The Alcan

When I knew I was coming up to Alaska this summer I automatically had the desire to drive through Canada and take the infamous Alcan Highway (Alaska Canada Highway). On the way up though I wanted to spend time with my family and my new nephew and so I flew up for convience but when my friend needed someone to show her the Northwest and help drive her truck I jumped at the chance.
So we left Anchorage with a few friends and their cars and spent the next four days enjoying the open road. Day one was heading east in Alaska and finally across the border much to Amy Lou's dismay (she had a bad experience the first time coming up with the border patrol and declaring mase which she didn't know was illegal there). Once we entered Canada though some of the roads turned into carnival rides - the frost heaves cause sections to sink and rise creating these waves so it's hard to go over 50 mph in some areas, and I'll admit that once or twice I think I had all four truck tires off the ground! But we made if safely into a motel for the night -7 people one room = real road trip!

Day two we headed out and stopped in Watson Lake at the sign post forrest, this was so cool people from all over the world add their sign posts - some are "relocated" from their original place of origin and some are homemade and specific to those that posted them there. It was fun to walk around and see all the signs. Then we made a quick stop at Laird Hot Springs to relax in the pool and smell like sulfur from the rest of the day (not sure it was the best idea but it was fun)! We made it into Fort Nelson and my favorite hotel receptionist gave us a nice deal on a very good room with complimentary breakfast - and of course the much needed shower!

We made it to the end of the Alcan in Dawson's Creek on day three and this is where we split - half of the caravan headed toward Vancouver and the other two cars we went into Jasper/Banf National Parks. We were already enjoying the beautiful fall colors but the parks were gorgeous and had amazing rock structures and glaciers and gorgeous lakes - it was really one of my favorite parts of the trip and worth sleeping in the cab of the truck by a lake!

Finally on day four we enjoyed the park in the morning and made a few stops at waterfalls and ice fields and then we left our wingcar and out of the park - just in time to see two big horn sheep right in town. Amy Lou totally had a staring contest with the one (that's why we come up here)! We entered back into the US of Eh? (funny book we read about how Canada controls everything) with no real difficulty except that the border agent asked us what we do for an occupation and we had to explain that we are college graduates that just got down working a seasonal tourism job and have no real plans for the immediate future but are trying to figure out of lives. He just smiled shook his head a little and said "well welcome back"!

Quick staring contest you and me - you win again you ALWAYS do!

Oh I should mention too, everyone says that you see tons of wildlife on the Alcan and although there is wildlife abundant in this part of the world it's all a matter of timing. We were lucky enough to see Bison, Caribou, Elk, Deer, Moose, Bald Eagles, Black Bear, Fox, Big Horn Sheep and one car even saw a lynx and a wolf. So we were very lucky to get some wildlife accenting the beautiful scenery.

Look closely there is a black bear right by the trees!

So now I'll show Amy Lou my home town and the land that I love - it's good to be back in the lower 48 but I know that I'll miss Alaska for sure and hopefully I'll get to go back next year - it's a place that I feel like once you've been you now HAVE to return every so often to feel complete! And if you ever get the chance make sure you take the time to drive there or back - especially if it's in the fall season, it's bucket list worthy for sure!