Traveling the Alaska Highway

For the past week we have been slowly cruising down the Alcan. The drive is fantastic, and we were able to spend some extra time in Summit Lake, Muncho Lake, and Liard Hot Springs. We found a fair amount of wildlife along the way but not as much as in previous years. We have reached the halfway point in our trip so in the next few days we will be turning south and slowly moving into lower BC and the lower 48.

This photo made the trip worth it….  A large 3ft tall Yukon Wolf.  The first time we have seen a wolf up in this area.  We feel very lucky to have spotted him as in all of the Yukon Territory there are only 5000 with a density of about 9 per 390 square miles.

This red fox walked right up to the RV door.  He posed for several minutes.

A spotted sandpiper and his reflection

Muncho Lake, one of our favorite places along the Alcan

Spotted they two female Moose as we were driving but couldn’t stop.  Was final able to find a place to pull off and hiked back about a half mile and luckily they were still there

The forest floor along the Alcan is covered with a 12 to 18” thick layer of loose moss.  It is really hard to walk over as you sink about 8”.  Like walking in snow.

At Muncho lake took a hike along an original section of the Alcan (road had been rerouted around this section a few years after it had been built).  Found lots of timbers like there that the army would have cut and placed as guard railing some 77 years ago.  Building the 1500 mile road in 8 months was an unimaginable feat.  

A Stone Sheep near Muncho Lake BC

Fairly large black beer

Lots of Bison along the road.  We found two large herds 

Three generations of Bison

A Magnolia Warbler

Look like someone’s out tracking down birds!

Muncho is one of the best lakes for kayaking

When the sun is just right the lake is a deep blue-green because of the high copper content

Sunset at Muncho Lake… about 11:30 at night.  It was still somewhat light at 12:15 am

Fireweed is along the road side

Track Logs:

Day 15 (227 miles) - July 22, 2019 – To Ft. Nelson BC Canada


Day 16 (86 miles) - July 23, 2019 – To Summit Lake BC Canada


Day 17 (65 miles) - July 24, 2019 – To Muncho Lake BC Canada


Day 19 (42 miles) - July 26, 2019 – To Liard Hot Springs BC Canada


Day 20 (132 miles) - July 27, 2019 – To Watson Lake Yukon

Starting the Alcan Highway

After traveling for 13 days and 2552 miles, we have finally reached the beginning of the Alcan Highway. Now the fun starts! This will be our 4^th trip down this highway - through some of the most awesome wilderness that exists. For the next 1390 miles, there will be almost no cell phone coverage, few towns, no traffic, but lots of pristine wilderness and hopefully lots of wildlife. With any luck, we should see moose, mountain goats, stone sheep, porcupines, lynx, caribou, red fox, and bald eagles. The scenery along the way will be a mix of low mountains, rolling hills, and very green lush forests.

Last view of Montana's "Big Sky"

Canola fields of Alberta, Canada.

This photo sums up Alberta: canola, wheat, cattle, and oil

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Ferruginous Hawk

Juvenile Eastern King Birds

A beaver on a lake in Hanna, Alberta

For the most part, driving in Canada is fairly simple.. that is until you find something like this.  The best we have determined is that the double red light is similar to our red arrow.

Even McDonald's shows their Canadian pride.

Track Log:

Day 10 (318 miles) - July 17, 2019 – To Hanna AB Canada

Day 12 (331 miles) - July 19, 2019 – To Whitecourt AB Canada

Day 13 (320 miles) - July 20, 2019 – To Ft. St. John BC Canada