Haines Junction to Haines, Alaska

Even though we are traveling the Alaska Highway we are still in the Yukon. We are parked in Kluane R.V. Kampground in Haines Junction about 146 miles from Haines, Alaska.  Today we made a day trip with the car and went to Haines, Alaska.  The drive to Haines was very scenic as we have seen on so many days on this trip.  In addition to the snow capped mountains, lakes, streams, and wild flowers we saw one black bear and one she moose.  After looking around Haines and the visitor center we had a picnic lunch by the water edge gazebo down by the boat harbor.  After lunch we rode out to the Chilkoot State Park and were privileged to see many bald eagles; we even got to see them coming and going from their tree top nests.  On our trip back to Haines Junction we saw another moose, another bear, and four porcupines.  We were gone from our R.V. from 8am to 8pm and traveled 332 miles; a good but long and tiring day.

 Hammer Bicycle at the Hammer Museum 

 Fish Wheel

 Marie, Merrill, Mary Jane & Stanley

 Bald Eagle

Moose in marsh land along the road 

Carcross to Haines Junction

Sunday morning (June 12th) we left our camp site about 8:45 and got to Whitehorse, Yukon with time to spare before going to church so we stopped at the S.S. Klondike Ship that is dry docked in a park for visitor observation.  We left the R.V. at the park and drove our car to the Nazarene Church in Whitehorse.  The congregation was celebrating their 19^th year of children’s ministry so the program was prepared especially for the benefit of the children.  After church we went back to our R.V. and ate lunch and then took a drive to Miles Canyon at Schwatka Lake where took lots of pictures from the lookout and suspension bridge.  From there we stopped in Whitehorse and purchased some supplies including a gasoline fill-up and headed out toward Haines Junction.  The drive to Haines Junction was only 140 miles however we did encounter a stretch of very rough gravel road.  One vehicle was pulling a boat trailer and passed us very aggressively which caused loose gravel to sling by us.  Stanley and I both saw a good size stone coming toward the windshield; I applied the brakes as Stanley braced for the stone that appeared to be coming at us.  Miraculously the stone missed us and no damage was done.  We arrived in Haines Junction safe and sound about 8:45 for a two night stay at Kluane R.V. Kampground.

 Stanley at S.S. Llondike

 Miles Canyon at Whitehorse

 Wild Flowers along the way

 Marie and Mary Jane on the suspension bridge

Another interesting bridge

Our Drive to Skagway, Alaska

  About 9:45 this morning we left our campground with the car and drove to Skagway on Hwy 2 for approximately 65 miles.  We stopped several time to view and take pictures of the scenery.  One of the places of interest was the Yukon suspension bridge.  It was a very scenic place however the fee to walk across the bridge was $10 per person so we decided to pass on that walk.  When we arrived in Skagway we park the car and walked through Skagway along with other tourist from two Cruise Ships that were in port.  We ate lunch at a local restaurant and ate our own snacks on the way back to the campground.  Before leaving the Skagway area we drove out to Dyea an old mining town about five miles from Skagway; this was a neat drive with modern development underway. 

On our way back to our camp site we saw two black bears alongside the road.  Today’s excursion ended about 7:45 after driving 154 miles with the car.  We found our R.V. just as we left it at Carcross in the Montana Service and R.V. Park.

Welcome Sign to Skagway 

Cruise Ships port at Skagway

Two Cruise Ships at Skagway

Closer View of Cruise Ships

Down Town Skagway

Skagway Tour Bus

Along the Way to Skagway

Bove Island

Black Bear Spotted After Leaving Skagway

Blog posted by Merrill

Junction 37 R. V. Campground to Carcross, Yukon

June 10^th Today is our 44^th anniversary!  Marie made a “Shoney’s breakfast”!  It was a great celebration for us.  We have commented different times that we’re eating good meals in our little camper.


Mary Jane and Stanley's Anniversary Breakfast




Stanley and Mary Jane at lunch on their anniversary

Marie & I did laundry last night and didn’t finish until about 11 pm and it was still daylight!!  This morning we were not in a hurry to leave – didn’t leave our campsite until 10, filled up with gas and finally got onto the Alaska Highway (at the end of Rt. 37) at milepost 626.  Once again today’s drive was pretty desolate and we only saw 1 bear. 

This is the black bear that we saw today

We arrived in Carcross, Yukon around 4:30 and took time to get information at the visitor’s center before finding a campsite for the night.  Because we were 4 days without internet service, the guys were busy this evening trying to update our blog but again service is intermittent; photos will have to be posted later.  Marie & I wrote post cards.

In our 239 mile journey today we listened to quite a few chapters of Beverly Lewis’ book, THE COVENANT.

Since it stays daylight so long up North we go to bed when it is still daylight and get up after the sun is high in the sky.

Mary Jane installing a block in the skylight to keep out the light from "their bedroom"

Blog Posted by Mary Jane

Photos posted by Merrill

Meziadin Lake Provincial Park to Junction 37 R.V. Park near Watson Lake, YT.

This morning (June 9th) we left our camp site about 8:30 and traveled Hwy. 37 also know as Stewart Cassiar Hwy.  This was 302 miles of scenic road leading to The Alaska Hwy. 13 miles northwest of Watson Lake, YT.  As we were leaving the campground just outside the entrance we spotted a Black Mama bear and two cubs, took some pictures and continued on our way; throughout the day we had 5 more bear sightings.  The route is very sparsely populated and we were told to be sure to fill up with gas at a place called “Bell 2” a “Last Frontier Heliskiing” resort.  In fact this is the only place in about 200 miles to purchase gasoline; we paid 1.52 per liter which equals over $6.00 per gallon.  We experienced about a 15 minute delay due to road work and another 10 minute delay due to forest fire workmen taking down danger trees.  The forest fire was about gone however we were able to see some of the resulting damage from this year and last year’s forest fires.

We arrived at Jct. 37 R.V. Park about 5:45, while Mary Jane checked us in I called Mama so Mary Jane and I talked to her and Carolyn.  We set up at our camp site and I washed the car (very dusty from towing) while Marie and Mary Jane prepared supper.  After supper Marie and Mary Jane did laundry while Stanley and I made our computer entries.

Blog Posted by Merrill

Piper Glen Resort to Meziadin Lake Provincial Park June 8, 2011

This morning (June 8th) we left our campsite about 7:15 (on a mission to get to Hyder, Alaska by evening) traveled northwest on Hwy 16 until reaching Hwy. 37. At that point we headed north on Hwy 37( a very desolate road).  We passed by a young moose grazing in a pasture too far away to get a picture.  We stopped in Smithers, BC. and filled up with gasoline paying our highest price ever so far; 1.36 per liter.  We stopped by Moricetown Canyon along Skeena River and took pictures.  At lunch time we were trying to find a place to pull off and eat, finally about 1:30 we found a place by a nice lake so I pulled into the area that was too small to make a loop turn around so we unhooked the car, got turned around and hooked it back up ready for travel while the ladies prepared our lunch.  The mosquitoes were the worst of any place I have ever seen; in broad daylight they literally swarmed over us.  Repellant helped a little but we were still shooing them away even after we got inside the R.V.

We arrived at Meziadin Lake Provincial Park and located a very nice camp site right next to the lake, paid our camp fee (we had plenty of mosquitoes here as well; our hostess wore a mosquito netting jacket), and drove the car to Hyder, Alaska.  This was about 40 miles along route 37A that goes to Stewart, BC. continuing on to Hyder, Alaska.  After driving around this small town and stopping at a few shops we drove out of town past the bear observation board walk and on to the site of three glaciers.  It is too early in the season to see bears scoop fish out of the stream but we did see a lot of waterfalls, a lot of snow and beautiful glacier formations. On our drive back to camp (40 miles) we spotted two black bears along the road.  The scenery to and from Hyder was so amazing, well worth the drive to and from.

Blog Posted by Merrill 

Lake Lucerne to Pipers Glen Resort

Our travels today consisted of going 296 miles mostly along Canada Hwy 16 taking us through Prince George, BC. Today was a better day for travel rather than sightseeing since it was cloudy & rainy half of the day.  We stopped at the visitor’s center to obtain travel information before we made our decision as to which route to take heading north. While in Prince  George we did another gas fill-up - $211.00!!  Prince George has a Wal-Mart so Marie & I got a few groceries and we found our sneaky men at McDonald’s eating ice cream after we checked out!

  We decided to continue on the Yellow Head Highway (Canada Hwy. 16) rather than take 97 toward Dawson Creek where the Alaska Hwy. officially begins.  Hwy 37A goes west of Meziadin Jct. from Route 16.  We want to do a side trip and go into Hyder, Alaska tomorrow.

We have a beautiful view overlooking a lake for our campsite tonight. We stopped around 5:15 this evening so we had time to make a cooked supper.  It’s 10:30 p.m. and still not dark!  I guess that’s why we always get to bed late!

Posted by Merrill & Mary Jane