Mike & Kris - Enjoying The Ride

The Alaskan Highway was constructed during WWII to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska across Canada. It starts at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and it was our first stop after leaving Jasper National Park. Of course, we stopped at the famous sign for a photo opportunity. This highway is something else. We have been amazed at all the travel trailers, motorhomes, and vans that we have been seeing on the highway. It is a steady stream headed the same direction as us. We are even starting to see the same people stopping at the same places as us. It is definitely a unique experience that we are not used to.

While staying in Dawson Creek we took a day trip over to the town of Chetwynd. Every year they hold a four day chainsaw carving competition. We were there on the first day and when you see how much the structures changed from day one to day four-it was quite a transformation. These first two pictures of the first place winner; the bull. The next two are the fish.

The competition included 12 carvers, four from Canada, four from the United States, and four International competitors. The carvers get all their expenses paid to travel to Chetwynd if they are selected to participate. In order to be chosen they have to have won at least three other competitions. The town also has wood carvings everywhere for people to see. I think every year, the winning carvings gets their own place in town. What an impressive sight.

After leaving Dawson Creek we headed up to Fort Nelson for a couple of nights. This town had recently been evacuated because of a wildfire but by the time we arrived the highway had been opened again. While in Fort Nelson we visited the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum.

What an interested collection of “Stuff” including vintage cars and a lot of taxidermy! We again took a day trip this time from Fort Nelson about two hours north so that we could visit Fort Liard, Northwest Territory.

We wanted to be able to add this Territory to our map as a place we have visited. Fort Liard consisted of a small general store, motel, and gas station. It was a sleepy place, but the drive up was beautiful and we even had our first sighting of a wood bison and calf.

Our next stop was Tetsa River Lodge for their famous cinnamon buns while on our way to Toad River Lodge.

The cinnamon buns were fantastic but nothing could beat our camping spot at Toad River Lodge.

We backed up to Reflection Lake which is, as the name implies, very picturesque, but it is the home to several moose. All throughout the day they would wander in from the trees and wade out into the lake for food.

We really enjoyed our time at the Lodge and driving around the area.

The part of the highway we are currently on has so many cool discoveries that we didn’t want to miss. And so we only drove an hour and a half today and stopped at Liard Hot Springs. We decided we wanted to see what all the talk was about and the hot springs were worth an overnight stay. They are located back in a very tropical wooded area that is about a half mile walk from the campground.

The water temperature was between 105-120 degrees depending on where you sit! It did feel good and made my skin so soft!! That’s it so far but we’re looking forward to what lies ahead. We leave for the town of Whitehorse tomorrow and then from there up to Dawson City. We are getting closer…