Preamble
Sitting around the fire one cool fall night in 2016, Bev reminded Chris that she still wanted to travel the Alaska Highway. We had both had some health issues over the past couple of years, so we sensed “It’s Now Or Never.”
We knew that a bus trip wasn’t our style, so we began planning a road trip. About that time our son’s 2005 Van became available, so we acquired it. We were planning a hotel trip, but since we didn’t want to tie ourselves to the schedules of reservations, we converted the van as a contingency accommodation.
Bev’s Diary, May 21: “On the road “Alaska” bound by 8.00 A.M. Good drive. The campground in Davidson was not open so we “hoteled” the 1st night. Hot & not much AC in the Van. (sunrise 5:31a; sunset 9:16p; Grand Beach)
The Alaska Highway begins at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, BC. We drove four days, just to get to the start!
Bev’s Diary, May 22: ” Another hot travel day. Got to the Lions Park Camp Ground @ Wetaskiwin about 3:00 p.m. James & Jess & the children & Craig & Dena & the children joined us for a hotdog picnic.
Bev’s Diary, May 23: “Another hot day — but good travels. Had to buy a new camp stove so no coffee in campground this morning. Smitty’s for breakfast. (sunrise 5:34a; sunset 10:10p; Grande Prairie AB)
Bev’s Diary, May 24: “Slept in this morning (Grande Prairie), and got on the road by 9:30. Beautiful, Spectacular, Drive. I’m so delighted. Camped tonight at Pink Mountain RV Park. Drove across the Kiskatinaw Curved Bridge. (sunrise 5:24a; sunset 10:52p; Fort Nelson BC)
Peace River Country
Bev’s Diary, May 25: “Incredible drive today — over Summit Pass — highest elevation on Alaska Highway. Saw stone sheep, bear, and a kitty cat that looked like a fox. Stayed at the Rocky Mountain Lodge.
Stone Mountain
Just cruising along and suddenly encounter a flashing electronic sign like this. Seconds later we crest the hill …
Sheep!
Bev’s Diary, May 26: “Drove to Laird Hot Springs and camped at the Laird Provincial Campground. Walked about 12,000 steps. Hot Springs are very different, but great. Enjoyed our day of camping. Saw wood bison in our site, almost.
Click Here for Video of the Laird River
The Laird River
Laird River Hot Springs
Quite simply The Best Hot Springs In Canada. Beautiful location. A perfect mix of nature and minimal infrastructure. This is a Destination in its own right!
A neat microclimate created by year round hot water.
Bison in our campsite …
… and on the highway!
Bev’s Diary, May 27: “Long drive to Whitehorse today. Up at 5:00 A.M. and on the road by 7:00 A.M. Whitehorse by 6:00 pm. Laundry done this evening and enjoyed a beer in the bar (so that we could get change for the laundry!) (sunrise 4:51a; sunset 11:04p; Whitehorse YT)
Sign post forest at Williams Lake.
At the Yukon information booth we enquired whether the ferries were yet open. This information influenced our trip plan. The ferries in question are on the Dempster Highway crossing the McKenzie and Peel Rivers. The ice crossings had melted in April, and the ferry services awaited the end of the ice flows after breakup.
We were advised that the ferries were estimated to open in early June so we finalized our route. First West to Alaska, followed by North to the Northwest Territories.
Bridge over the Nisutlin River at Teslin YT. The restaurant on the North end of the bridge had cinnamon buns which it advertised, for miles, as “The Best Cinnamon Buns on the Alaska Highway”. The billboard sign salesman must have done well since along the entire length of the highway, several restaurants, independent of each other, also advertised “The Best Cinnamon Buns”.
After seven days on the road — we definitely were in need of a laundry! We also wanted a day off of the road, so we booked into a centrally located hotel, after we ensured that it had a laundry.
Our room and the laundry were separated by three floors of stairs and two long hallways, so we also got a physical workout after our seven days in the car! The front desk didn’t have coins for the laundry, and the lobby bar, had different ownership … so our option was to sit in the bar, pay for individual beers with cash, and then take the change down to the washing machine!! 16 beers later (kidding!) …..
Bev’s Diary, May 28: Great day of just walking Whitehorse — shopping — fabric shopping — eating — drinking — and a museum. Tired this evening. So friendly here. (sunrise 4:49a; sunset 11:06p; Whitehorse YT)
Bev’s Diary, May 29: Left Whitehorse by 8:00 am and drove 9 hours to Tok, Alaska — crazy winding road with frost heaves. Camped at Tok Recreation Park — so beautiful and quiet.
Elias Mountains during our long drive around Kluane Lake. Canada’s highest mountain, Mount Logan, is there somewhere?
And we cross the U.S./Canada Border
Campground at Tok, AK
Bev’s Diary, May 30: The last mile of the Alaska Highway was at Delta Junction, Mile 1422.
The Elias Mountains provide a gorgeous backdrop for miles and miles …
Johnson River Bridge! Tourism Regina claims to have the longest bridge over the narrowest body of water in the World! Really?!!
What?! End of the Alaska Highway?! I learned in school that it went from Edmonton to Fairbanks. In reality the Alaska Highway travels from Dawson Creek, BC to Delta Junction AK …
Delta Junction has figured out marketing to Quilter Couples … The Quilt Shop is co-located with the Outdoors Store! The Travel Center Gift Shop carries Fat Quarters from said Quilt Shop.
Thus ends the first, of five segments of our 2018 trip to Alaska and the Arctic Ocean.
At his point, we were still awaiting the opening of the ferries over the Rivers in the North West Territories. You can click on Part 5, below, to follow our side trip, or you can click Part 2 to bypass.
Part 2 Tok to Tuk (Top Of The World and Dempster Highways)
Part 3: Dawson City, YT
Part 4: Home via the Cassiar Highway
Part 5: Fairbanks/Denali side trip (Including Alaska Rail)