heading back to the lower 48 via the Yukon

Back into Canada again. Bil thought he was in speeders heaven looking at the sign. That is until you realize it is kilometers and not MPH.
This was a monument and the first thing you see entering Haines Junction YT. It depicts the animals you can see in the Province.
More great countryside it the Yukon Territory.
The Ice field Range is the largest non polar ice field in North America.
Here you can see the Ice Field Range in the background.
This pretty pond had a couple of Trumpeter Swans setting in it. On closer look the one setting on the nest also had 2 little ones behind her.
Enlarge the photo and you can see the babies behind the one on the nest.
One of the many glacial fed lakes that make Alaska so pretty.

A couple of cars stopped on the road generally means someone has spotted an animal. This time it was a grizzly bear. He stayed in the area quite a while eating.He did take time from his eating to scratch his hind quarters on the small trees. You could really see them shaking.

This is typical scenery in both Alaska and the Yukon. Lots of lakes or creeks and hills and mountains.
Another beautiful day to see the countryside and hope to see animals.
This is Kluane Lake, the largest lake in the Yukon and is glacier fed as you can see in the photo below.The difference in color is due to the glacial water coming into the lake. It it is a grayish color until the silt settles and the water clears.
This is Mirror creek with a beaver house on the right. I did not get sky in the photo and had to look close later to see which way was up -if not for the beaver house I would not have known.

Valdez to Gakona and on to Tok Ak

Chicken Alaska is a neat "little" gold rush town. Following are the facts about the town.
This is the only sign of mining left in the town. They use it and allow people to mine the dirt they purchase to see if they can strike it rich. No we did not try.

There are only a few buildings left in town and they mainly cater to the tourists. The tour buses stop here.
The bar has hats and business cards from all over the world from people who have visited.
The birds like the people return in the spring for a short season. Someone has put up several bird houses here and in the one on the far left you can see a little bird if you enlarge the photo.

The flowers are actually growing on the roofs and we saw them being watered with sprinklers.
The fireweed is everywhere, especially where there have been fires as here. It is the first thing that grows after a fire.
Looking at the fireweed across the valley makes it appear the hills are purple, until you get close and see the devastation from the fires.
Beautiful day for a drive to Chicken AK.
This is typical of a lot of the roads in the back areas. No we did not take the coach down this road.

These flowers are growing on top of a roof in Tok AK. There is also a lawnmower setting on the roof.
The burl wood that looks like a totem pole actually grows like that. A parasite gets in the tree and the tree sends sap to the area to protect itself. The burls can be taken off the trees in spring and they make bowls and things from them. They also use them as fence and porch posts.
This guy was standing alongside the road, but not for long.
Out for a swim and not bothered by the people. He was far enough off the road.
One of the many views across the valley as we traveled across Alaska.

Some days we were blessed to see multiple animals, like these two moose.
A large glacier seen across the valley.
Some days all we saw were small animals like this bunny in the campground.
This is the type "cabin" we found in this particular campground. This was a one bedroom but they also have 2 bedroom "cabins".
Another glacier in the distance. They are so beautiful some you can even see the blue color to the ice.
When it gets hot here IE: springtime there is a lot of melting which produces falls all over the place. But know come winter the glaciers are added to with all the new snow.
Here you can see the blue in the glacier.
This moose was feeding and fine until we stopped. Apparently we are no danger as long as we are moving, even slowly. But as soon as you stop they head for the bushes.
We found these little "cotton ball" flowers. They are really strange as they are just long strands of white that looks like hairs. Click it bigger and you can see what I mean.
These flowers are the cotton balls all together around this lake. It really made it stand out.

last night of fishing in Valdez

The Hieder Glacier is rather majestic looking even when the sun is not on it. We have had lots of clouds and rain the last couple of days.
The glaciers and area surrounding Bil's, the sea lions and the bears favorite fishing spot.
This herd of sea lions were in the bay chasing the fish toward the shore. They would sit with their heads above water calling out while another one would go under after the fish.
Here you can see the fish in the foreground as the sea lions chase them in.
And Bil like all the fishermen dropped a line in to take advantage of the help. This was his "one last fish' before we left the area the next morning. This was at 10:30 at night.

more around Valdez and a day trip to Chitina

This hotel was redone and is used as hotel and restaurant now.
This old washing machine is in the lobby of the old hotel on Chitina.
The fish nets below are used by the native Alaskans that practice subsistence living.

This sign is a warning to all who go down this road. There was another sign that warns you to take an extra tire along due to the railroad spikes that may still be there.
Single lane through the mountains headed to McCarthy and Kennicutt 60 miles on an old road that had been a railroad track
There is still wood in the road left from the train tracks.
This shows the fish boiling. The sea lions are herding them toward the shore and then go in their midst to have dinner. when the sea lion is in the midst they are all jumping or boiling to get away.
here you can see all the fish before the se lion gets in their midst.
He got his limit of 6 salmon, these 5 and the one in the following photo.
Bil has to fight the sea lions as well as the bears for his fish. You can see where the sea lion bit the fish.


We ran across a Yak farm on the way to Chitina on a day trip. These are said to be very docile animals. They have very full tails more so than even horses.

This Grouse Hawk and the Red Hawk below are being trained by a man who uses them for hunting. He trains them to bring back game birds for him. It is only for hunting that one can own birds of prey in Alaska.
This red hawk is just a baby and the two of them are brought into public to become accustomed to other colors, animals and people so they come back to their owner.
This eagle was watching for his share of the fish.

A drive down a nearby canyon reviled the following sights----

A glacial den-could it be for a bear--or just from melting glacier????
a loud, large water falls that led to the old bridge(no longer used) and on to the creek

another old bridge that we could cross to get to the water fall
the view on past the water fall and the end of the road for all drivers.
These are the many beautiful glaciers in the area and some other nice views of the area.
The drive through the canyon to get to Valdez.

This view is from the docks where we clean the fish. They have little areas as shown below with metal tables and pressurized water for everyone's use. You clean the fish and wash the remains back into the ocean for the fish to eat.