September 6
The drive today was beautiful. The sky was the usual gray, low, drizzly stuff we have come to expect. The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge was very cool to drive along, thousands of small lakes and marsh areas. Did see a Great Gray Owl fly across the road but that was the extent of the animals for the day. Crossed the border into Yukon Territory and the road went to crap. It was about 50-75 miles of serious frost heaved chip and seal. It was kind of like riding a roller coaster without the big drops. The scenery in this part of the Yukon was much prettier than the drive up the Campbell Highway. Big mountains and a mix of open tundra and spruce forests. Swans were a common sight along here, along with Wigeons, Loons and Red Necked Grebes. Arrived in Haines Junction just in time to find a campground, cook some dinner and have a nice fire. The Yukon Campgrounds have all been pretty nice, $12 a night and free firewood!
September 7
Woke up to a thick ground fog. The plan was to head to the bakery for coffee and danish. The place was closed so we filled up with gas and headed south toward Haines. The fog shrouding the mountains was awesome and hopefully I was able to capture some of that with the camera. The fog lifted by 10AM and we had mostly sunny skies to enjoy for the rest of the day. Lots of Bald Eagles down toward Haines. Haines a is a cool little town with lots of cruise ship traffic. We headed NE of town to Chilcoot Lake Campground. The Chilcoot River was covered with eagles and gulls as the salmon were moving up stream. The river had a fish weir across it. A weir is kind of like a picket fence with removable pickets. The water runs through but the fish can not get through except where the fish counter person opens up a space. This person sits all day long and counts the fish as they move through the opening. Looked really boring to me other than the fact that the grizzly bears figured out that salmon against a fence made for some really EASY fishing. There was a sow with three cubs feeding about 50' from the fish counter. There were lots of people hanging around watching the bears and a ranger lady watching the people. The campground was less than a half mile from the bears. We found a lakeside campsite and pitched the tent then headed back into town for groceries. Back to camp for dinner and more bear watching before bed.
September 8
Lazy day hanging around Haines. Took a short hike, went to the library to get on line and pay some bills (yes, those pesky things are STILL following us!) and drove around a bit. Made our ferry reservations for tomorrow night, ferry does not leave until 10PM so we will have all day tomorrow to mess around too. Back up to camp. There are a bunch of Harbor Seals hanging out at the mouth of the river, snacking on the salmon I suspect. Must be 40 eagles out there too.
September 9
Breakfast and break camp. Head into town and find a shower at the local laundromat. Showers are good once in a while. Drive down to Chilkat State Park, about 10 miles SW of town. Nice quiet campground and not a sole is there. Nice views across the bay to some hanging glaciers. Back into town and a short hike. Had dinner at the local Mexican restaurant, Mosey's Cantina. Good food. Check in for the ferry at 8:45 PM, Loading at 9:30, en-route at 10PM. A very dark trip to Skagway until we get with in site of town. Unload and drive through the silent streets of town at 11 PM to our camground at Dyea, 10 miles west of town. A twisty windy road into the darkness. We get the tent pitched and crash out about 12:15 AM.
September 10
Up and out to the “ghost town” of Dyea. This was the original start of the Klondike gold rush over the Chilcoot trail. We got a ranger led tour of the townsite from a ranger, we were the only ones there so it was pretty nice. To say this is a ghost town is a stretch, there is nothing more than some rotten lumber laying on the ground. The story and history were very cool though. After that we headed into Skagway. Had some lunch at a bar and grill then wandered the streets. It is a BUSY town during cruise ship season. The streets were packed with people as there were two ships in port. There were a ton of cools shops in town and we shopped a lot! Sheri got a couple rings. I got another backpack. We sampled beers at the Skagway Brewery then went to the Red Onion Bar. This was right next to the starting line of the Klondike Road Race. This is a team relay running event that goes to Whitehorse, 112 miles to the north. It was fun to watch all the teams, reminded me of RAGBRAI. We shared a small pizza then headed back to camp in the drizzle and fog.
September 11
Into Skagway to bakery for coffee and danish, luckily this one is open and we enjoy some really tasty cinnamon rolls with our coffee. We go wonder town for a bit and then decide we need to get out of here before we spend anymore money so we head back to camp and pack up. On the road at 1:00 PM. Up and over White Pass. A SPECTACULAR drive, ranks up at the top of all scenery of the trip. Stop at Canadian Customs, very nice young lady working there, first time ANY customs people were pleasant. Drove up to Carcross, across the Tagish highway and back onto the Alaska Highway. This is a stretch of road we have not traveled. We stop at Teslin Lake campground, another Yukon camp. Build a fire and get ready to whip dinner. Not putting up the tarp tonight, it is mostly clear.......Starts to rain, fine, we put up the tarp.
September 12
A long day driving, at least recently it is. Put in 8 hours on the road. Stop for fuel. Credit card denied, second card denied, crap, there goes the cash I had. Not sure what is up with that and of course it is Sunday so no one at the card center to fix it. Turn south off the Alaskan Highway and onto the Cassiar Highway. A very remote feeling road, not quite like the Campbell hwy but close. Drive to Kinaskan Lake campground, a British Columbia Provincial park. Very nice place. Hooded Mergansers kept swimming past our campsite on the water, very enjoyable
September 13
Heading south still, down to Stewart BC/Hyder Alaska. Set up camp in the Stewart City campground. Suppose to bears all over. We have not seen any yet...........Glad they can't open a tent zipper. Nice little town. On the end of a 90 mile long natural inlet/canal. About a 100 miles as the crow flies dew east of Ketchican Alaska. Stayed in a nice city campground. Big trees and pretty quiet.
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