Catching up

On the way to Whitehorse, YT, a bear quickly crossed the road - too fast for a photo. 

Of the 2 usual Alaska driving mishaps (flat tire or broken windshield), we got "cracked" by an 18 wheeler; it was easily fixed in Whitehorse, YT.  We visited 3 nice museums, the McBride, Transportation and Beringia Interpretive center in town.  This piece of equipment was used to build the Canada-Alaska highway in 1942 (6'2" is the height of the axle) - the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helped build the road.  It is built on permafrost (melts then refreezes), so this causes havoc with the surface.  In one of the Canadian museums, it was noted that Canada allowed the U.S. to build the Canada-Alaska highway during the height of the cold war, then turned over the Canadian part of this "poorly built road" for Canada to maintain!  The U.S. has since taken over maintenance of some of that roadway as it was determined that it was mainly used to transport stuff into Alaska  

On a drive from Whitehorse, we stopped at the Braeburn Lodge (a stop on the Iditarod Race course) for the biggest cinnamon rolls we've seen so far - as big as a dinner plate.

Here was the board showing the February 2014 sled teams arrival/departure times at the lodge - some were down a dog when they left..

Camped in a lovely waterfront spot along Kluane Lake and walked around the campground.  Once in the motor home, Minnie started freaking out.  She was cowering, shaking, backing into the bathroom then down the steps, then started yipping like she was injured.  We had to hold her until it was bedtime.  We couldn't figure out what scared her (wolf pack, bear, lapping waves?), but she returned to normal after we left the campground.

Passed this grizzly walking along the roadside - we were happy to see an 18 wheeler slow down and move over for the bear.

Some vent/fan systems are being tested along the roadway to see if they can keep the permafrost from melting.

Love the names of some of the establishments here.

We've noticed many buildings using old quonset huts, but this church is the best so far.

Finally we made it to Alaska...

Official end of the AlCan highway in Delta Junction, AK.

A nice depiction of the pipeline

After this town, we go back into YT then into AK and the road is pretty bad - we gave the truck plenty of room so as to avoid another crack!

When we got to Tok, AK, the road improved dramatically.  While waiting for some Thai take-out at a roach coach, we chatted with a local couple (guy is a nurse who was from Sacramento) on their way to a local bluegrass concert, so we followed...  Great music and an unexpected treat!

Then on to Fairbanks, AK, passing Skinny Dick's roadhouse on the way!

 

Yukon

Here was the snow at the top of the pass the next day - so glad we waited out the storm in Fort Nelson.  We met a couple towing a fifth wheel who got stuck at the top & had to spend the night.

We heard there were Stone Sheep (look like a bighorn, but coats are brown) in the area, often along the roadside.  We saw these 2 guys first.

Then a family (mom has short horns)

Then we saw several bison groups - and evidence they had been there...

Lots to see in the Signpost forest in Watson Lake.

Sunset tonight at 11:24 pm, sunrise at 4:32 am.  When we get to Alaska, we'll lose an hour and be in the Land of the Midnight sun!

On the Alaska highway

Finally made it to the start of the Alaska highway in Dawson Creek, BC.  

We met some folks who suggested we stop at Chetwynd, BC, where they have a yearly chainsaw carving competition.  They also told us about a park ranger who was riding his bike and was attacked by a bear.  He had bear spray in his backpack, but couldn't get to it.  Fortunately, the bear broke open the bear spray & was frightened away & the person was not hurt.  Chetwynd was a nice walking town with lots of amazing works to see and an A&W.

 Pretty intricate work considering they're using a chainsaw

We saw a moose with calf who started toward the freeway, but wisely changed her mind - not enough time to get a photo.  There is lots of work in this area and towns seem to be booming due to oil or natural gas drilling.  Housing camps like this are out near the areas that are being worked.  In the towns, most stores are hiring.  I was talking to a couple walking their puppy and the guy was from Florida (been in BC for 3 years) working - he said his friends don't believe how much money there is to be made up here.

Visited another local quilt store and stimulated the economy then got to have some sewing time.  In Fort Nelson, BC, today it was a snowy day - no steps for either of us as there is no Walmart to walk.  Minnie didn't like the snow!

Ice fields and more

Next stop after Kootenay National Forest was Banff, quite the tourist town, but since it is early in the season it was not too crazy yet.  Stayed in Tunnel Mountain II National Park campground park where we could walk - we were all happy, especially Minnie!  Lovely views of surrounding snow-capped mountains.

Visited the town of Canmore to the south & found some nice animal prints in a big quilt shop, one with puffins which we again hope to see in Alaska.  Canmore is near Calgary & folks were talking about possible flooding again this year; they think the dam admins should release more water before the snow runoff increases.   There was also a shop for dog sled tours & Minnie checked out the mascot.

Then on to Jasper, AB, where we saw Lake Louise (frozen),

the train spirals near Field, AB, where we got to see a train going in & coming out of the mountain,

 The model of the train spirals - we saw train go in lower left & come out upper right tunnel.  The other side of the figure 8 was out of our sight.

Train coming out on upper left of tunnel, going in on lower right.

Then the lovely drive on the Icefields Parkway where we saw lots of waterfalls and glaciers.  Glacial melt from this area goes into the Arctic, Atlantic & Pacific oceans.

Lake Louise is a bear corridor, so hikers are advised to go in groups of not less than four.  On the way to Field, we saw a mama bear with cub, then 2 more black bears.

One of the black bears was on the roadside & a truck stopped on the other side of the road, woman hops out with her camera, walks across the road, keeps getting closer to the bear until she invaded it's space, so it chased her back across the road.  Hope she wised up!  Beautiful coat on this guy.

Stayed in Whistler campground outside Jasper, AB, then on to Grande Prairie, AB.  Even though we drove through a wildlife preserve, we saw nada...

Stayed at the Grande Prairie, AB, Walmart last night.  Met 2 couples from Gridley, CA, (near Sacramento) on their way back from Alaska (they started up in April) - they had no bugs & thought the weather was fine, even that early.  We've had some rain every day, but it comes & goes.  No mosquitoes yet...