Into The Yukon
The sun was shining and the sky was blue...time to go to the Yukon. We made our usual early start and continued west from Muncho Lake. After yesterday's long drive, we needed fuel almost as soon as we started and stopped at the Liard River Lodge, just after the highway crosses the Liard river.
This was a fairly common type of fuel stop along the Alaska Highway so far. It was a small lodge with an RV park out back with a small store and fuel pumps. At this one the pumps were right in front of their respective aboveground storage tanks. All of the stops we have used along the highway have this type of tank.
As we were pumping fuel, a small herd of Wood Bison walked out of the campground behind the gas pumps, five adults and three calves. They just munched their way across the field behind the pumps, stepped over the fence and walked out to the entrance to the parking area in front of the gas pumps, ignoring us all the while.
When we were finished fueling...and taking many photos, we turned around and left via the other exit, leaving the bison to the puddles in the parking lot.
We didn't get very far up the road when we saw a bear. The Black Bear was in the grass along the side of the road, about 25 yards away, busily snacking on dandelions. It also ignored us and the other vehicles that stopped to take many more photos.
It was a pretty pleasant drive after that through rolling terrain into the Yukon. The only slowdowns today were caused by sections of the road being repaved. They use chip seal on this part of the road. This is a simple method of paving where a truck sprays a layer of tar on the road section to be repaved, this is followed by spreading gravel on top of the hot tar, grading it and rolling it. At this point there is a pretty loose surface and the the final setting of the gravel is done by the passing traffic. Since there is a lot of dusts and the loose gravel has the tendency to be thrown up by passing tires. It is prudent to stay well behind the vehicle ahead. This we did.
We made our lunch stop at the Watson Lake Visitor Center, the first real town on the highway after entering the Yukon. We queried the VC staff about travel in the territory, watched a short video about the history of the territory and the Alaska Highway, and came away with the usual armful of brochures.
As we were getting ready to go, Ellen spied a gull in standing in the parking lot. It looked a bit different from the usual ones we see at home. After watching and consulting, we determined that it was a Mew Gull, a life bird for Ellen.
After a quick stop for bread at the local market, it was then back onto the highway and more rolling scenery. About an hour later we came across the first sad sight of our trip. A moose had been struck, probably by a large truck. It was lying in the center of the road, still alive, but unable to move. Cars and trucks were slowly passing around it and there was not really anything anyone could do for an animal that large. We were fifty miles from the nearest phone and there was no cell service. We had no idea how long it might be before anything could be done. I hope we don't see more of this.
About an hour later we passed through the town of Teslin and have stopped at the Teslin Lake Campground about 6 miles out of town. The Yukon maintains a network of simple campgrounds with graveled sites, water, free firewood and vault toilets, all for $12 a night. All are on lakes or rivers and they seem pretty well kept. We found a double site and had dinner with Harry and Sally in Speedy (the rain had returned) and discussed tomorrow. It will be on to Whitehorse, then start up the Klondike Highway north to the Klondike and the Dempster Highway.
347 miles today.
Some Photos from today
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