Alaska2018

Today, we travel the Tok Cutoff from Glennalllen to Tok, then back into  Canada, retracing the Alaska Highway. Dad and Mom are heading along the same path, but we need to move along faster now, so we aren't staying right together.  Eventually they will head south as we continue east.  It was wonderful to travel together for just over two weeks! Tok Cutoff - excellent views of the Wrangell mountains, including Mt. Sanford, but the worst road conditions we have driven so far.  It is paved, but very damaged by frost heaves. Our border crossing went well although there was a line of six vehicles in front of us. We drove late into the night and were rewarded by a large nursery herd of Elk! Better photos on the big camera later!  I estimate somewhere upwards of 50 elk were alongside the road.

We spent the night at mile marker 699- north of Watson Lake, Yukon Territory - on the Continential Divide between the Arctic and Pacific watersheds.  Many rest areas allow overnight parking here.   We have been coming in and out of rain since yesterday.  Short periods (mostly) of localized heavy rain while the sun shines.  Rocky Mountain Rain.   The drive is magnificent.  Our miles per day has slowed to about 1/2 of what we had been doing as we are stopping for animals and driving slower in the mountains.  I think we will cross into Alaska tomorrow.   Yukon Territory - blue skies, mountains, pines & aspen.   Crossing the Yukon River before Whitehorse. Lunch at Klondike Salmon & Rib in Whitehorse, YT.  Highly recommended. It's a bit cramped, but seemingly very popular and the food was excellent!  It was pink shirt day for us. Salt flats line the highway between Whitehorse and Haines Junction. Our first glimpse at the Sai...