We survived the Top of the World Highway!

Hi,

While in the Yukon  we visited some old mining towns. Keno City, off the Silver Trail highway, was a booming silver mining town in the 1920's. Silver was continued to be mined here until 1989.

Orginally we were not planning on visiting  Dawson City, the site of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898, as we had heard some horror stories about the Top of the World Highway we would have to travel to get from Dawson City to Alaska. However, Dad talked to some people who had driven it,and they told him if he just took it slow he would be fine. (More on that later)

Most of the historical sites in Dawson City are owned by Parks Canada (National Parks). They have done a fantastic job of renovating all of the old buildings and gave some great tours. Mom and dad learned all about the history of the town on the tours they took.

They even got to hear some tall tales from a local barmaid.

Then came the day we had to drive our motorhome to Chicken, Alaska. We got up early and were the first in line to go on the small ferry across the Yukon river. On other days we saw very long lines of motorhomes waiting, and as the ferry could only take one RV of our size, that would have been a long wait. 

Once we boarded, it was a quick ride to the other side.

The first few miles of the Top of the World highway were paved and we looked down to see the Yukon River we had just crossed.

The higher we went, the more we felt we were on the top of the world.

Looking down, I could see the white clouds below me

and the sun, did I mention the sun? It is light about 21 hours of the day. We just celebrated the summer solstice. I wish mom had bought me sleep shades like she has. I just have to squeeze my eyes tight so the light doesn't creep in when I try to sleep.

Then, bam, the paved road ended, and the gravel began. I hopped right on mom's lap for the very bumpy ride. There was even snow on the side of the road.

The roads and the bumps went on

and on

and on....I think you get the picture.

 We got to the border to Alaska right before it opened, so we joined the small line.

I got out to celebrate we had made it this far!

 After the Top of the World highway we didn't think it could get worse, but it did, as this sign could attest. The Taylor highway, on the US side from the border to Chicken, Alaska was much worse. 

Gravel road with huge potholes, 

and red flags to alert us to soft shoulders,

 no guard rails ( And I peeked to see it was a long way down) 

and lots of hairpin curves. Dad did a great job of driving, but he said he would never do it again, not even for the experience. Luckily, nothing was damaged and the cover he made for our car worked to protect the windshield.

We finally got the Chicken, Alaska. It took us about six hours to go the 70 miles to get there!! Not much in Chicken. First stop was to get dad some beer.

and after three beers he headed to the bathroom (no indoor plumbing in Chicken)

I was busy making sure those attack chickens didn't get a hold of me.

Mom wanted me to pose by myself under the big chicken, but it scared me too much so she had to hold me.

Not too much else in Chicken....

The next day we headed to Delta Junction, the end of the Alaskan highway. 

Check me out under the sign!

Did you know the mosquito is Alaska's state bird? Maybe not, but they sure are big around here and there are plenty of them.

Next stop, Fairbanks

Adios, 
Yuki

Traveling the Alaskan Highway

Greetings!

I like the view from up here! The Alaskan Highway begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia(BC} and continues through BC and the Yukon and ends at the border to Alaska. 

The towns along the way are very small and not too scenic, but the scenery along the way is beautiful.

There are constant repairs on the highway, so stops along the way are common.

One night we camped on Muncho Lake, 

 It was beautiful at night, and this is as dark as it gets. 

We crossed the border into the Yukon Territory.

The first town was Watson Lake and we stopped to visit the Signpost Forest, which orginated in 1942 when a G.I. working on the highway added a sign for his hometown. Since then it has grown to over 75,500 signs.

Mom walked all over looking for a sign from South Pasadena, and wishing she had thought to bring one.

We spent a few days in Tagish, Yukon (no real town) just the Six Mile River Resort, right over the Tagish bridge. 

Mostly cabins and a great restaurant and a small place for RV's. The first day we were the only RV there.

 That changed the next night! And they all had dogs for me to play with. 

I kept an eye out for the eagle who sat on the telephone post behind our RV. I was a bit afraid he might swoop down and get a hold of my harness and pull me up!

From there we took two day trips in our car. The first was to Atlin, BC's northernmost settlement and isolated (no roads) to the rest of BC. It was a boomtown during the Klondike gold rush of 1898 and today is a very small community with stunning scenery.

and old buildings

The next day we drove to Skagway, Alaska. Mom and dad  had been there before on our cruise to Alaska, but had forgotten how very touristy it was and full of people from several cruise ships. They left me in the car while they did walked around the town.

 

and visited the museum.

The drive to get there and back was through the White Horse pass. Up there the lakes were still frozen and there was snow on the side of the road.

I continue to keep my eyes peeled looking for wildlife along the road. We couldn't miss this herd of buffalo - 

 

 and this guy was trying to stare me down!

We have seen lots more bears, I think we are up to #14!

 

 

and even a musk ox

Boy did he have a lot of hair!

Well, that's all for now. We are off for more adventures on the Alaskan highway!

Adios, 

Yuki