July 12 - Day 7 - four of 4

Here is the updated Google Earth map for Day 6.

July 12 - Day 7 - Third of Three

Stopped to walk around a bit at a beaver pond. Amazingly clear water. I found at least 12 new wildflower species here. Also a green-winged teal.

We were amazed by the color of the water in Summit Lake and Muncho Lake. Brilliant jade green. There were warning signs to watch for wood bison in the road, and finally we saw one grazing beside the road. A little further on, we found a small herd, including several calves.

Other highlights today: We passed through the site of the second largest forest fire in British Columbia history. 400,000 acres burned in 1982. Charred trunks were still visible everywhere above the new green growth.

Wildlife today included thee moose, 5 bears, 2 deer, a yellow pine chipmunk, a red tail hawk and a bald eagle. Forgot to mention yesterday that we saw a golden eagle.

About 6:00, we left British Columbia and passed into the Yukon at Watson Lake. We had heard about the famous Signpost Forest here, but we were unprepared for how big it is! An estimated 60,000 signs have been brought here by tourists from all over the world. Quite a site.

We were able to get phone service, but no Wi-Fi. Since it was still early, and since we had not put on many miles today, we decided to keep going toward Teslin. Passed back and forth across the BC/Yukon border a couple of times, and finally stopped for the night at a nice little secluded boat launch area on Swan Lake. Took some nice shots of a beautiful sunset at about 11:00, but somehow I accidentally deleted them. :(

It has been pretty cold for the past few days. Tonight is really chilly - glad for sleeping bags!

Be back soon!

July 12 - Day 7 - second of four

Passed through Stone Mountain Provincial Park. The weather is very cold and rainy. This place is a geologist's dream!!! Unbelievable rock formations of every type and color imaginable. Hard to comprehend what kind of forces it took to create the structures visible in the aptly named Folded Mountain. There were warnings to watch for stone sheep and woodland caribou, but we didn't see any -- darn! As we came down from the park, we looked back and could see that it was snowing up there!

July 12 - Day 7 - first of four

July 12 - Day 7

Started out early. It was overcast and rainy, so I didn't expect to get many good photos today.

Stopped in Ft. Nelson, BC, which is Mile 300 on the Alaska Highway, to buy gas. Visited the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum where they have some of the construction equipment used to build the road. Donny was in his glory! Dozers, cranes, engines of all kinds. The museum wasn't open, and we wanted to get on the road, so we didn't stick around.

As we left Ft. Nelson, the road quickly became steep as we started into the mountains. We could see the first snow-capped peaks of the Rockies soaring into the sky.

Went through Summit Pass, which is the highest point on the Alcan. Wish the sun had been out.

Google Earth Update Map

Here is an updated map of our journey.

July Eleven - Day 6

A few more pix

July Eleven - Day 6

July 11 - Day 6

Hi All

Made it to British Columbia today, crossing the border at Lloydminster, Alberta, and and we have started up the Alaska Highway. From Mile 0 in Dawson Creek to the end in Fairbanks, the highway is 1,390 miles long, so it will take us several days.

One highlight so far was crossing the historic curved wooden Kiskatinaw River Bridge. At 531 feet long, it is the only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Highway that is still in use today.

We ended our journey today about 40 miles south of Fort Nelson. Tonight we are camped in a turnout along the road.

We are beginning to see more wildlife now that we are in BC. Today we saw several deer, a bunch of trophy elk at a farm just inside the BC border, two moose and a black bear. (Don't worry - I have a good telephoto lens, and the bear is not as close as he seems in the photo above!)

We are now in the Pacific Time zone, and we are above the 58th parallel. The sun sets for a few hours, but it never gets really dark. We are heading out early tomorrow, hoping to see more animals just after dawn.

Everything is expensive here -- gas is $5.00/gallon and I saw a pound of bacon for $7!

Later!