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

Fairbanks, Alaska – Pioneer Village Train Station

It is mind-boggling how fast time flies on the road. We left Traverse City on May 20th and sadly nearly one-third of our planned time on the road is already gone. We have logged over 6,500 miles with plans to cover much more. Fairbanks was the right place for us to change gears from the aggressive road schedule to style where we can stop and smell the roses! Yes, they have lots and lots of wild roses here in the North Country. The stay in Fairbanks has been eight days and if we had the time we would stretch it a few more. The RV Park was a sound strategic location and has worked out even better than we had expected. Jan and I have found that the city is a lot like any big city but it still has the rustic Alaskan look and feel. I was complaining about an event that I thought was a bit lame to a local. He told me to get with the program. This is Alaska and being outside and enjoying the wilderness is what is important! Message received…

Photo Opt at the Fairbank’s Antler Arch

Unseasonably Hot!

Kayaking the Chena

Although this part of the journey was a place to catch our breath we have managed to explore the area extensively. The Antler Arch downtown is where many pictures are taken by those passing through. There is a nicely done waterfront with lots to do and see. It has been hot while we are here according to local standards. We have found it to be quite pleasant and although it is hot there is no humidity. The bikeway here is impressive. I took advantage by doing several nice long bike rides. It was an easy five mile shot to downtown which we did several times. I was able to launch the kayaks right from the RV Park and enjoyed my time on the river.

Silver Gulch Brewery – Checking out the local Micros

When we were in Coldfoot Camp they served a beer called Coldfoot Ale from the Silver Gulch Brewery. Of course since we were in Fairbanks, I had to check it out. They do a good job.

Fairbanks Visitor and Cultural Center

Fairbanks has an outstanding visitor center and cultural museum. We really enjoyed our time there and would recommend it as a must do.

University of Alaska Fairbanks – Cultural Museum

University of Alaska Fairbanks

The University of Alaska Fairbanks has a fine cultural museum. We hit it just right and got a behind the scenes tour with one other couple. The museum has a lot to offer and we could have spent more time there as well.

Zion Lutheran Church – Fairbanks, Alaska

So far on this trip our Sunday schedule did not match either time or place to take in a local church. We finally made it work here at the Zion Lutheran Church. It was a very dynamic upbeat experience both with the worship service and the outgoing members of the congregation.

Tanana Valley Farm Market

Of course checking out farmer’s markets is always a favorite pastime for us.

Midnight Sun Festival – “The big event in Fairbanks”

Midnight Sun Festival – Working the crowd

Midnight Sun Festival – Yes, there are lots of people!

Midnight Sun Festival Vendor

The “big” annual event here is the summer solstices Midnight Sun Festival. It ran from noon to midnight and there were thousands of people. Lots of vendors with crafts, food, services and yes some political booths as well.

Pioneer Village

Pioneer Village

Pioneer Village

Pioneer Village

Fairbanks answer to a theme park is Pioneer Village. It was a great place to spend an afternoon. There are plenty of shops and museums. The park was created for the Fairbanks Centennial in 1967 using old buildings from downtown.

Yes, Here is proof the bug jacket worked

Recovering after a steep hike on the Angel Rock Trail

Chena River Recreation Area – Angel Rock Trail View

Chena River Recreation Area – Angel Rock Trail Photo

Chena River Recreation Area – Cool View

We did a trip out/up to the Chena Hot Springs. There was not enough time to take it in but there are plans to catch a hot springs or two later in the trip. The springs are located in the Chena State Recreation Area. They have some good hiking opportunities and we were looking for a good challenge. The selected trail was the Angel Rock Trail which climbs over 1,000 foot in the first mile. It was a great hike where we needed our new bug jackets to protect us from the hordes of mosquitoes. Once we got above the tree line we were good but getting there was a challenge. We also found out that we need to do a bit more training before the “next” challenge. Great views made the trip very worthwhile.

One Wet Moose Grazing in the Chena River

Moose Grazing in the Chena River

We found several moose grazing in the river. They kept getting closer so we had to move on…

Fairbanks and Surrounding Area Has Great Views

We will miss Fairbanks with all it hills and mountains. That being said Denali is calling us. We leave in the morning for four days. Reservations are made for the Cantwell RV Park and the Denali Shuttle Bus. The park campgrounds are filled so we end up driving 30 minutes every day. We plan to spend three days in the park. We hope the weather holds for hiking and some good photo opts for Mt. McKinley.

More later after we check Denali off our to do list…

God bless,

Larry and Jan

The Dalton Highway

The Dalton Highway leg of our journey was one of those on and off again ideas. There is a lot written about this highway (highway being a very loose term). There are little or to no services and the theory is you are on your own and left to your own devices to solve any problems you might encounter. In talking with others who had made the trip it was never clear if this would be a good thing or a bad thing. My take away now after making the trip is you either love it or hate it, there is no in between. As we were pulling out of the RV park to start the trip we talked with a couple who had just returned and they said it was the worst thing that had ever happened to them. Of course he had to show us his two flat tires and the story of getting replacements. I had already purchased a second (heavy duty) spare tire. The night before had talked to a couple who had made the trip several times and he challenged us as to why we would think we would need a second spare?

To make a long story very short, it was an excellent experience. It was the right decision to go but will never make the trip again, well never is a long time! No, we did not need the extra tire. With our auxiliary fuel tank we have a range of over 650 miles. Many folks have to carry extra fuel in containers as Coldfoot is the only place to get low sulfur diesel fuel which is 250 miles out. I think the truck took the washboard road and bumps better than we did. The scenery was spectacular, wildlife was everywhere, the road was bumpy, dusty, muddy, and rocky, the mosquitoes plentiful and found the folks we encountered along the way do not fit into any one box easily. The lodging options limited to work camps at $200 a night came with outstanding food prepared by various chefs. I could devote an entire blog to the lodging and meal experiences.

Riverside RV Park on the Chena River

Our staging area for the trip was the Rivers Edge RV Park in Fairbanks. It is located on the Chena River and just a couple of miles from downtown. The park had sites where we could hook up water and electric and could leave the RV as we headed north. Actually we should have had another day to prep as living out of the truck for three days took a bit more turn-around time than we had planned.

Lots of unimproved road ahead

The Dalton highway begins 90 miles north of Fairbanks. It is 414 miles in length with Coldfoot at mile 175 and Prudhoe Bay at 414. The road was built in 1974 in five months to provide supplies for the construction and continued operations of the Alaskan Pipeline.

Crossing the Arctic Circle

You cross the Arctic Circle at mile 299.5. This of course is a photo opt stopping location.

Coldfoot Central- Where you get fuel, eat, drink, auto repairs and get your room key…

The Slate Creek Inn now called Deadfoot Camp

Coldfoot Camp is the only game in town!

The first night and third night we stayed at the Coldfoot Camp. Here you are able to buy fuel, great food, get beer called Coldfoot and have a place to spend the night. Here we had our own bathroom, twin beds and lots of mud and Mosquitoes. Across the Dalton from Coldfoot is an interagency facility for the BLM, US Field and Wildlife and the US Park Service. It is a very nice facility with displays and staffed with knowledgeable interpreters. We attended their nightly program going and coming back.

Deadhorse Camp in the perfect setting!

Deadhorse Camp was a bit scary…

If you find Coldfoot service basic wait until you see Deadhorse Camp. Coming into Deadhorse saw this run down building and told jan I have a bad feeling about this. Well it ended up that is where we had booked. Once inside it was not too bad. The food was outstanding…the room very basic…the bathroom down the hall and around the corner but with no Mosquitoes. The mud was everywhere and you were required to take your shoes off, the same as Coldfoot. There are no keys so you could not lock your room door. We had the opportunity to talk with lots of interesting folks all who were there for different reasons. I guess if there was a common theme it was the journey was the driver, not the destination.

Deadhorse Downtown Mall

Deadhorse Mall

Deadhorse Camp – Prudhoe Bay National Forest?

Downtown Deadhorse

Purdhoe Bay became Deadhorse when the zip code was assigned. Most of the folks who stay/live here call it Prudhoe Bay. The area is 1,000 square miles all devoted to the oil drilling operations. Just industrial complexes with one store and several housing camps.

Yukon River

There is a visitor center at the Yukon River. It has information on the pipeline and what to expect along the highway. The Yukon River carries 60% of the water in the North and ends at the Bering Sea.

Pipeline at the visitor center

Pipeline is never far out of sight

Pipeline view from the road

Atigun Pass

Traveling the Dalton you get to see and have plenty of opportunities to learn about the Alaskan Pipeline. It was built 1974 to 1977. It extends 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. You are never far from it along the highway. The area has permafrost so it was a good opportunity to see and to learn more about it. New think for me was the pipeline cannot go below ground where there is permafrost as the oil is 180 degrees when it leaves Prudhoe Bay as it would have a negative thawing affect. As a side note the oil is 115 when it reaches Valdez.

Arctic Ocean – Larry wading for a minute or two…

Arctic Ocean – Jan doing here thing!

We took the tour to the Arctic Ocean. This is a restricted area and you have to have security clearance to make the trip. The highlight is we got to wade in the Arctic Ocean. The tour was informative as it was narrated with lots of behind the scenes information.

Fast food on the Dalton

We always had dinner at the camps. For breakfast and lunch we ate on the road again sharing our time with the Mosquitoes.

Caribou Everywhere!

Musk Ox Herd Near Prudhoe Bay

Musk OX

There was plenty of wildlife. We got to see the Musk OX and Caribou. Jan had logged over 500 Caribou who migrate to the area in the summer. There are lots of ground squirrels (bear food) and we saw two moose crossing the road. It had been our hope to have a bear encounter somewhere along the trail.

View along the Dalton

The Dalton

View along the Dalton

Views along the Dalton come with some dust

Views along the Dalton come with rain too!

Views along the Dalton almost always include the Dalton

View Along the Dalton – The Mineral Bluffs

View along the Dalton

The big surprise of the trip was the scenery. It was magnificent, ever changing and a true wilderness. Once again we captured several hundred pictures and here are a few selected somewhat at random.

Day three at the end of the Dalton

The badge of honor for the Dalton Highway is a mud covered vehicle. You can tell who made the trip by the how dirty and the color of the mud. I am still working on getting rid of the mud and salt…which may now be a permanent part of the truck and a support for the lasting memory of the trip.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Dawson Creek, BC – The Journey Begins

Our Northwest Territories trip on the Mackenzie Highway ended in Peace River, Alberta. Once we left the Decho Trail we were ready and anxious to take on the Alaskan Highway sometimes known as the ALCAN. That being said after the 9 days and 2,000 miles of the NWT we were ready for a day off from driving. I guess you would call it a mental health time out. Reservations were made at the Mile 0 RV Park in Dawson Creek for two days. We had allocated 8 days to the ALCAN leg which had two extra days built in for “that” unknown adventure. The ALCAN was much easier to drive than we thought (or was led to believe) and most days covered around 300 miles. There were many construction delays along the way most stopping you for no more than 10 to 15 minutes. It eased one’s mind (after the Decho Trail) to know the next service was 50 to 100 miles instead of 150 to 200 miles. The towns along the way had a lot to offer with plenty of little side trips to make it interesting. The scenery was outstanding and so spectacular (at least to me) it was hard to keep your eyes on the road. I now understand why people keep coming back. After Peace River we stayed in Dawson Creek, BC; Fort Nelson, BC; Watson Lake, BC; Whitehorse, YT; Tok, AK; and the last night was near Delta Junction, AK. The final day into Fairbanks was 100 miles. Including the little side trips this leg of our journey covered over 1,600 miles. Just enough rain to be annoying to the photography aspect of the trip otherwise it was perfect.

Dawson Creek – Mile 0

Alaskan Highway – Fixing the frost heaves and bumps goes on forever…

The Alaska Highway starts at Dawson Creek, BC and ends in Delta Junction, AK at mile post 1422 with another 100 miles into Fairbanks for a total of 1,500 miles. . Yes, there are mile posts everywhere. You will find most ads for services along the ALCAN have mile post numbers included. If you ever make the trip to Alaska buy a copy of the Milepost publication. It provides a very detailed account/analysis of the road and ever thing along the way. We are also using “Traveler’s Guide to Alaskan Camping” which also does a nice job of providing info without the blow by blow detail found in the Milepost. Both publications have their place.

It was cool to learn more about the ALCAN. It was initially built as a military highway in response to Pearl Harbor. I had to buy the book but did not get the T-shirt. The road was approved by Congress on February 14, 1942 and completed by November 20, 1942 with the help of thousands of military personnel and outside contractors. It was opened to the public in 1948 and has been undergoing continuous improvement since that time. The US actually started building the highway without the Canadian’s approval. We have seen that comment many times along the way. After WWII the US turn over their interest in the highway to the Canadian Government. All is well that ends well.

Wild life along the road – Stone Sheep

Watson Lake – Sign Post Forest

Sign Post – 72,000 and counting

Rika’s Road House

A highlight of the highway was seeing wild life. One day we saw five black bears just hanging out along the road. The highway has no shoulders so if there is traffic you cannot stop to take a picture hence no bear pictures. Other sightings were buffalo, Stone Sheep and Moose. One of the highlights of the trip was the Sign Forest in Watson Lake, BC. It was started by an engineer working on the road in 1942. The sign forest now has over 72,000 signs. The plan is for us to hang ours on the way to Juneau in August. We bumped into a fascinating Alaskan State Park historic site called Rika’s Road House. We stayed the night where we caught up on local history about Rika, her road house and the interesting folks of her time from the turn of the century to the 60’s. She was over 90 when she died. Whitehorse, Yukon Territory is where we ended up using the other extra day. Whitehorse is the capital for the Territory. Total population in the Territory is 35,000 and over 60% live in Whitehorse. There is a lot to do here with well done museums, displays, trails and a nice downtown. We ran out of time so now plan to stop on the way back through. When we started four months seemed like it might be too much time…that is not the case.

Mountains all the way

Munch Lake – A must see!

Muncho Lake in the rain…

River view along the ALCAN

Looking West

Getting higher – lots of mountains to climb

“That” smokey View

In Alaska – Tanana River

Alaska Mountains

Yukon River near Whitehorse

Yukon River above the Whitehorse Dam

ALCAN highway Mile 1422 at Delta Junction, AK

What more can I say, it is all about the view. Here are some pictures selected from the several hundred that I took. There are so many pictures sorting them all out will have to wait until we get back in Michigan. Here is a little glimpse into life along the Alaskan Highway.

The goal is Alaska – We made it!

Here is proof positive that we made it to Alaska. The River’s Edge RV Park is working out great for us. The plan was to get the Alaskan Highway update posted before we left for Prudhoe Bay. However there just was not enough time. Stay tuned for an account of that adventure which will follow next.

God bless,

Larry and Jan

Northwest Territories

Yes, we made it to The Northwest Territories (NWT). This leg of our journey grew from a concept to being a reality relatively quickly. There was an attraction and a bit of mystery that drew us to the far north. In this post assessment period, it is still considered a worthwhile adventure and we would do it again given the chance. We found it to be a very unique part of the world. The culture is fascinating as it is a blend of native Canadians and white folks (the label given to outsiders). The vast natural resources of the land and the history of inhabitants living off the land for generations are impressive.

The loop route we took is the Deh Cho which is named after the Mackenzie River. Deh Cho is Slavey Dene (Native Canadian Tribe) for big river. This is a wilderness/remote route with about 1/3 being unpaved. It is 800 miles starting in the Peace Valley in Alberta and ending at the Alaskan Highway in British Columbia. We were not able to do the entire loop due to a major washout and a temporary bridge which is unsafe for large rigs. Since we could not do the loop we decided on a side trip to Yellowknife (over 700 miles round trip from the loop).

Peace River Bridge, Peace River, AB

12 Foot Davis

Going north from Edmonton the flat farming terrain gives way to hills, rocks and pine trees. Our first night we stayed at Peace River which is named after the river. The trip down into the valley was very steep and never seemed to end. There we found the town folks extremely friendly and very talkative. We kept hearing about 12 foot Davis, a local legend so we had to take his pictures. Actually he was only five seven in real life and yes, he is a legend.

Northwest Territory – 60th Parallel

Alexandria Falls – Hay River

Hay River – Hay River Territorial Park

Melting Snow Falls – Hay River

The next day we passed into the NWT at the 60th Parallel which is now documented by a certificate from the visitor center. Next overnight stop after a 400 mile day was Twin Falls Territorial Park. There were two nice falls on the Hay River. The water levels were high and the river was fast. There were traces of snow and lots of water falls from the melting snow off the cliffs. The park manager was from the Dene Tribe and was very personable. He gave us lots of information on the Native Canadians and their culture both present and past. Jan said she could talk to him all day.

Deh Cho Bridge – Mackenzie River

Yellowknife – Old Town

Yellowknife – New Town from the Rock

Yellowknife – Parliment NWT

Yellowknife – Old Gold Mine

The trip to Yellowknife was 350 miles. There is a new bridge, only a year old, which replaced the ferry service. Yellowknife is the capital of NWT (1967) and became a city in 1970. Gold was mined there for forty years. When the gold started to run out, diamonds were found in 1991 and Yellowknife is now a leader in the world Diamond production. The NWT has 45,000 total population with over one half being residents of Yellowknife. The old part of town is called the “Rock” and actually a small island which “is” all rock. There is new development referred to as “New Town”. Once outside of the city limits it becomes wilderness quickly…of course pictures included.

Yellowknife – Old Town Color

Yellowknife – More Old Town Color…

Local Inukshuk – Old Town Resident

Old Town – From Bawdy to Tourist Trap

The old part of town is very crowded, dense and can be a bit on the seedy side at times. There are lots of small shops and does retain a connection to the past. It attracts tourists and is in the process of being redeveloped. Jan found a large Inukshuk there so we had to take a picture.

Yellowknife – Floating RV

Yellowknife – House Boat

Yellowknife – House Boat

Yellowknife – House Boats

Yellowknife Airport

Houseboats are one thing you would never expect to find in the far north. There are lots of them and they come in all sizes and colors. The inhabitants have to leave them in the fall when the ice forms and again when it breaks up in the spring. Otherwise they are year round lodging. Looks like fun if you like boon docking and living on the water. You see lots of float planes used for regional travel. The city does have a large airport with helicopter and jet service.

Bumpy Roads

Wood Buffalo – The Guys

Wood Buffalo – The Family

The roads in NWT are in fairly rough shape. There are lots of frost heaves and sections where the pavement has been removed. At the end of the day you find things have moved around in the RV from all the jostling. Drank lots of coffee to stay alert as some of the major dips and bump are marked but many are not. The road to Yellowknife goes through a Buffalo Reserve. We saw lots of them grazing by the side of road which gave us many photo opportunities. There are many small lakes along the entire loop with water fowl and Muskrats houses to keep one entertained.

Hay River – Shipping Terminal

We spent three nights in Yellowknife before moving on to Hay River for two more. Hay River is the older city having been around since the 50’s (Population 3,800), second largest city in NWT. There are only the two cities of any size in NWT. Hay River came in to its own being the rail terminus for the region. The city use to be a shipping and fishing center connected by all the rivers that converge there as well as the Great Slave Lake. The town has fallen on hard times since the road was built. At the shipping terminal I counted 12, there may be more, rusting ships now permanently dry docked.

Peace River Lions RV Park

We stopped back in Peace River to catch up with the “friendly” folks we met on the way up. As you can see from the pictures there was rain for both our Peace River stops. We did manage a camp fire the last night between the rain clouds although you cannot see the fire in the picture, it is there.
Dawson Creek, British Columbia is home for two nights before taking on the Alaskan Highway. Dawson Creek is mile 0 for the Alcan. We arrived yesterday afternoon. The first thing to do was to give the RV and the truck a bath so we could find out what colors they were. Today is restocking, laundry, catching up on email, posting to the internet and planning the next week. It is a 1,500 drive to Fairbanks and we expect to be there in one week (June 14).

Life on the road is good. So far no major issues that we could not solve. The NWT tour is now logged and we are ready to take on the next leg of the Alaskan Journey.

Hope all is well with everyone out there…

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Traverse City, Michigan to Edmonton, Alberta – Nine Days[/caption]

As the old saying goes “Getting there is half the fun”. The miles are clicking off, the “on the road” routine is falling into place and Traverse City is becoming a distant memory. After leaving Michigan we have crossed Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and half of Alberta. We have logged about 2,000 miles in nine days and seen some great scenery (photos to follow). Successful traveling in a RV is about logistics and tactical planning which seems to consume much of the off the road time. However, the character of the trip is about to change from being a road trip to a sightseeing adventure experience. Our route was around the top of the Lake Superior connecting with the Yellowhead Highway in Winnipeg, Manitoba then ending in Edmonton, Alberta. The Trans-Canadian Highway also follows the Yellowhead section that we took. The Yellowhead trail is named after Métis guide Pierre Bostaonais known as “Tete Jaune” which translates to Yellowhead. It is dubbed the “Park to Park” highway which crosses 4 Canadian provinces, five national parks and 90 provincial parks. It was easy to find lots of literature that promotes the route to help find the worthwhile points of interest along the way.

Heading West from Wawa

The road around Lake Superior

Rain, Rain and More Rain along Lake Superior

As you can see from the pictures we experienced more than our share of rain around Lake Superior. This is a great drive if you can see the water. We stopped in Wawa to take pictures beside the Canada Goose.

The weather cleared up as we came into Thunder Bay with a stop at the Terry Fox Memorial. (Terry Fox was a cancer victim who ran across Canada and raised millions for Cancer research). This is the third time we had been there…uplifting experience.

Campground in Richer, Manitoba

It has been easy to find campgrounds. Of course some are better than others…the smiley face was taken at a park that might have been mistaken for Sanford and Son’s backyard. Private parks have been the order of the day so far. It is our hope to find more provincial/territory parks as we head north.

The Canadian experience is interesting and fun. Great place to visit if it was not so expensive. The provincial parks in Ontario are almost twice the cost of private parks. We will not talk about fuel prices. The landscape is breath taking and the cities are interesting. On this route we hit Winnipeg, MB; Saskatoon, SK; and Edmonton, AB. We did not get to spend any time in Winnipeg which looks like an interesting city.

Saskatchewan River with Saskatoon in the background

Saskatchewan River with the University of Saskatchewan in the Background

Today’s agenda includes exploring Edmonton. The two days spent in Saskatoon was a nice relief from being behind the wheel all day. We were able to take advantage of the river walk along the Saskatchewan River. This was a nice half day adventure (with lunch along the trail). We were able to take in the University of Saskatchewan Campus and explored part of the city. You can see the University in the background from pictures taken from the railroad bridge over the river. You can see the city across the river from where we had lunch on the trail.

Canadian Prairies seem to go forever along the Trans-Canada Hwy

Trans-Canada Hwy nearing Edmonton, Alberta

Nice spot near Edmonton just outside Spruce Cove, Alberta

Now the Prairie will give way to more mountainous terrain as we leave the more developed Trans-Canadian Highway. The theme for the Edmonton stop is to prep for a drive through the wilderness in the Northwest Territory. The next leg of the trip about 1,200 miles over 10 days will take us from Edmonton to The Alaska Highway at Fort Nelson in British Columbia. The experience will include a trip to Yellowknife (Capital of NWT), 250 miles of gravel road, lot of lakes-waterfalls-rivers all with long distances between refueling opportunities.

Getting ready to move on…

Larry and Jan

PS: This did not get posted yesterday due to a dysfunctional internet connect. Today did not go as planned due to an adventure with the truck and an auto repair service. We also found out there was a major washout on the loop road in the Northwest Territory and the strong recommendation is not to try it towing an RV. The road is expected to be in full service by August…so tonight is regrouping to see if a fall back plan can be created.