Western Yukon

The Yukon is so vast and empty -- native villages and a few little whistlestops with a motel, gas and maybe a place to eat.  Luckily there were also some very cute RV parks.  We stayed at three along the way.  One at Teslin Lake, one at Kluane Lake and the last one at Johnsons Crossing which is just the park and some cabins -- no other business.  The RV parks by the lakes were cold and windy -- the water is still very cold although most of the snow was melted off the mountains.  The only snow left was on the glaciers. 

We drove the last part of the Alcan which is notoriously the worst over two days.  There was 10 miles of washboard gravel and then 20 miles of gravel that was a little better maintained.  The paved part of the highway had very deep frost heaves.  We watched one 5th wheel go over a heave -- that was marked -- way too fast and his backend was airborn.  We met up with them at US customs at the Alaska border and the door to their rig wouldn't open.  They must have bent something underneath pretty bad. 

We spent two nights in Tok, Alaska and then headed to Fairbanks.   Along the way we stopped at Delta Junction and got a picture of the final Alcan milepost at mile 1422.  The road turns into the Richardson highway going to Fairbanks.   We found a place to pan for gold along the Steese highway which goes northeast out of Fairbanks.  We managed to find a little "color" so it was fun.    We went past the Chena Hot Springs -- didn't check it out-  I like to soak when is cold or rainy not when its sunny and warm.   The Alaska pipeline comes down through here on its way to Valdez.  We got to see it crossing a river and an up close view at a little visitor area they have set up so you can see the pipeline up close.