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For our trip we wanted to be able to stay
at remote campgrounds and state and provincial
parks, so we bought a 1991 Coachhouse camper van.
It is a compact 19 footer so that we would be able
to negotiate narrow mountain roads and economize
on gasoline. The camper has a two burner stove, a small
fridge, kitchen sink, bed and a toilet and sink. It has lots
of storage space for clothes, food and camera gear.
In the shot above it is displaying a thick coat of
mud garnered on the Dempster Highway.
Another goal for the trip was the flexibility to follow our noses.
So we had a rough itinerary without a reservations anywhere.
In retrospect we can talk about our 14,000 mile trip in various stages.
1.Transcanada: July 29 - August 8
We entered Canada just south of Niagara Falls and
headed west through Ontario, skirting Lake Superior.
At Thunderbay, the air conditioner compressor seized up
and we had to get it fixed. The mechanics worked hard to
get us going before their Canadian Civic holiday and a
long weekend. Thanks guys!
We hastily drove across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Alberta to end up in Dawson Creek, British Columbia.
2. The Alcan Highway: August 9 - 18
From Dawson Creek we headed in a northwesterly direction
to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. From there to
Delta Junction in Alaska.
3. Fairbanks, Denali, Circle: August 19 - 25
From Fairbanks we made a southerly trip do Denali National
Park and then northeast to the Circle on the Yukon river. Peggy took
a bus tour up to the Artic Circle on the restricted
access Dalton Highway, while I explored Fairbanks.
We had planned to stay longer in Fairbanks, but it was
raining a lot in Denali and Fairbanks. So we headed south.
4. Alaska Range, Valdez, Wrangell National Park:
August 26 - September 3
From Fairbanks we headed south on the Richardson Highway
and were planning to go to Tok. But when we got to the junction,
the sunny snow-capped peaks of the Alaska Range lured us south.
We were not disappointed: crossing the Alaska Range is
spectacular and the descent into Valdez was stunning.
In Valdez we took boat tour of the Columbia and Meare's
Glaciers. Both were gorgeous with sea otters and seals galore!
5. Top of the World Highway, Dawson: September 3 - 5
From the Wrangells we headed north to Tok and caught
the unpaved highway to Chicken, AK and then onto
the Top of the World Highway into Dawson in the
Yukon Territory. Dawson is just downstream of the
Klondike gold fields of the 1890's.
6. Dempster Highway, Inuvik: September 6 - 11
When we were planning this trip, we looked at
the 450 mile unpaved highway that goes 200 miles
north of the Artic Circle to an Inuit town called
Inuvik with longing and trepidation. Fear because
of reports on how hard the road can be on tires.
So we started off just going to drive 50 miles then
turn back, but we just kept on going. And we're
glad we got to see the beauty of the Northwest Territories.
7. Klondike Highway, Skagway: September 12 - 18
The Klonkdike Highway lead us back down to Whitehorse.
During the trip, northern lights had eluded us,
but we finally got two beautiful nights of them.
We then drove the short but spectacular distance from
Whitehorse to Skagway.
8. Cassiar Highway, Hyder: September 19 - 24
From Skagway we headed in land then south through
British Columbia through rugged mountains and
placid lakes lined with large evergreen trees.
We returned to revisit Hyder, AK and the Salmon Glacier.
9. Jasper and Glacier National Park: Sept. 25 - October 2
We then drove across BC to Jasper National Park in Alberta.
The boat tour of Lake Maligne was wonderful and so were
many of the day hikes. We were also lucky enough to hit
the Park during the Elk rutting season. The bulls' calls
at night were loud and everywhere.
10. Idaho, Wyoming, Home: October 3 - 15
We headed south to northern Idaho and down to
Craters of the Moon National Park. This eery terrain
has been site of volcanic activity for the past
15,000 years. In Wyoming we explored the Wind River
Range and the striking area around DuBois.
Unfortunately, we had to hurry back east
with much left unexplored. Peggy's already planning
a return trip.
Click below for details of trip:
Introduction
Itinerary
Chitina Cabbage Festival
Northern Lights
Portfolio
Wildlife
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