July 15th Anchorage - July 16th - 18th Homer

We spent one night in Anchorage and thanks to a recommendation took in the Whale Fat Follies a tongue in cheek look at Alaska its history and people, in some ways similar to the Giggle Dam.

We then headed down to Homer as the weather in the Anchorage area was wet. We did not get a good look at the scenery on the drive but will look forard to it when we return to Anchorage.

Homer is famous for Halibit and Salmon Fishing and was very busy with people chartering trips or going on their own.

A well known landmark is The Salty Dawg pub

 completely walpapered with dollar bills

 We went on a day tour on the Rainbow connectiion and saw much sea life and visited Seldovia ( a former Russian town).

Puffin

 Sea Otter

 We had a very rare viwing of some Fin whales (they do not usually come into the bay)

 And also some Humpback whales (a more common visitor)

July 13th - July 14th Denali National Part - Part 3

The next day we drove ourselves to the end of the road open to the public without a special permit. That is at mile 15. We were pleasantly surprised that we got a view of Mount McKinley this time. We did several short hikes in the area accessed from this road.

 Our last hike was in the entrance area of the park to Horseshoe Lake where we had been hearing about a moose was hanging around.

The next day we woke up to a heavy overcast and rain; so much for more mountain views as we headed down towards Anchorage.

July 12th Denali National Part - Part 2

On the next day we took part in a ranger led hike to see the parks dog show. On the way we were treated to a view of a cow moose and her calf.

The rangers use dog teams exclusively in the winter to do patrols and maintain the park. They have several cabins spaced a day dog sled travel apart, and go from one to the other on patrol.

July 11th - July 12 Denali National Park - Part 1

On our second day we took a guided bus tour into the end of the park road to the Kantisna roadhouse (mile 92). The driver/guide was very enteraining and we stopped for any and all wildlife.

 Grizzle

 Caribo Antler (they grow a new set every year)

 Cariboo

 Eielson Vistors Center

 Dog Sled demo at the roadhouse

The bus trip lasted all day from 6:55 am till around 7:30 pm. Unfortunitely Mount McKinley was covered in clouds so we did not see it that day.

July 9th - 10th Knotty Store, North Pole (Alaska) and Fairbanks

As we travelled North we visted the Knotty Store and saw lots of things made from Burls as well as other tourist items,

 Following that we HAD to stop to see Santa at the North Pole.

 A little farther along and we get to Fairbanks. This Antler arch is at the visitors center.

 This statue is in the downtown area.

July 7th -8th Kluane Lake, Burwash Landing (Yukon) - Delta Junction Alaska (End of the Alaska Highway)

Leaving Haines Junction  we were soon greeted by views of Kluane Lake,

 A stop at Sheep Mountain and we were able to see some sheep at a far distance.

 At Burwash Landing besides this largest gold pan is an excellent Natural History Museum.

 A few spots on the highway offered some limited views deep into Kluane National Park

 Fireweed was everywhere

 After crossing into Alaska we say 3 Moose

 The end of the Alaska Highway is at Delta Junction

 2 things to watch out for on a trip north.

 A truck left in Delta Junction by the US army when finished building the highway.

July3rd - July 6th - Whitehorse and Haines Junction

Leaving Atlin we travelled thru Carcross, saw the desert and carried on to Whitehorse.
Along the way we stopped at a Rest Area with a short walk to 2 waterfalls.

As we had seen a lot of Whitehorse before we visited the Takhini Hot Springs and Miles Canyon.

The canyon takes the water of the Yukon River (at least as big as the Fraser) and forces it to flow down a narrow gorge.

 Tour guide explaining about the way the gold prospectors bypassed the canyon.

 A model of Mount Logan in the new visitors centre.

 The very prolific fireweed

 Our campsite looking onto Kuane National Park (frontrange).

Mountain views are not as clear as I would like due to forest fires.