Misc. from Trip --Northern Canada/Alaska

Just some misc. pictures from our recent trip --- they are in no particular order and just a part of our fond memories. I would return tomorrow!

Skagway --- that gold rush town owned now by the cruise lines. First from the truck when 4 cruise ships were in port..





And after all the nametagged people are herded back to the ships. Some people love traveling that way.





Lakeview Campground in the Tetlin Preserve in the Yukon --- same lake, different time --- the last one quite late at night when the sun finally was headed down.







The rain forest in Hyder



A quick peek of the toe of the Salmon Glaicer near Hyder when the clouds suddenly opened up, and then when the clouds were quickly closing off the view





The port at Stewart



The bears at Haines and why I will never again leave home without a certain lens. The bears put on quite a show and we missed getting any really good pictures.







The mouth of the Chilkoot River in Haines



And a great old working truck in Haines



More old vehicles --- not working at Chicken, Alaska



Where we found the friendliest US custom's agent ever!



Top of the World Highway, Alaska



A glacier on the road to Haines



Dawson City, Yukon







And Tommy looking out over Lake Lebarge and thinking about the famous poem that captures the essence of the Yukon, past and present.



The Cremation of Sam McGee
BY ROBERT W. SERVICE
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

Continued at The Rest of the Poem


Thanks for looking

Quote: Originally posted by dtbushpilot

Great pics Diane, thanks for sharing. Jill and I are contemplating an Alaskan trip next summer in our truck/camper. We have done the cruise, looking for something a little more our style. How are you traveling?

Our pop-up camper combined with a few hotel stays worked very well for us on this 9000 mile 6 week trip. It is light weight and can go pretty much anywhere. On the thread I did about traveling the Dempster Highway, Desertbull posted a picture of his camper in which they traveled for 2 1/2 months.

Our camper is small --- only 6 1/2' and is not fully self-contained as there is no bathroom, just a portapotti that fits in a cupboard under the seat for the middle of the night emergencies when I just don't want to deal with the creatures of the night lurking in the campgrounds. It has a water tank, but no holding tank. There is a good propane heater, a three burner stove that works fine for us and a larger all electric refrigerator that we really like as it holds a lot. To keep it running, we have a solar panel. It works well for us.

JMHO --- your truck and camper will give you a lot more flexibility than other modes of travel. Also, we have found the latest edition of The Milepost to be very valuable both times we have traveled that way.







[Edited on 9-15-2015 by DianaT]

Quote: Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

OMG these are jaw dropping scenics. I am so glad you had a chance to see some of those great landscapes. What fabulous skies. And that one image of the glaciers was superb. Wish I had done Alaska again this year.

Thanks Igor.
Here are just a couple more --- the main reason to visit Skagway, AKA the Jewelry Store Mecca, is the drive to Skagway. It is one of the prettiest drives.









And just for fun, I love how the one person on this ferry is keeping warm.



I am sure you will travel there again --- so much to see and enjoy.

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Thanks for more great photos! Although I have lived up north for thirty five years, you are hitting a few places that I have not been to yet. Thanks for the ride along! About the folks lounging on the deck of the ferry (laughingly referred to as a 'sun deck') there are radiant heaters in the ceilings that keep it reasonable to sleep there.

Another set of lovely photos, Diana. I really enjoy them—enough to run over to the house and bring my Diana over to see them. They are especially fun for us having been to those places (except the NWT spots).

In response (sort of) to dtbushpilot's question about travel, we've driven to AK with four different vehicles ranging from a Jeep Cherokee with a roof pod to our SD F250 pulling a good, sturdy, off-road trailer. I think my preference was our F250 with a Lance 10' camper (not the same F250 as seen below).

Twice we used tents with an auxiliary cooking tent (i.e. mosquito netting). Both of us tired of setting up the tents at every stop, though we became rather proficient at the process.

The trailer, a Komfort ATRV
was our most luxurious accommodation and we really enjoyed it. We weren't prevented from any road because of its size and weight, but it did add that inconvenience of towing something.

Allen R.
(Diana, I apologize for inserting information into your thread.)

[Edited on 9-15-2015 by bufeo]

Quote: Originally posted by bufeo

Another set of lovely photos, Diana. I really enjoy them—enough to run over to the house and bring my Diana over to see them. They are especially fun for us having been to those places (except the NWT spots). In response (sort of) to dtbushpilot's question about travel, we've driven to AK with four different vehicles ranging from a Jeep Cherokee with a roof pod to our SD F250 pulling a good, sturdy, off-road trailer. I think my preference was our F250 with a Lance 10' camper (not the same F250 as seen below). Twice we used tents with an auxiliary cooking tent (i.e. mosquito netting). Both of us tired of setting up the tents at every stop, though we became rather proficient at the process. The trailer, a Komfort ATRV was our most luxurious accommodation and we really enjoyed it. We weren't prevented from any road because of its size and weight, but it did add that inconvenience of towing something. Allen R. (Diana, I apologize for inserting information into your thread.) [Edited on 9-15-2015 by bufeo]

PLEASE --- no apology --- it is just good information as to what has worked for you and more information for David.

Our camper requires set-up and it was so rainy this year up there, that at times it was a bit of a pain, but not that bad; not as bad as a muddy dog too much of the time.

I am glad you have enjoyed the pictures along the way --- thank you and I hope you enjoy this area again. The far north is worth many visits, IMHO.

Thanks to all for sharing ... never got there

Quote: Originally posted by bufeo

It's interesting for me to see some of the changes. Is the Cassiar route now paved all the way? When we first traveled it in 1973 (second year it was open to the public) we had to secure permits and drive only between 6 pm and 6 am (no problem in the summer with all the daylight hours). It was 100% dirt—bad dirt in places. Subsequent trips have seen more and more pavement and commerce. In 2005 all but about 80 miles was paved and our favorite camp spot now has a motel, restaurant, RV park, and gas. Ahhhhh, progress. Allen R [Edited on 9-15-2015 by bufeo]

It is paved, but not in good shape in some places --- the weather is hard on those roads. At one place on the Alaskan Highway where they were doing construction we were talking with the flag woman about how pavement is not always the best way to go in the north.

You guys are killing me. I'm going to have to go out and buy a new pick-up and trailer and explore the high latitudes.

Current F-250, 5.4L gas, has 150K with a Callen cab-over shell. Might work.

bufeo, can I rent your rig?

This is our rig, I like it for Baja exploring because it is tall, tough, diesel and 4WD. We've been able to get to places that many vehicles can't go. It has a toilet/shower combo, 2 way fridge, cook top, oven, microwave, AC etc. You have to be plugged in to run the micro and AC but everything else runs on battery or propane. I have a small solar panel on the roof to keep the battery topped off when it isn't on the truck. One reservation I have for this rig over a motorhome is that Jill can't go back and make me a sandwich while I'm driving, guess I'll have to stop more often.

Your photos are incredible Diane, my cell phone won't do that even if I knew how to take pictures in the first place.

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

You guys are killing me. I'm going to have to go out and buy a new pick-up and trailer and explore the high latitudes. Current F-250, 5.4L gas, has 150K with a Callen cab-over shell. Might work. bufeo, can I rent your rig?

Quote: Originally posted by dtbushpilot

This is our rig, I like it for Baja exploring because it is tall, tough, diesel and 4WD. We've been able to get to places that many vehicles can't go. It has a toilet/shower combo, 2 way fridge, cook top, oven, microwave, AC etc. You have to be plugged in to run the micro and AC but everything else runs on battery or propane. I have a small solar panel on the roof to keep the battery topped off when it isn't on the truck. One reservation I have for this rig over a motorhome is that Jill can't go back and make me a sandwich while I'm driving, guess I'll have to stop more often. Your photos are incredible Diane, my cell phone won't do that even if I knew how to take pictures in the first place.

Thanks.

Now your rig looks very well suited for that journey and in comparison to what we call our traveling motel room, you will be living in luxury. And best of all, no cruise line agenda --- just go where you want! And in our way of thinking, it is way more practical than a big motorhome.

In Haines we stayed at the campground/RV place in town because we needed the laundry and the showers and we were there when one of those big caravans pulled in --- the monster buses , 4 at a time. It was fun watching them all get organized in the pouring rain. Those motorhomes really restrict where one can go!

But about Jill not being able to go back and make a sandwich, surely you have watched the Long, Long Trailer. You just need to stop, let her climb in the back and stop a little later so she can bring your lunch up to the cab.

BTW-- I believe that the old Lucy movie, The Long, Long, Trailer should be required viewing for anyone who ever wants to pull a trailer. It is still one of my all time favorite comedies.





[Edited on 9-16-2015 by DianaT]

Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca

I have never seen a glacier although I did see a glacier lake outside of Seattle years ago. Those photos are jaw dropping. The world is so big and there are so many beautiful places to go to. Thanks again for sharing.

Quote: Originally posted by SFandH

You guys are killing me. I'm going to have to go out and buy a new pick-up and trailer and explore the high latitudes. Current F-250, 5.4L gas, has 150K with a Callen cab-over shell. Might work. bufeo, can I rent your rig?