Wandering from Tennessee to Alaska, and back, 2023

Machinebuilder · August 29, 2023, 10:40:11 PM

The Peel River Ferry

The Mckenzie River Ferry

This is the graffitti in the far north

Magicman · August 29, 2023, 10:46:55 PM

Awesome !!!

Machinebuilder · August 29, 2023, 10:48:38 PM

There are snow machines left in many places along the road, these are used to get to their hunting/fishing camps and just left the rest of the year

it looks like they jug fish, Gabby was really interested in the jugs.

I found another set of red chairs at the Pingo lookout

Machinebuilder · August 29, 2023, 10:53:00 PM

on my way south I see they mean it when the sign says watch for aircraft on road

this is what I missed in the fog at the NWT border

That's all untill I work on pictures again.

Enjoy

aigheadish · August 30, 2023, 07:04:33 AM

Always neat pictures machinebuilder. It looks like a lot of opportunity for some comradery or at least some very interesting conversations with other travelers. I would had to stop and talk to the guy on the motorcycle for a bit.

Machinebuilder · September 03, 2023, 11:55:33 PM

I've spent a lot of time talking with people at different stops. Between the camper setup and the dogs I attract some good attention.
The dogs are great ice breakers.

I did talk to that man on the motorcycle, I followed him for a couple days.
I spent some time in Fort McPherson helping another bike with a dead battery, and I've helped a couple people with flat tires.
I hope i built up some good Karma. ;D

Machinebuilder · September 04, 2023, 12:12:19 AM

Back to Dawson City after the Dempster Hwy, I needed some groceries, a car wash, laundry, shower ETC

first I went to Dredge #4,
Dawson City is the heart of the Klondike Gold Rush. after the gold rush corporations ended up with most of te claims and brought in dredges.

Dredge #4 is the biggest built in N America, it ran from 1912 to 1960 when a dam burst and sank it. it is a Parks Canada thing now and they do a tour through the whole dredge

the bucket chain

Some of the winches

one of 2 water pumps

the bucket chain drive, that's a 300hp motor

the control room

The Sluice Box

They would clean the gold out every couple days and gather about 25lbs

There is another pair of red chairs there

The Discovery Claim is close by With another pair of red chairs

The Free Claim is close by but I did not try panning there, I had to get chores done

thecfarm · September 04, 2023, 08:38:28 AM

More pictures to enjoy.

Magicman · September 04, 2023, 09:40:46 AM

Thank You again for your posts & pictures. I always look forward to seeing your adventures.

Machinebuilder · September 08, 2023, 05:59:17 PM

ok it's been a long stretch without cell coverage, (my last post I was in Watson Lake, but didn't do much posting)

There is no coverage at all on the Cassiar Hwy. I had a little in Stewart BC nut nothing until I hit Hwy 16, Now Ive got 5G

After cleaning up at the RV park in Dawson City, I headed to Pelly Crossing. there is a nice free campground there

Not far from there is 5 finger rapids, in the 1920's they blasted out a ledge so the paddlewheelers could get through without winching themselves.

the trail down starts with about 300 steps, while near the river I saw this guy in a packraft.

I started seeing some old cars with rally numbers, they are running an Alaska to Mexico marathon.
I stopped and got pictures of the flyer from another spectator

I then took a side trip to Faro, there used to be a big mine there, they have one of the original pit trucks as a display

I could climb up and sit in its seat

Magicman · September 08, 2023, 06:15:30 PM

You will be able to go back to Alaska when you reach Hyder and visit two more glaciers. The salmon and bears should be there.

Machinebuilder · September 08, 2023, 06:29:59 PM

AS I was being passed by a truck with an empty equipment trailer my windshield caught a rock, I hope it doesn't spread too far before I get home.
Insurance is hard to deal with when youre a long ways away

I'm surprised it took this long

I stayed at Lapie canyon park.

I took another Ferry in Ross River to the North Canol Rd. this was built as a supply road for an oil pipe line from Norman Wells NWT to Whitehorse, YT

it is open to the NWT border and there are mine explorations at some points. when the US Army passed it to Canada a number of pieces of equipment and trucks were left. sometime in the 1970's the Yukon government "cleaned up" and created a couple truck graveyards.

I saw many grouse along the road, it would be easy road hunting.

When I was talking to the lady in Watson Lake, she said I was only the 5-6 person that had stopped in after driving this road.
Definitely the road less traveled

Machinebuilder · September 08, 2023, 06:31:42 PM

I was in Stewart and Hyder Yesterday 9/7 i didn't see any bears, the clouds were at the top, but I did see several glaciers and waterfalls

Magicman · September 08, 2023, 07:08:39 PM

OK, you are ahead of me. I guess that the salmon had already spawned out.

I am also surprised that this is your first windshield crack. You don't want to replace it until you get home anyway.

Machinebuilder · September 09, 2023, 06:01:45 PM

I'm just way behind on my posts. It's been a long stretch with no or poor cell service.

I stopped at Anderson Flats Park near Hazelton last night. I actually have 5g cell service here
I decided its a nice place and nice weather so I am spending today catching up.

Walnut Beast · September 09, 2023, 06:12:33 PM

Nice job posting and beautiful pictures!

Machinebuilder · September 09, 2023, 06:27:40 PM

I finished up the Canol Rd and stopped at Watson Lake again. the Rec center was closed for the Labor Day weekend so I just spent the evening paying bills and one post here.

I got this grouse really showing his stuff for the girls

Much of the South Canol Rd is like the North, but the brush is tighter and some of the scenery just doesnt show in a picture

After camping near Quiet Lake it was 29 degrees in the morning and snow on top of the mountains. I think its a sign for me to head SOUTH.

From Watson Lake I checked on the status of the Cassiar Hwy. I had heard it was closed due to a forest fire.
THere was about 25Km they had alternating traffic.

I tried to get a couple pictures of the active fire zone but they didn't turn out. you could see where it had burned to both sides of the road and still see some spots smoking. there was nothing left but some tree trunks.

I stopped at Jade City, made famous by the TV show. They like their stuff more than I like their prices.

I then went to Telegraph Creek rd, I wanted to do this one because it follows the Grand Canyon of the Stikine River. I knew of this stretch from reading about it in whitewater magazines. It is extremely remote extremely difficult whitewater. You cant see much from the road and I was told that they usually have helicopter support to run it.

Machinebuilder · September 09, 2023, 06:41:09 PM

I stopped at Mezidian lake park, Sox seemed nervous and after talking to several people, they see MANY bears there.

I made sure to clean up well and keep Sox and Gabby close.

it is a pretty spot to camp

From there it is a short distance to Stewart, BC and Hyder, AK then up to the Salmon Glacier.

Bear Glacier is on the way

Salmon Glacier

Further up the road is a former mine site and I saw this thing

I made my way back down the mountain and camped at Clements lake Rec area

From there to the Hazeltons there isn't much but this is the area where totem poles are made

Then I found Anderson Flats rec area and stayed for another day

Magicman · September 09, 2023, 08:52:04 PM

I am loving it !!!

You do know that if you go to Alaska, you never come all of the way back home.

tule peak timber · September 10, 2023, 12:02:57 PM

Do you have a tire repair kit? Any tire issues on the rock roads? Love your pics.

Machinebuilder · September 10, 2023, 04:20:01 PM

Magic. I know that is said often. I'll see after I finish this trip

I do have a tire plug kit. The only flat so far was near Prudhoe bay. I swapped the spare on and had it repaired in coldfoot

aigheadish · September 11, 2023, 10:54:00 AM

Lots of great shots in these last couple batches, these places and your camping spots look incredible.

It's an unknown and anecdotal but I've used one of those windshield crack repair kits a few years ago and it seems to be holding. As far as I can tell it injects a clear epoxy into the crack to keep it from going further. My use case was for a crack less than the size of a dime.