Beaver Creek and Tok, Alaska

We left Whitehorse with clear skies and a great day for driving.  

Caribou Rv Park

The Beast and Toad

An arrow points the way

Yes, I was looking for bears on both sides of the path

The pups enjoyed the walk

As we made our way out of town, we reached the wash out.  They escorted us around on this older road.  In most parts it was better than the highway.  Off the main road, you see how much logging has done in the area.  

The scenery changes often here.  You'll be driving along forests, then sand dunes, then huge craggly mountains.

We made it to Haines Junction where we stopped for gas and to let the pups out.  The glaciers are evident in the mountains as light blue lakes.

After a quick stop, we made the right turn to go to Alaska.  We made it to Destruction Bay and the Kluane Lake area.  The lake is huge and iced over.  All the campgrounds are closed as they have no water.  The area is beautiful and I can't wait to see it in the summer when our way back.  

We had called ahead to Beaver Creek to inquire as to water and dumps.  They had 50 amp service, water, wifi all the works.  There is a winter storm coming and we want to find a place that we can sit out the storm.  50 amps is best so we can run the heaters.  We arrived at Beaver Creek a little later in the day to find that there is no water and the wifi is in the convenience store/laundry.  That was ok, since we realized we would only stay overnight here and we had water in our tank.  Beaver Creek is a very small spot in the road.  The folks were friendly and we got our research done as to weather and spots open down the road.  

10:30 at night in Beaver Creek

We left Beaver Creek bright and early to make it back into the US and get to Tok.  The highway is awful at this point.  From Destruction Bay to Beaver Creek we averaged 44 MPH.  From Beaver Creek to the border we were doing 15-25 MPH.  The potholes, ruts and frost heaves make this stretch seem like it is battering everything.  As soon as got to the Border, the road improved and looked like it had recently been paved.  

Caribou running with us along the road in Alaska.  Notice the smooth road.

We followed the signs at the border station.  Left lane was for cars, rv's;  right lane was for commercial buses and trucks.  We were so rattled from the road, we didn't notice the 12'10" clearance.  We got almost to the window, me with passports, registrations and rabies certs for the pups at the ready, when the border agent stopped us.  He came out and said your too tall, you hit the balls.  What? Really? You have to back up.  We unhooked the toad, Eric backed it out and we tied up the border for a little bit.  We went to the truck lane rehooked the toad and off we went.  I have the height right on my magnetic board so I can check.  I was too busy looking for where to go to notice a height requirement.  Oh well, another lesson learned!

We arrived in Tok early and checked into Tok RV Village.  This is the only place open.  They hae 50 amp, but no water or sewer hook ups.  Everything is froze.  They said their spring is about 3 weeks late, with a snow storm just the other day.  Snow is expected for Saturday and Sunday also.  We set off to the grocery store and visitor center.  Next to the visitor center is a food truck specializing in Thai.  That sounded soo good, and it was!  I had Tom Kha soup, red curry chicken and Eric had Pad Thai.  Wonderful, just what I wanted.  Tired, we were glad to be back in the US and in Alaska.

Saturday morning we woke up to grey skies.  Yep, this looks like snow.  We went to the office and paid for another day when it really started coming down.  RV's started pulling in off the road with lots of ice and snow packed underneath.  

We checked the Anchorage newspaper and on the front page was Tok's snow.  Seems the roads are hazardous and travel not recommended.  The snow kept piling up all day and we got more than the expected one inch.  Temps are to be 18 for the low tonight and tomorrow's high is supposed to be 39.  BRRR!  Where is Spring?  We keep running away from it I think.  Fairbanks is our next stop and it should be 72 by next week.  That sounds wonderful!