Alaska Highway

July 17-24
After spending three nights in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, we began our trek along the Alaska Highway.  The Alaska Highway (Alcan originally) was built starting in March of 1942.  Japan's invasion placed an importance on getting a connection between Alaska and the lower 48 states.  A cooperative effort between Canada and the United States, the US paid for the construction and Canada furnished the right-of-way, and waived import duties and other taxes and regulations.  By June 1942 there were more than 10,000 American troops in Canada working on the road.  Seeing the terrain and knowing the climate conditions, it is amazing that this 1,390 mile road was completed in just a little over eight months.  It took over 18 months just to build the Hathaway Bridge at home.

Having traveled 884 miles on the Alaska Highway, we can say the road conditions haven't been too bad so far.  A couple of people in our caravan have had their tow vehicle windshield broken, and one coach's windshield has a rock chip and spreading crack.  So far we have been lucky--all is well. 

Leaving milepost "0" in Dawson Creek, we made overnight stops in Fort Nelson, Liard Hot Springs (they are hot--we were in them), Watson Lake, and Teslin before arriving in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories.  Many opportunities for fun and education on the way. 

Whitehorse is the capital of the Yukon Territories.  Whitehorse was very important during the gold rush and steadily grew in population.  Today the population of Whitehorse is around 27,000 while the whole population of the Yukon Territory is around 35,000.  We had a great time here touring the city, attending the "Frantic Follies" (what a hoot), visiting the Beringia Interpretive Centre (pre-historic) and the Old Log Church (oldest building in the city in the original location) and the SS Klondike.  We also hiked the upper and lower trails of Miles Canyon.  Great time.

We head out tomorrow for the longest route of our trip.  We will be driving 336 miles on the Klondike Loop, and it is estimated to take 9 hours.  We will spend three nights in Dawson City, YT then ferry across the Yukon river to start the Top of the World Highway.  We have heard all kinds of stories about the road conditions.  Stay tuned and we will let you know if we survive and the conditions we faced. 

Signpost Forest in Watson Lake.  Over 72,000 signs

In Whitehorse, YT

Canola fields in Dawson Creek, BC

Phil and Karon putting numbers on all the coaches

Dawson Creek, BC

The worst road conditions we encountered so far

Roadside stop and short hike

Longest bridge on Alaska Highway, 1,917 ft.

Suspension Bridge over Yukon River in Miles Canyon

Miles Canyon.  Hiked upper and lower trails.

Time Zones and a Grizzly

Time zones and the time of the year are going to be a challenge.  We are in Mountain Time now, will soon go into Pacific Time, then shortly into Alaska Time, which is 4 hours behind our friends and family in the Eastern Time Zone.  We will try not to call you too late if you promise not to call us too early.  Chuck and I were sitting playing cards this evening, and it was still light outside.  Looked at the clock and it was after 11:00 PM.  Daylight will extend even later when we get to Alaska.

The next several days will be spent preparing to join the caravan in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.  We start traveling with the caravan on the 17th.  Probably won't do anymore blogs until we are several days into the caravan since the first few days are just overnight stays as we work our way to Chicken. AK.  Looking forward to traveling with 21 other RVs.  Our friends, Phil and Karon Millonzi, are going to be the tailgunners on the trip, so we will know someone.  I am sure we will meet many others.  We have several exciting activities scheduled, so I am sure the blog will get interesting.

On our drive to Grande Prairie today, we were driving through an area where caribou are frequently seen.  Chuck has an uncanny ability to see things even while he is driving, so we were both keeping our eyes peeled looking for the caribou.  Passing an open area, Chuck says--there is one, no wait that is a bear.  He spotted a very large grizzly bear not far off of the road.  We pulled off and were able to take a few pictures.  Not being sure if he was going to come closer to the road, we didn't wait to see.  Never did see a caribou. Just wanted to share the pictures...

Banff National Park, Canada

July 5-9  WOW.  I am at a loss for words other than WOW.  We stayed at Lake Louise Campground one of the NP campgrounds and were told when we checked in that Grizzly Bears were known to come through the campground.  The section we were in was for hard-sided RVs only.  There was a section surrounded by an electric fence for the tent campers.  Our campsite was at the end of the campground, and we were surrounded by trees and the Bow River.  Driving up Trans-Canada 1 the views were spectacular.  The NP is so concerned for the wildlife that overpasses and underpasses have been built on the highway just for the wildlife.  In one of the visitor centers, we saw the statistics on the number of various bears, elk, big horn sheep, etc. that have crossed the highways via these routes.  Success in keeping wildlife safe and less habituation.

We hiked around lakes, up to overlooks, and just viewed the Canadian Rocky Mountains.  The highway travels up a great valley and mountains rise up on both sides.  Many more glaciers are seen here than in Glacier National Park.  One of the highlights came on a rainy cold day.  We had planned to go up on a ski lift used in the summer for sight seeing and hopefully grizzly bear watching.  The ski slopes are in a travel way for the bears and several of the berries and vegetation they like to eat are on the slopes and in the surrounding forests, so the bears are attracted to this area.  Like I said, it was cold and rainy, but we decided to go anyway.  On the way up we went in a closed gondola and saw two grizzly bears.  Getting to the top, the clouds and fog lifted for a moment and we were able to see an incredible vista.  Shortly after this it became "pea soup".  I had said a prayer for God to let us see what He would have us to see.  Well He sure did, and on the way back down we elected to go in an open chair--in the rain.  We saw three grizzlies on the way down.  What a day.

Leaving Lake Louise, we traveled up route 93 (Icefield Parkway) through the same valley.  The views continued to impress, and we actually got to walk on a glacier at the Columbia Icefields.  I recommend this area to everyone who loves the beauty of the mountains.  Enjoy the many pictures I have posted......



Out of the clouds...

Wildlife overpass

Bow Glacier and Bow Falls



One of many glacier lakes--notice lake looks like a wolf.  We hiked up to this overlook--the altitude and up-hill hike about killed us.

Lake Louise and the chateau.  Another lake hike

Grizzly bear seen from ski lift



Grizzly in the fog

Lake Louise chateau as seen from atop ski lift across valley



Ski lift on the way down

Road we traveled

Chuck & Phyllis on the glacier

Our transportation on the glacier



Mama big horn sheep with kid at side of the road



His promises continue..outside our RV this evening

Glacier National Park

July 2-5  Glacier National Park
Having been to Glacier NP before, we decided to explore the Eastern side of the park.  Our campground, Johnsons of St. Mary, are in their 63rd season.  A family owned campground their story is very interesting as is the campground and restaurant.  They hire Work Kampers and students to staff the campground store and the restaurant.  We met students from several states, and they all love their job especially waking up each morning to look at the mountains. 

We explored Two Medicine and Many Glaciers.  At Two Medicine we hiked to a water fall and learned of an amazing Blackfoot woman named Running Eagle.  She is still remembered by her people today as a great warrior and provider for the tribe.  She was buried at the top of the waterfall in a tree. 




Running Eagle Falls

 

 



At Many Glaciers, we hiked around Swift Current Lake which reminded us of a hike we took last year in Bar Harbor, ME with our friends Mike and Pat.  Fellow hikers had surprised a black bear just a little way in front of us, but by the time we got to the area the bear was no where to be seen.  

Swift Current Lake

 

 

Construction began in the 1920s on the Going-to-the-Sun road, a 50-mile road through the Glacier NP, up the slopes of the Continental Divide, through Logan's Pass at 6,646 feet.  This road is the only American road to hold both the National Civil Engineering Landmark and a National Historic Landmark distinctions.

Going-to-the Sun Road

 



We planned to hike to the hidden lake at Logan's Pass, but when we got to the pass and looked at the trail, we decided maybe this wasn't the hike for us.  See why.

Logan's Pass

We enjoyed fireworks at our campsite which overlooked St. Mary's Lake.  There were fireworks all around the lake.  Off to Butte, MT then into Canada.

Wildlife

In an earlier blog, I promised one on wildlife.  Chuck and I absolutely love viewing wildlife in their natural habitats.  So far this trip has been amazing when it comes to seeing animals.  The photography may not be great, but the animals are..will share anyway.  The first wildlife were the cute little prairie dogs.  It only got better.  (If anyone knows how to do a better picture layout on these blogs, please tell me).

Prairie Dogs at Devil's Tower



Mule Deer near Devil's Tower

Red Tail Hawk at Buffalo Bill Center (previously injured)

 

 

 



Peregrine Falcon at Buffalo Bill Center (injured wing)

Mama Duck with ducklings

Eagle in flight lower left corner (blow it up)

Eagle in tree (center top)

Bison (buffalo)

Bull Elk

The following except the Big Horn Sheep were all seen in Yellowstone National Park. 

Black Bear (ranger said mama of cubs in tree)

Black Bear cubs (2) in tree

Moose cow giving Chuck attitude

Bison herd

Pronghorn (fastest animal in North America)



Coyote



Big Horn Sheep at Glacier National Park




We also saw amazing Grizzly Bears and Wolves at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone.  These animals had to be taken out of the wild because of their "interest" in humans.  People just don't respect wildlife enough.  Feeding them can make them dependent or a danger to humans.  Then they have to euthanized if they can't be relocated.  Luckily the bears and wolves at the center have a great home.  Will post some video from the center on Facebook.  You may have seen the wolf howling video already.  Well worth the time to visit the center if you are in West Yellowstone.

CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WE GET TO  EXPERIENCE IN ALASKA.