Congden Creek, YT to Lake Creek, YT
It started out today cold and rainy. By the time we got ready to go, it was windy and sunny. It still hasn't warmed up enough for us. I think the highest temperature we have reached since entering the Yukon Territory has been in the high 50's. Temperatures at night have dropped to the mid 30's. This is supposed to be summer - well maybe!!
The first little town we go through is Destruction Bay, population 55. Located on the shore of Klua
ne Lake, this is one of several towns that grew out of the building of the Alaska Highway. It got its name when a storm destroyed buildings and materials here. This was one of the many relay stations spaced at 100-mile intervals to give truck drivers a break and a chance to repair their vehicles. Based on the whoop-de-dos we are traveling through, we understand completely why they needed to stop and repair their vehicles. As long as you pay attention to either the vehicle in front of you, or the waviness of the middle line it is fine - you just drive accordingly. If you don't pay attention, then you go for a humdinger of a ride that not only takes you forward, you go up and down. It is almost like being on a small scale roller coaster. We were told that the Burwash area - which is just up ahead - is even worse. This will be a slow day of travel.
ne Lake, this is one of several towns that grew out of the building of the Alaska Highway. It got its name when a storm destroyed buildings and materials here. This was one of the many relay stations spaced at 100-mile intervals to give truck drivers a break and a chance to repair their vehicles. Based on the whoop-de-dos we are traveling through, we understand completely why they needed to stop and repair their vehicles. As long as you pay attention to either the vehicle in front of you, or the waviness of the middle line it is fine - you just drive accordingly. If you don't pay attention, then you go for a humdinger of a ride that not only takes you forward, you go up and down. It is almost like being on a small scale roller coaster. We were told that the Burwash area - which is just up ahead - is even worse. This will be a slow day of travel.As we enter Destruction Bay we spot a police car sitting on the hill in a driveway. When we got closer we discovered it was a wood cutout painted to look like a police car. Guess with a population of 55, this is the only police protection they can either afford or obtain. At any rate it is effective in slowing traffic down.
This is a highly populated grizzly area - we haven't seen any yet and really don't expect to. The scenery, however is wonderful, as it has been this entire trip so far. We stopped at the Kluane
River overlook and took a few pictures. Wildlife on the Kluane River includes bears, wolves and eagles. We didn't see any of them. Darn!Burwash Landing, population 84. This is one of the oldest settlements in the Yukon. The original trading post was established in 1904 as a supply center for local miners. There are several creeks and rivers that we are going over, many of them the color of ash because of the glacial run off. Also a lot of the streams that flow through this area - Donjek River Valley - have what the miners call "color" in them, meaning there could be gold if you are of the mind to try your hand at panning.
We are stopping at the Lake Creek Yukon Government campground for the night - we hope to reach Alaska tomorrow.
Northern Sweet-vetch, Wild Sweet Pea - this wildflower lines the highways - it is beautiful with all of the pink on the edges of the roads.
This wildflower is Showy Jacob's Ladder and they also grow alongside the highways.
No comments:
Post a Comment