Whitehorse,Yukon, Canada with a side trip to Skagway, Alaska

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 Start: Teslin Lake, Yukon, CN   End: Hi Country RV Park, Whitehorse, Yukon

Today was a short driving day to Whitehorse, Yukon.  We decided to stay 3 nights at the Hi Country RV Park 

old work jeep outside Hi Country RV Park Whitehorse Yukon CN

just outside of town with full hookups (sort of like staying at a Marriott rather than a Motel 6).  It has a few old cars from when the Alaska Highway was built at the entrance to the park.

We ran errands in town, picking up an elk steak for a future dinner and checked out Whitehorse.  We both got hot showers (amazing how everyday things at home are luxuries on the road!) and stayed up late soaking up electricity for all our gadgets (2 phones, 2 cameras, tablet, PC). 

Thursday, June 2, 2016 Side trip to Skagway, Alaska

Well, technically today we entered Alaska, at least for a few hours.  We left the RV park early with the jeep and drove south to Skagway, Alaska.  We crossed the border checkpoint about 10 miles before the town. 

sign outside Skagway, Alaska

overview on way to Skagway

It’s a tourist trap for the cruise ships so lots of shops and eateries.  There’s the Klondike National Park which consists of several of the downtown buildings and a nearby trail.  We toured the newly opened Soapy Smith Parlor to get a bit of gold rush history.  I got my National Park Passport stamp and we spend the afternoon exploring the shops and having some eats.  Mike enjoyed seeing where the gold rush miners began their journey to the Yukon. We considered a train ride but our own transportation gave us fantastic views.

road to Skagway

waterfall on road to Skagway

Emerald Lake (the water is really that color!)

The ride down and back was a constantly changing panorama of mountains, streams, waterfalls and meadows.  We saw bobcats and caribou that moved too fast to get pictures and a big old brown bear.

There's a "desert" outside of Carcross, sort of made me feel homesick.

Carcross Desert

After we got back we stopped at Berengia, an exhibit about the land mass between Russia and the US during the Ice Age and the animals  whose fossils have been found there.

pre-historic bison 

 Whew, a full day!

What's Your Sign?

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 Start:  Liard Hot Springs, BC, Canada End: Teslin Lake, Yukon, Canada

A long travel day today and we entered the Yukon!

Yukon signpost

In route we encountered a couple more animals, this buffalo sauntering across the highway and a bear that was navigating the oncoming lane.

street walkers

We did a brief walk to a waterfall on the way

and we stopped at the signpost forest in Watson Lake, Yukon

signpost forest in Watson Lake, Yukon

 and added our sign that Mike made to the over 25,000 signs.  We are officially immortalized! 

our sign

We also watched a planetarium style movie about the northern lights and outer space before driving on to Teslin Lake for the evening.  It’s in the low 70’s and the aspen leaves are rustling outside our window that faces out to the lake.  (Cory, I snagged some sand here for you).

Teslin Lake, Yukon, Canada

While I’m gallivanting around North America my sister Nancie has started chemo.  Please say a prayer for her as she goes through the treatments.  More updates soon.

On the way to the Yukon

5/30/2016 Monday  Start: Triple G Campground, Ft Nelson, BC  End: Liard Hot Springs, BC, Canada

A short day ending in a full hookup sit where we did laundry and had hot showers.  Pricey ($39.00 Canadian) but we need to dump, add water, do laundry, etc.  More cloudy skies and cold (42 degrees Fahrenheit overnight).  We went to dinner at the campground’s restaurant because I was too lazy to cook.  It was okay but over-priced.  No pictures today, just driving.

5/30/2016 Monday  Start: Triple G Campground, Ft Nelson, BC  End: Liard Hot Springs, BC, Canada

Today was a beautiful day driving from Fort Nelson to Liard Hot Springs. 

road from Ft Nelson BC

  We spent a few hours driving through the Canadian Rockies, majestic peaks covered in snow and stately rows of pine trees. We saw mountain goats on the roadside, 

mountain goat on the way to Liard Hot Springs

pulled over for lunch at Muncho Lake 

Mike's choice for lunch - good taste!

and stopped about 2:00 pm at the hot springs.  The pools are hot from underground volcanic activity and smell slightly of sulfur.  We soaked for about a half hour 

Liard Hot Springs

and on the way back to camp watched a moose in the marsh. It was close!

Moose in the marsh along the boardwalk to the springs

 I’d put a spinach frittata in the crockpot, plugged into the inverter connected to the batteries and we had dinner at 5 in front of the campfire.  We tucked in for the night about 7 and it stayed light well past 9.  Tomorrow we should be in the Yukon.