to Palmer, AK

5-11-2013 – Yesterday was a take it easy day in Tok.  Few campgrounds open. Plenty of snow. Just electric at site, but were able to dump and get water.

Travels today: Tok Cutoff to Gatkona (Richardson Hwy) to Glennallen (Glenn Highway) to Palmer.  Road from Tok had lots of frost heaves – so just travel slow.  Roadside ponds are a flutter with ducks and occasional Trumpeter Swans.  Scenic views abound

Always on the look out for animals --- what a neat surprise.  Not one but two different herds of caribou running on the highway.

 

At Eureka Summit area the bent snow poles help to guide the snow plows.

And the snowy mountain peaks just get better and better.  One spectacular view after another.  So glad we came early to see these magnificent mountains covered in snow.

Winter has stayed a bit longer, spring is on the way.  Everyone tells us this is such an unusual year.  By this time trees are leafed out and the waters flowing freely.  Of course we wish it were a bit warmer, but we are thoroughly enjoying the beauty of the season.  Plan to stay a week at the Palmer Elk’s Lodge --- what a grand view!

to Tok, Alaska

5-9-2013 Another good night sleep – cold nights warming thru the mornings to be very pleasant with clear skies, no winds and delightful views of the Icefields of St Elias Mtns – more frozen lakes, ponds, streams, marshes.  Where water has thawed the ducks and swans gather.  Though we can easily see the mtns – elevation is only 1200-1400’ for the road.

The undulating heaves can give a roller coaster ride.  The secret, practical thing to do is SLOW down, enjoy the views and try to avoid the ‘sneaker’ heaves.  This stretch has been especially rough for about 70 miles before the US Border.  Watch for the marker signs and flags and then even in between there are rough patches.

 

Crossed the Canadian / US border near Beaver Creek.

Arrived in Tok in time for lunch.  Recommended was ‘Fast Eddies’  Yummy!  Thank you Dennis & Carol Hill for the Mushrooms!

Tok is a busy hub of motels, gas stations, RV parks and restaurants.  A place to decide direction of travel. North to Fairbanks, South to Valdez, Southwest to Anchorage???

574 miles in Yukon following Hwy #1 + 1450 miles in BC = Alaska

North to Lake Kluane

5-8-2013:  Another delightfully sunny bright crisp morning.  Inside temp 44 this morning, but with sun (an a bit of heat first) quickly warms inside.  Left Whitehorse heading north toward Tok. Below picture – the Yukon River just before Whitehorse.

Today’s wild life – many swans a swimming, ducks paddling in thawed ponds and a herd of mtn sheep.  The many groups of sheep were easy to spot on a south facing snowless slope. 

Again one beautiful ridge of mtns after another. 

Haines Junction has a new beautiful visitor center…. A quilt of the local history was appliqued on an old army blanket.  Enjoyable stop. 

More gorgeous mtn views as we travel Yukon Hwy #1 – the Alaska Hwy

Traveled 180 miles (~200 to Tok) – will enjoy parking – relaxing – enjoying the views for the day along the Kluane River – front view!

Rear view Kluane River – Day time temps low 60’s.   DC 1076.6 mm

Going to Whitehorse, YK

5-6-2013 - Woke to clear sunny skies, but just a bit frosty – 36 degrees.  Slept well at the rest area to find that a truck had blocked the No Overnight Parking sign --- good thing we didn’t see it before hand.

Just getting started this morning – DANG IT!  Another Rock Ding – this time on passenger side, just above view range.  Glad we changed our insurance for this trip to a low deductible!  We’ll fix windows in the fall.

Scenery continues beautiful with snow peaked mountains, frozen lakes and some streams beginning to flow.  Scenic Marsh Lake is especially beautiful.  Will plan to stop on the return trip.

Also postponed is a trip to Atlin and the Klondike Loop to Dawson City – Roads are closed.  Arrived in Whitehorse – many attractions do not open until June.  We’re parked at Wal-Mart – not a big crowd yet.  Enjoyed the visitor center and drive thru town looking at the may murals.

Gas $1.279/liter  Diesel $1.399/liter.

All seasons have their beauty!  Hey, NO Mosquitos!

5-7-13 Though the night was chilly 30’s – the sunny skies are warming things up.  Today visited the McBride Museum of the Yukon. Here we actually got to see many of the animals we’ll probably never see on this trip.  We have seen a moose, deer, swans.  Actually the animal exhibit is very well done to see all of the critters.

 

Also is the cabin that Sam McGee lived in – immortalized in the Robert Service poem the “cremation of Sam McGee”

The Yukon River is flowing – ice chunks are thawing.

Food prices are higher than we would like to pay – even McDonald’s is pricey.  So we’re having frozen pizza – salad – ice cream for desert at Dudley’s RV.  Enjoying the sunshine.

to Teslin–along Alaska Highway

5-5-13 Clear blue sunny skies 60’s this morning at Liard Hot Springs Parking lot. Snow is melting quickly here. Heading north on BC #97 – Alaska Hwy grassy corridor with miles and miles of trees on either side – basically following the Liard River. Road is in good condition with occasional road heaves. Of course the buffalo enjoy this easy path munching grass along the way and leaving miles and miles of piles.

Contact Creek was a great stop. gas 1.309/l; diesel 1.409 – so it was fill up time again.

Arrived Watson Lake with much SNOW! Wow – the sign forest is HUGE!!! Denny tried to walk in the snow, but got stuck – so we’ll have to look for friend’s signs on the return trip. We did add our sign!

 

About 20 miles either side of Watson Lake the road was full of heaves and potholes. Scenery is beautiful. We are now in the Yukon Territories.

Temps a bit chillier. More SNOW still on the ground, rivers mostly frozen. On to Teslin, but things are still closed. A beautiful view of Nisutlin Bay Bridge – longest water span on Alaska Hwy at 1,917’.

No Overnight Parking here so decided to park for the day at a pull off DC 785 miles. Still light at 10:30pm. Think we’ll be sleeping when the sun comes up very early. In the morning saw the sign NO Over Night Parking…… oh well we slept well!

BC Travel enjoyable ~1450 miles

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To Liard Hot Springs, then to Teslin

5-4-13  There is NO OVER NIGHT PARKING in Fort Nelson so says the city Constable or pay $50.  So last evening we headed north to a pullout at DC 318.7 for the night.  It was a good night sleep in spite of some trucks zooming by thru the night.

The highway winds up and down for scenic views of the Rocky Mtns to the west from Fort Nelson to Liard Hot Springs.

Stopping at Toad River to see all of HATs on the ceiling and of course to have a cinnamon roll – that seems to be the specialty everywhere!  Some are just better than others.

Though our day is sunny and pleasant 60’s, there is still plenty of snow and ice.  Rivers and lakes are mostly frozen.  Muncho Lake is still spectacular.  Will be anxious to see it on the return trip.         DC 444.9 miles

And of course we stopped at Liard Hot Springs – I was the only one of the group to enjoy these delightfully warm 110 degree waters.  Outside 60’s was sunny and very pleasant.  They have built new changing rooms.

Parking for the afternoon/night at Liard Hot Springs – large pull off perfect for staying the night (DC 477.7 miles) it was time to check why the lights were not working.  So Denny & Fred did some trouble shooting.  Yes, there is snow on the ground, but temperatures are shirt sleeves……

A delightful sunny day!