Leaving Alaska

On our drive back to the lower 48, we decided to take a different route south so we could spend time enjoying some of Canada's amazing national parks. From Anchorage we took the Alaska Highway to just south of Dawson Creek when we diverted to the Icefields Parkway thru the national parks. We split the 2,468 mile drive, from Anchorage to the Montana border, over 15 days (49 hours over 9 days of driving).

I took fewer photos this time since the drive up was already well documented. When we left on August 30, autumn had already arrived and made for a whole new driving experience.

Matanuska Glacier among the fall colors.

We spent the first night at Eagle Trail State Recreation Area. The next morning we made a quick stop at Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge. They were open this time and we were able to go inside the visitor center and interact with their exhibits.

Kluane National Park was unfortunately closed by the time we arrived, 

but we still stopped to enjoy the view again. 

We spent our second night at the Walmart in Whitehorse before arriving at Teslin Lake for a couple days. My next post is about our time at Teslin and Muncho Lake, but for now, let's skip ahead...

The Watson Lake Signpost Forest has a fun history. In 1942 when the Alaska Highway was being constructed, the US Army Corps of Engineers put up a post showing the mileage from here to other cities. At some point, a homesick soldier added his hometown sign to the post. Since then, people from all over the world have stopped here at Watson Lake to add their own sign.

The size of the "forest" is quite overwhelming in person. In 2004, there were 55,000 signs. 

I wouldn't be surprised if that number has doubled by now.

Asher and Journey had fun playing hide and seek while I strolled around reading signs. 

Sometimes in the middle of a long journey, you just have to get out and have a roadside dance party! We danced for probably half an hour and just as we were piling back into the truck, an elk appeared along the road behind us.

It's still fascinating to me that there are sections of the highway that are neither paved nor lined, but overall, the condition of the roads are MUCH better than what I had heard and expected.

At one point we were shocked to come across this herd of bison in the road. We didn't realize they lived here. As we approached the border, we also had cattle roaming freely on and along the highway.

Life at Eklutna Lake

Eklutna Lake was a great place to spend our summer. 

We enjoyed relaxing at the lake when we weren't working. 

While here, the kids both learned how to hula hoop (ridiculously well), to ride their scooters well, and to draw hearts and stars. 

During our last week in Alaska, both kids learned how to ride bicycles without training wheels! Asher pretty much figured it out on his own and the next day was going over speed bumps and making quick turns. A few days later Journey learned while Courtney and Deann watched. Asher grabbed a tool and removed Journey's training wheels all by himself.

One night Journey asked me to marry her so "we could be together forever because she just loves me so, so, so much!" Asher started putting toothpaste on my toothbrush for me so right before going to bed I'd be reminded of my sweet, little boy. On our weekends we went tent camping, hiked mountains, played in snow and alongside ice cold glacial lakes. 

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Towards the end of our time here, I joined Courtney on a fall hike to the Eklutna Glacier. By now, the water had risen to a startling level. Hopefully the trails won't get ruined by flooding as they did a few years back.

A good view of Serenity Falls.

It was only August, but the fall colors were already showing.

All the fireweed has turned red.

Unfortunately we weren't able to get to the glacier. Turns out you must access it from the other side of the river, if it hasn't retreated too much to get to it. By the time we left the park at the end of August, the water level was so high that there was only about a 10ft stretch of "beach" left!