Alex and Julie's Travels: 2015 Summer Journey Canadian Crossing part 7

2015 Summer Journey

Canadian Crossing part 7

Heading for Tok, Alaska

June 27, 2015, Saturday

It was late yesterday before we had settle down for the night at Spruce Beetle Trail trailhead and the other RVers had left shortly after we had arrived. Night fell quickly, no traffic,no rain and it was very quiet during the short night.

Julie was up before me and already making our morning meal as I slid out of bed.

Mother Nature brought us a gorgeous morning with a splendid view of the clouds shrouding the Auriol Mountain Range to the south of us..

We left our night lodging about 07:00 hrs, rejoining the Alaskan Highway 1, (ALCAN), going north. It would be awhile before seeing anyone else, but with this endless parade of glorious scenery who would care if there weren’t others on the road.

To the west of us as we motored north towards Kluane Lake and Destruction Bay we could still see Mt. Decoeli and Outpost Mountain.

Reaching the southern end of Kluane Lake, it indeed is a wonderful sight to behold.

Alaskan highway twisted along the curvy shore giving us different views of this colorful body of water.

Out on the lake there is an island that is hard to tell apart from the mountain in the background seen in the photo above, the name of the island is unknown to us.

Dead ahead is Tachal Dhal Mountain ( aka Sheep Mt.) takes a commanding view as we crossed the Kluane River Delta. The wind has gently flung dust up in the air in the distance across the lake, coming closer to the highway.

It was about 08:00 hours, we were making good time on the roadway. Running along the lake there are countless pullouts for great lake viewing, fishing or staying the night.

Soon we were entering Destruction Bay; a pullout with a couple of outhouses came into view. It was time for a pit stop anyways and stretching our legs.

Looking around from our pullout, I could see that the scattered blue skies were being squeeze out by the ever-encroaching black cloud cover; beside we need to be back on the road and with the condition of those pit toilets we are glad to be getting away from them.

Just south of Burwash Landing, there is a memorial for one of the First Nation tribal members Douglas “Dougie” Richard Twiss II (12/13/1982-6/03/2005). We almost passed this memorial up due to roadside shrubby hiding it on the northbound side of the Alaskan Hwy. There is a saying by him, “Follow your dreams, be kind, and always remember to enjoy every day of your life”.

Moving on into Burwash Landing we saw road signs for Kluane Museum of Natural History, Unfortunately for it was closed.

Further down, a closed down restaurant had the mileage posted on their store front, KM 1118, happen to be the name of the restaurant also.

Alaskan Hwy stretched out, trees bordering the highway on both sides and for awhile the only travelers we saw were three bicyclist making their way north.

Slowly motoring our way to Beaver Creek we stop at another pullout. The information signage told us we were on the east side of the St.Elias Mountain Range and from here Mt. Walsh, Mt. Steele and Mt. Wood could be seen.

There were some folks already there and I was able to chat with them for a bit. They are headed to Oregon; the guy I was talking to was a diesel mechanic. He and his family had lived in Fairbanks for five years and his family simply had enough of the Alaskan cold.

Leaving this pullout behind and others to their own adventures we motored on northward. Somewhere near Km 1782 a gravel road laid before us for several miles, somewhere south of Pickhandle Lake.

The main active road construction was in the Pickhandle Lake area, where we would have a pilot escort. Pulling up behind another TC at the flag stop and there we waited till the pilot vehicle showed up.

At Kolder River#2 bridge we are back on asphalt and a bridge over muddy waters. Alaska Hwy would be in and out of being gravel road to asphalt at this point till we reach Beaver Creek.

A wonderful design sign greeted incoming voyagers at Beaver Creek.

This would be a short stop at the visitor center for some information, then on our way for the Alaskan border isn’t too far away.

Shortly after departing from Beaver Creek the Canadian customs could be see, we would be driving around that while incoming visitors would have to stop.

30 more Km to the Alaskan border, as we neared the U.S Customs a rest stop and “Welcome to Alaska” sign appeared.

Another short hop and we were in line to enter Alaska, it wasn’t too long of a wait, a few questions and when the custom agent found out I had just retired he told me he has only 10 months to go himself. He bid us a good journey as we pulled away from the station.

This would be day one in Alaska and it was about a 100 miles to Tok from the border, Tok would be our end of the day. A few miles from the border a fuel stop came into view and we are greeted by 4.02 per gallon for diesel at Border City, lucky for us we wouldn’t need fuel till Fairbanks.

Once we left Border City area it was back to lots of green trees to see till we arrive at the Seaton Recreation area. Large portions of land had burned away sometime in the past and the area was still recovering.

50 miles more to go till we reach Tok, spying some more long distance cyclist going south, I got to take my hat off to those guys it is something I wouldn’t attempt to do.

Entering the area of Tok we saw the turn off for Chicken and beyond, that’s when I decide that is the way we are going to exit Alaska.

Arriving at Tok RV Park, acquiring a full hook-up site was quick and among some trees. Julie and I did some walking around looking at a few things; a couple of motorcyclist got caught in a down pour and everything that wasn’t in hard cases got soaked. Julie spotted a wooden bear with a salmon on the office porch, can I take it home, please.