Yukon/Alaska
Northern exposure
The Pilsons share highlights from the fourth leg of their northern RV journey
As we continue our journey of a lifetime, looking back on our experiences with the community of Valdez, Alaska, we can understand why it has been called the Switzerland of the north with the towering mountains surrounding the community and Prince William Sound. After our return trip through Keystone Canyon and the breathtaking views of the waterfalls we started our long assent to the top of Thompson Pass (on a clear day the scenery is spectacular).
Alaska Bound: From Auke Bay (shown here), just outside of Juneau, to the smallest desert in the world, Alaska offers varied and stunning scenery— as well as fascinating history.—photo courtesy Duane and Lynda Pilson
On to Tok
Continuing along the Richardson Highway will take you to the junction of Glenn Highway and the Tok Cutoff where you will turn right taking you through the communities of Gakona, Christochina as you head toward the community of Tok. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife along the highway as well as some good photo opportunities.
From Tok, you will rejoin the Alaska Highway. If you missed anything here on the way up, now is the time to check out what the community has to offer. Continuing south, you will pass through US Customs at Port Alcan, which is the last opportunity to buy fuel at US prices. Once you have gone past the US Custom Station you are in Canada but there is no Canada Customs Building as it is located at Beaver Creek approximately 87 km away.
Discover Haines
Next stop would be Haines Junction, where the Kluane National Park Visitor Center is located, take the time to visit the center and learn about this northerly Canadian Park, making sure to take in their theater and see what the park has to offer.
At Haines Junction you can turn south and follow Highway 3 to the port community of Haines, Alaska and visit this relaxing scenic community. Make sure to check out the hitch-up RV park on your way into town. Haines is a great community to shut down in, and just relax and enjoy the scenery, with treed mountains all around you. If you’re not into relaxing, there are interesting things to see and do in Haines.
Once you have completed your visit to Haines, head back to Haines Junction where you can visit anything you missed on your way through last time. At Haines junction you will rejoin the Alaska Highway and head to Skagway via Whitehorse.
Lots to see in Skagway
Once you start down the South Klondike Highway on your way to Skagway the time to stop at the lookout for Emerald Lake with its vivid shades of green and the Carcross Desert which is the smallest desert in the world and the WP & R Station in Carcross.
The drive towards Skagway parallels Nares and Tutshi Lakes giving you some spectacular views, with a number of lookouts so why not enjoy what mother nature has provided. Once you pass Canada Customs at Fraser take the time to observe the rustic and unique terrain, which has been referred too as a lunar scape with water. This is another border crossing where US and Canada Customs are separated by a significant distance, in this case it is approximately 25 km. Although the grade from the summit to Skagway is long and steep (you drop about 1000 meters in 23 km) we have seen all types and sizes of RV’s in Skagway over the years.
Because Skagway has so many things to see and do, we don’t recommend what a lot of people do; leave their unit in Whitehorse and take a day trip to Skagway. This doesn’t provide you with enough time to enjoy the community.
More adventure
After Skagway you can return to Whitehorse for another visit before heading home by either the the Alaska Highway or the Stewart-Cassiar Highway. But if you want an additional adventures book passage on the Alaska Marine Highway from Skagway to Prince Rupert, B.C. If you decide to do this make sure when booking passage let them know you want off at Wrangell and Ketchikan so you can spend time at both communities.
What ever you do if you visit the north country, it should be a trip of a lifetime providing you with years of memories. Don’t rush so let the time you have available for the trip and the budget for the trip control the length of the trip; remember it is better to go a short distance and experience everything there is on that route than cover a longer distance and miss out on what the areas you travel through have to offer.
Suggested stops:
• Willow Lake is approximately 90 minutes from Valdez, for a scenic break and a view of the Wrangell Mountains to the east
• Along the Richardson Hwy. is the Mantasta Lodge - they serve some of the biggest and best hamburgers we have ever experienced
• Along the highway between Tok and Burwash Landing, you will find the Kluane Museum of Natural History, which has impressive dioramas of wild life
• In Haines, you can visit the S.E. Alaska Fairgrounds; Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center; Hammer Museum; American Bald Eagle Foundation Interpretive Center; and the Chilkat Dancers
• While in Skagway, visit the Arctic Brotherhood Hall; Skagway Museum; Klondike Gold National Park Headquarters, Gold Rush Cemetery and the Jewel Gardens
• From Skagway drive the narrow road to Dyea - take a day trip to Juneau on the Fjord Express - enjoy a narrated ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route ( a narrow gauge railway) and shop the many different stores on Broadway
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