!!! First the Rumble then the Wave!

Admiring the View

Second Sawyer Glacier…Smaller but Taller

Just Plain Impressive

Sawyer Glacier (The Dark Blue is Compressed Ice)

Tracy Fjord – Heading Back to Juneau in the Rain

Side Trip Into a Cove…Note Water Color

We strongly recommend the Tracy Arm Fjord tour. We booked this trip back in May based on the reviews. It is a nine hour trip and even though it rained much of the time, it was still a great experience. On the tour you visit two of the Sawyer Glaciers. The pictures tell the story.

Mendenhall Glacier Near Juneau

Falls From Juneau Ice Field At The Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Iceberg

Two miles from our RV Park was the Mendenhall Glacier. It is easy to access. We spent three to four hours hiking the trails and enjoying the scenery. The visitor center has good resources and a show that is worthwhile.

Sitka Fast Ferry

Inside Passage – Going to Sitka – No Rain!

Inside Passage On The Way to Sitka

Inside Passage

Inside Passage – Narrow Channel

Next was the trip to Sitka. We left early morning (up at 3am). It was a beautiful day as you can see from the photos.

Sitka Harbor

Sitka From Castle Hill

It was fun being in Sitka. They only get five to six tour ships a week. The hotel we chose was the Westmark which was a decent choice. The view of the harbor from our room was one of the best things.

ST Michael’s Cathedral – Russian Orthodox Church – Downtown Sitka

Russia played a key role in Sitka’s history. St Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church is right in the middle of the city. It still has a strong presence today. Finding your way around is interesting as the city follows the Tlingit trails of the past. We found the city very interesting and again wished we had one more day to tour the area.

Russian Bishop’s House – Restored By The National Park Service

National Park Service – Tlingit History – Impressive Display of Totem Poles

The National Park System has done a good job telling the story of Sitka. The Russian’s Bishop House is where you can learn about the Russian side of history. The National Park Visitor Center tells the Tlingit story. Yes, there are plenty of totem poles to see.

Sheldon Jackson Museum – Alaskan Native Collection – Run By State Of Alaska

Sheldon Jackson Collection

Another recommendation is the Sheldon Jackson Museum. There are other museums in town but this one is the best (our opinion). Sheldon was a Christian Missionary. His collection of Native Artifacts from all over Alaska is outstanding. We had three hours and it was not nearly enough time to get through everything.

Tongrass National Park – Coastal Rainforest

Tongrass National Park

Tongrass National Park Hike

Tongrass National Forest

Tongrass National Forest – Ocean Side

Juneau and Sitka are both in the Tongrass National Forest (a rain forest). We managed a hike and enjoyed the time on the trail. It is a very interesting area being very green with lots of moss everywhere.

Back To Juneau In The Rain

Covered Deck on Fast Ferry The Fairweather?

Back to Juneau In The Rain…Still Awesome!

All good things do end and we headed back to Juneau in the rain…

This is a long post so the decision is to break it up to make it more internet friendly. The Skagway portion of the trip continues in the next blog…

A=Valdez, AK; C=Tok, AK; B=Dawson City, YT; D=Kluane Lake, YT; E=Haines, AK

This section of the trip has taken us back inland. We truly enjoyed being along the coast for a bit. Following the route on the map you will see we started at Valdez then to Tok via the Richardson and Tok Cutoff Highways. Tok being the junction you come through both coming and leaving Alaska. After Tok we headed north on the Taylor Highway to Chicken. The RV got parked at the West Fork Campground (50 miles from Tok) while we made our way to Dawson City via the Top of the World Highway. After spending a couple of days in Dawson made our way back to Tok then East via the Alaskan Highway to Destruction Bay on Kluane Lake where we hung out for two days. This is a beautiful area. The final leg of the trip was to Haines Junction on the Alcan then South to Haines from Haines Junction. After Valdez there were four border crossings which are always different and sometimes can be interesting (…hopefully just entertaining). The weather and experiences were outstanding again. However the trip on the Alaska Highway in Yukon Territory was challenging. The frost heaves and pot holes were significant (much worse than in early June). We suffered some damage to the RV which made for a bad day on the road. However the Congdon Creek Park Territorial experience quickly put the Yukon back in our good graces!

Mount Wrangell – Active Volcano

MT Drum – Wrangell Mountain Range

The time on the Richardson and the Tok Cutoff Highway was outstanding. After learning about Kennicott Mines and Wrangell Mountain Park wished we had planned time for a visit. The Wrangell Mountain Volcano and Mt. Drum were spectacular from a distance.

Chicken Welcome Sign…Old Dredging Crane

Downtown Chicken

Downtown Chicken

Chicken was a fun, hokey and interesting stop over. The assessment was glad we did not stay there. The West Fork BLM campground was big rig friendly and close to the river.

Top of the World Highway

Top of the World

Top of the World…Seems to go Forever!

Top of the World View – Continued…

Yes, It Rained Going over the Top of the World!

The drive over the Top of World Highway was easier than expected (110 Miles from Chicken). We could have made it with the RV in tow. Going there was rain and fog. Coming back the views were much better with just a little haze. The Yukon portion of the highway was easy. The US section (about 40 miles) is very narrow and not as good shape. There are great views from the top along the entire stretch.

Dawson City Looking up the Yukon River Towards Whitehorse

Photo Taken from the Dome Looking Down the Yukon Towards Forty Mile

Downtown Dawson City, Yukon Territory

Life Without the RV is not that Bad – Nice Experience

Dawson Color

Dawson Restored

Dawson New Construction

Fun Themes Through Out the Town!

Tin Cover Building made to look like Stone – Old Bank Building

Tin Covered Building Gone Bad

Victims of Permafrost

Palace Grand Theatre – Beautiful Inside

Diamond Tooth Gerties – Gambling and Can-Can Show

Dredging for Gold came after the Rush

Dawson City exceeded our expectations for two days and needed a third. The history of the area is rich with stories and how the area evolved from boom to bust then a tourist area managed by the Yukon Territorial Government and the Canadian Park Service. The selection of tours, exhibits, performances are plentiful and we did all that time allowed. The buildings are interesting with an active restoration program. I could do an entire blog on just Dawson City and the Gold Rush but will let the pictures tell the story. Today there is still considerable dredging activity trying to sort out all of the remaining gold. The total gold mined from the area is over a billion dollars.

Dempster Highway to Inuvik, Northwest Territory

Dempster Rough but Colorful

Coffee Break Along the Dempster…Almost as good as Starbucks

Is this what they call Tailgating!

The Dempster Highway a 400 mile plus road to Inuvik ranks up there with the Dalton and Top of the World as a travel challenge. Although a trip to Inuvik was calling us we resisted the call and opted to do a short one day trip to the Tombstone Territorial Park (80 miles up the Dempster). Staying at the 5th Avenue Bed and Breakfast was a great experience, strongly recommended. However always needing a bit more coffee fix had to do the tailgate thing…

Tombstone Territorial Park – Worth the Trip

Goldside Hiking Trail…another nice climb!

Goldside Trail View of the Tombstone Mountains

Another View from the Goldside Trail

More Goldside Trail

Goldside Rock Outcropping

Fireweed comes after the fire!

Photo Shot Along the Dempster

More from the Dempster

Tombstone Territorial Park

Tombstone…

Very Varied Terrain Along the Dempster

Tombstone

The side trip to the Tombstone Territorial Park was an exceptional experience (an easy day trip from Dawson). The lack of time seems to be a constant theme for this trip as there is always just one more hike that is calling us. The Goldside hike was outstanding. The views are breathtaking. We travelled the entire length of the park along the Dempster and enjoyed seeing the varied terrain.

Tombstone Two Moose Lake

Two Moose in Two Moose Lake

Artic Fox Along the Taylor Highway

Sighting wildlife (except at Diamond Tooth Gerties) seemed to be the exception. We did catch a couple of moose and a black Arctic Fox along the road.

Back on the Alaskan Highway

Alaskan Highway View…Another Nice Day

Making our way to Haines we had to get back on the Alaskan Highway. We got to see the mountains this time (which were grand) that we had missed due to rain when we came into Alaska along this section of the road.

Congdon Creek Campground on Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake

Kluane Lake

Perfect Setting to Launch the Kayak!

After seeing the Kluane Lake coming in to Alaska we had decided to stop on the way out. The lake is in a great setting and while we were there the weather was “picture perfect”. It was good to get away from the private RV parks and enjoy the Yukon Wilderness up close and personal.

Road to Haines, AK

I think I said that the mountains to Valdez on the Richardson Hwy was a favorite. We now have to update that to the mountains from Haines Junction to Haines are even better (if you do not mind very large hills with steep grades).

Seasoned Travelers taking a Break Outside Haines, AK

We are now settled in at the Hitch up RV Park in Haines. Looks like there will plenty to do here until we catch the ferry to Juneau.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Alaskan State Flower – The Fireweed

The Alaska adventure continues. The Alaskan State Flower is the Fireweed. The story goes once the Fireweed is completely blossom out to the top summer is over. The locals are already prepping for winter. Needless to say we will be out of here before the snow starts in October.

Route from Anchorage to Valdez

Richardson Highway the Land Route to Valdez

The Infamous Thomas Pass at 3,000 Feet

The trip to Valdez was an easy one day trip. The route out of Anchorage is the Glenn Highway. The north south road into Valdez is the Richardson Highway. It has some nice mountains to climb but it is only 3,000 feet at the highest point. The road has lots of history starting with the early days with the Gold Mining rush. Note the poles along the side of the road which get completed buried at times in the winter with the 900 plus inches of snow each year. We are told that it almost is like driving through a tunnel. That being said it was one of our most scenic drives to date. The scenery here just keeps getting better.

RV Park with Great Views but Feels Like a Parking Lot!

Found another nice RV park, well maybe not as nice as we had on Kenai. It is in a great setting but does look a lot like a gravel parking lot.

Valdez Harbor

Valdez Harbor

The Seafood Just Keeps Getting Better…

The harbor here is large. This is a fishing area both commercial and sports. The seafood here reminds me of Newfoundland’s fare. The Halibut, Salmon (three different kinds) and Shrimp just melt in your mouth! Sunday we did a church service on a tour yacht that was very nice.

Valdez Museum – One on the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill and the 1964 Good Friday Earth Quake and the Other on How the City Had to be Moved.

This Museum at the Prince William Junior College Houses a Donated Personal Collection of Native Art and Trophy Animals…Impressive!

We did our share of museums. There is a lot of history here with the Exxon Valdez oil spill 20 years ago and the Good Friday Earth Quake in 1964. The quake and the resulting tsunami devastated many of the coastal towns. The original Valdez town was located in an area that had to be abandoned as it fell 9 feet during the quake. The town folks had completed the moved and the old town was torch by the end of 1966.

Very Rare…Mother Brown Bear with Four Cubs

Mother Grizzly Keeping Watch Over Her Cubs

Mother Showing Junior How it is Done

This Guy Knew How to Do it…Did not need Moms Help

There is a daily show at the river by the fish hatchery. A mother Grizzly with four cubs (this is their second summer) comes three times a day to feed on the Salmon. On a way to a hike we caught their show along with many other folks who were there with camera in hand. The odds of a bear with four cubs is very rare and the fact that all four survived a year is phenomenal. It was very fascinating to watch them and see the different personality of each of the cubs.

Photo Shot on the Worthington Glacier Trail – Near the Top

Another Glacier Near Thompson Pass

Along the Richardson Highway

Near Valdez

Again more view pictures. There are over 100,000 glaciers in Alaska and I am sure I have missed a couple already.

Next we are off to the “Top of the World Highway”. We will be staying near a town called Chicken. The story goes town folks wanted to call it Ptarmigan (the State Bird) but they did not know how to spell it so they settled for Chicken. Needless to say they are leveraging that into a theme for tourist. We will be staying a couple of night in Dawson City in a B&B back in the Yukon Territory where we will do a side trip to the Tombstone Territorial Park. From Chicken we also do side trip to Eagle a native village off the beaten trail.

Living on the road and seeing this great country is the good life.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

This Alaska adventure is exceeding our expectations in so many ways. It is clear now why folks keep coming back. My hope is you like pictures…to date the count is 6,150 (not to worry, I did not post all of them). The views here are so spectacular. On the numbers side of the trip (remember I have the MBA mentality) the gallon count for diesel fuel is 775 traveling 8,400 miles in 60 days. We are half way through our planned trip and we are finding time goes way too fast when you are on the road. Everywhere we go we find new adventures. Jan and I find traveling will broaden ones perspective of the world and outlook on life.

Kenai Peninsula Route – A=Anchorage; B=Kenai’ C=Homer: D=Seward; A=Anchorage

The next leg of our trip was to the Kenai Peninsula for 19 days where we covered 1,300 miles. We had heard from others who had been here that it was a must do. For the most part the itinerary was open ended. Included is a map of our route starting in Anchorage then Kenai, Homer, Seward and ending up back at Anchorage. The weather was great, with outstanding RV sites settings.

Anchorage Visitor Center – Impressive Display

Anchorage Botanical Garden – Looks Like a Planting I Would Do!

Anchorage Botanical Garden Entrance[/caption

[caption id="attachment_359" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Anchorage – Cook Inlet

We started and ended in Anchorage which is a great place to restock food and fuel. There is a fun downtown. There are flower displays everywhere. The long summer days support a fast and aggressive growing season. We did a tour of the Alaskan Botanical Gardens which (in my estimation) looks better online than in person. Our RV site here was at the Alyeska Ski Resort 40 miles south. The route back and forth along the Cook Inlet (Turnagain Arm) was spectacular which by the way is home for the Beluga Whales.

We had the good fortune to find great places to stay on the Peninsula.

Kenai RV Park Beach at Low Tide

Kenai River Commercial Fishing Action

Kenai River Dip Netting – Alaskan Residents Only (Picture taken as season kicked off – First Hour)

Kenai First Market – Great Seafood Source!

Kenai RV Park View – MT Redoubt One of Four Sleeping Giants – Ring of Fire Chain

Kenai RV Park – Dark as it Gets In July…

The RV Park in Kenai was on a high bluff overlooking the Cook Inlet, affectionately called Beluga Overlook. There are big tide changes so the walk on the beach was always different. This is a big fishing area for commercial and sports fishing. One night we saw at least 35 commercial fishing boats returning to harbor. Of course I found another great seafood outlet. The last day we were there the Alaskan Resident Dip Netting season began. The picture was taken in the first hour the season opened. By the end of season in three weeks over 30,000 folks descend on the City of Kenai hoping to take home big catches. From our site we could see Mt. Redoubt a volcanic mountain which is part of the Ring of Fire chain which extends from New Zealand to the Aleutian Island in Alaska. As a side note, we are getting accustomed to daylight all the time…

Homer RV Park – Beach at High Tide

Homer RV Park – Glacier View out the Back Window!

Homer RV Park – Early Morning Visitor

The City of Homer has several RV parks on the Spit along Kachemak Bay. Long story made short, a Spit is a sand bar created by Glaciers. We found another great park on the beach where we could see a glacier in the distance. There are so many Eagles ever where but we never get tired of trying to capture just one more photo shot.

Seward RV Park View out the Back Window

Seward RV Park Beach – Petrified Stumps

Miller’s Landing (Seward RV Park) Lots Going on with Kayaks and Fishing

In Seward we stayed at a rustic campground about 5 miles out. The setting was Resurrection Bay on a fun beach with mountain and water views. The salt water killed the trees here and the remaining stumps are petrified now by the salt water…great photo opts. Our RV park, Miller’s Landing on Lowell Point, is a great place to rent Kayaks, a fishing boat or to catch a water taxi to your site of choice. All our RV parks worked nicely as a base camp for launching other adventures.

Kenai National Refuge

Kenai National Refuge Trail – Great Hike Even with the Mosquitoes (I love pictures of Trail Paths)

We got to explore the Kenai National Refuge which includes about 25 percent of the peninsula. We did a fun walk with the Mosquitoes.

Anchor Point on Kenai Peninsula (Another Notch in the Travel Log)

Another personal record was set for us when we went to Anchor Point the most Westerly Road Point in North America. Ironically, last year at this time we were at Cape Spear in Newfoundland, the most Easterly Point in NA.

Russian Church – Community of Nikolaevsk

Russian Church – Community of Ninilchik

There is a strong Russian influence on Kenai. Checked out two noted Russian Churches in Nikolaevsk and Ninilchik…lots of character!

Ring of Fire – Sleeping Giant Three – Mt Iliamna – Kenai Peninsula

Great view of Mt. Iliamna another Ring of Fire Volcano which is One of “The Four Sleeping Giants” along the coast of Alaska.

Fun Shot Along the Bike Trail – Homer

Lots of nice bike trails in all the communities. Here is a picture I took along the trail of a boat graveyard near Homer.

Seward – Salt Dawg Saloon – Afternoon Stop Over!

Salty Dawg Tradition…leave your note with a one dollar bill…

Anyone who comes to Homer has to go to the Salty Dawg Tavern.

Skyline Drive Overlook – Homer

If you are ever in Homer check out the Skyline Drive, a drive where it is hard to keep your eyes on the road.

Alaskan SeaLife Center – Seward

Highly recommend anyone who comes to Seward to check out the Alaskan Sealife Center. This is an easy way to spend half a day.

Exit Glacier Trail to Harding Ice Field the Beginning

Exit Glacier Trail…River Crossing

Moving Up the Exit Glacier Trail

Exit Trail Flowers

Exit Glacier Trail Flower…Pleasant Views!

Exit Glacier – Along the Trail

Exit Glacier Trail Above the Tree Line

Exit Glacier Trail – Near the Top – Emergency Shelter

Exit Glacier Trail Hikers – Glad They are Near the Top

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier Moraine View…Awesome

Exit Glacier Near the Top

Exit Glacier Half Way Up the Trail

Harding Ice Field Feeding Many Glaciers

Harding Ice Field

The hike to the Harding Ice Field along the Exit Glacier is a top ten pick for us. However we did find the 9 mile hike challenging as we made our way to the top, a 3,000 foot climb. Rather than go into too much detail here will let the pictures tell the story.

Kenai Fjords Tours – Quality Experience

Seward Harbor

Bear Glacier Just Beyond Resurrection Bay

Tour Photo Shot…

Tour Shot…Wish You Were Here to See it in Person!

…More Glaciers

Tour Entertainment

Wildlife Found Along the Tour – Stellar Sea Lions

Sea Gulls Feeding on a Fish Ball

Hump Back Whale Up Close and Personal

The Tail Flip…Kodak Moment

Junior’s Tail Flip…He Entertained Us a Long Time!

The Northwestern Glacier

Northwestern Glacier

Northwestern Glacier – Left Side

Northwestern Glacier – Right Side

Heading Back to Seward

Photo Shot on the Way Back to Seward

Some Photo Shot You Just Have to Take! More Glaciers…

Inlet Near Seward

Back to Bear Glacier

For our top ten events rating, the Kenai Fjord Tour may end up being number one. The tour is a nine hour journey to the Northwestern Glacier. We left Seward through Resurrection Bay traveling 100 miles to the glacier. The glacier was impressive but so was the wildlife. We got to see Hump Back Whales up close and personal. The experience included Porpoises, Stellar Sea lions, Orca Whales, Sea Otters and lots of birds. Again I think the pictures will give you a snap shot of the experience.

Looking back we did a lot in those 19 days on Kenai. There is way too much to post in one blog. Not knowing what to expect, I think we did it about right. There is always more thing to do and see if you have the time. This part of Alaska is very different from the interior. Personally Jan and I just enjoy being along the water.

We now move on to Valdez for four days. Heard great things about the area and looking for to another Alaskan experience.

More to come…

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Denali National Park and Preserve

Denali proved to be an interesting and a learning experience. It is a true wilderness (for the most part) with a historic management objective to keep it that way. The general public areas we found congested and somewhat limiting for our taste. Overall it was a good experience but much different than we originally expected.

There is one road into the park and only one which is 92 miles in length to access the park’s six million acres. The road is highly restricted. The public can only drive in the first 15 miles. There is a campground (Teklanika) at mile 29 which you can drive to but you cannot use your own transportation once you get there. I tried to get a site there about a month ago but none were available for our timeframe. Riding a bus to get anywhere was a major mindset shift for us. It took some time to learn how to deal with it but in the end grew to accept that is the way it is. The For us we did not find the well marked accessible hiking or backpacking trails that you find in the lower 48. There are marked trails near the entrance but for the most part were fairly short and more in the flatlands along the rivers.

Shuttles Launch from the Wilderness Access Center

Trip One to Wonder Lake

The Green Shuttle Bus aka a School Bus

J.J. a “Real” Alaskan

The Before Wonder Lake Picture…

There are green shuttle buses which come with drivers that will provide info along the way and will stop to view wildlife. They also will drop you off almost anywhere along the road and then you flag down a bus when you want to return. There are the tan buses which are narrated with different themes and objectives. There were over 40 buses on the road at any one time. We also got to experience the hordes of folks from various bus, ship and train tours near the main visitor center which made it seem more like downtown America.

In retrospect Jan and I both came away glad that we did it. However at this time it is not calling us back. Our recommendation is Denali is something that everyone should experience. There are many other options here in Alaska that can provide for a better “hands on” experience, at least for us. The most exciting part was getting to see and photograph Mt McKinley. However only 30% of the people who visit Denali ever get to see the mountain due to the weather limiting the visibility.

All the shuttles leave from the Wilderness Access center which is different from the main visitor center and run by a concession vendor. We had booked three days on the green buses. The first trip was to Wonder Lake an 85 mile trip one way with duration of 11 hours. The average speed is 20 MPH. At the Wonder Lake destination you are near the base of Mt McKinley. As luck would have it our trip was hampered by all the smoke from the many forest fires, low hanging clouds and rain (we were part of the 70% club). The visibility for the entire day was very limited with no view(s) of McKinley. The word we got from J.J., our bus driver, was the Mosquitoes are the worse that they have ever been in the park and the Wonder Lake experience confirmed the fact. We sat at Wonder Lake for the allotted 20 minutes in the rain and fighting the Mosquitoes…wondering why we were there! At the end of the day we were both exhausted and crashed early that night. The highlight of the day was the interaction with J.J. a young man who truly loves and lives the rustic Alaskan Life-style.

Kat an Alaskan Transplant

Eielson Visitor Center a Shuttle Destination

Trip Two to Eielson In Search of Denali

The 10 Minute Pit Stop!

The Park Road an Interesting Journey

Polychrome Overlook Named after the Glacier

We both agreed that we could not do a second day on the bus. It proved to be a good call as it rained and there was still a lot of smoke. Our third day tickets were to Eielson a visitor center at mile 66 leaving at 6:15am with a duration of 8 hours. Our RV park was 30 minutes out so we had to be out of bed by 4am. The good thing is the sun never sets so it is always daylight so getting going in the morning is easier. It was a windy day which blew away the smoke (and Mosquitoes) and the sun came out for much of the day. This was a totally different experience being able to see and photograph the mountains. On day three we joined the 30% club… Yes, I got the T-Shirt!

Our bus driver on the third day was Kat. She is a transplant from the lower 48. We sat near the front and got to know her quite well. She entertained us all day with her life in Alaska stories. The road can be a scary at times especially when you are on the outside of the road on a cliff with no guard rail. Half of the Park Road is one lane through the mountains with pull outs and switch backs. There are plenty of rustic pit stops along the way. There are designated places to stop to take pictures and the drivers will stop to let you take pictures of wildlife but only out the bus window.

Caribou Shedding the Winter Coat

More Caribou Pictures…You Shoot Anything that Moves from the Big Green Bus…

Mommy Bear with Her Twins

More Grizzlys

Title…Moose Hiding in the Bushes

Dall Sheep at a Distance…

We saw wildlife, many times at a great distance as you can see from the pictures.

Hitching Up the Team for Show

Poster Dog…The Favorite

Great Looking Huskys

The Park’s Dog Team Presentation

The park has 30 sled dogs. They use them to patrol the park as well as take construction supplies to the various sites in the winter. There are three demonstrations daily which are fun and very informative. This is a must do event.

Great Alaskan Vistas

First Glimpse of McKinley 90 Miles out through the Bus Window!

View at Eielson

Mountains come in all sizes, shapes and colors…

Lots of Rivers to Photograph!

Overlooking the Park Road

McKinley Getting Closer…aka Denali by the Locals

New Member of the Thirty Percent Club

Denali at 30 Miles Out

What a difference a day makes! The mountains and rivers are spectacular. I had a picture hanging in my office for many years of the Teklanika River. Getting to see the river in person was rewarding. The other major river is the Toklat. All braided rivers which tend to be shallow with many different streams. The rivers are all fairly white from the silt from the melting glaciers. I took over 500 pictures during our three days in the park. All I can say is Mt McKinley is impressive. The Athabasca’s called the mountain Denali (large one) which is where the Park gets its name. Many locals still refer to it as Denali and not McKinley but that is another story.

Another Picture Perfect Adventure in Alaska!

What more can I say! The assessment at the end of the day is we have had another great adventure. The sheer size and natural beauty of the park is breathtaking. Jan and I both think visiting the park should be on everyone’s bucket list.

The time has come to move on. The next leg of our journey will be to Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. Some of the places on the list are Anchorage, Kenai/Soldotna, Homer, Seward and Whittier. We will be on the Peninsula for 19 days with camera in hand; the bikes/kayaks polished and are ready to take on more of the Alaskan outdoors. More to come….

God Bless,

Larry and Jan