Alaska – Part IV – Dawson Creek, BC to Watson Lake, Yukon Territory
June 1, 2009
This part of the trip has been very fast moving. We left Dawson Creek and drove to Safeway, bought supplies, took a picture of the world famous Mile O sign, stopped at the liquor store, and stopped in Farmington (just outside Dawson Creek) for gas and propane and started up the Alaska Hwy toward Fort Nelson, BC. We arrived at the West End Campground in Fort Nelson, BC about 7:30 pm PT. It is probably the worst campground we have ever stayed in. The young man that checked us in was drinking and had been for quite some time, maybe days. One men’s toilet worked for the entire campground and it leaked. The saloon was busy, noisy and seemed the only hot spot in the campground. The Milepost boasted free wifi which worked in the three campsites closest to the router, which was located in the office, which was located next to the saloon. Are you getting the picture? Wifi and noise?
June 1, 2009
This part of the trip has been very fast moving. We left Dawson Creek and drove to Safeway, bought supplies, took a picture of the world famous Mile O sign, stopped at the liquor store, and stopped in Farmington (just outside Dawson Creek) for gas and propane and started up the Alaska Hwy toward Fort Nelson, BC. We arrived at the West End Campground in Fort Nelson, BC about 7:30 pm PT. It is probably the worst campground we have ever stayed in. The young man that checked us in was drinking and had been for quite some time, maybe days. One men’s toilet worked for the entire campground and it leaked. The saloon was busy, noisy and seemed the only hot spot in the campground. The Milepost boasted free wifi which worked in the three campsites closest to the router, which was located in the office, which was located next to the saloon. Are you getting the picture? Wifi and noise?
June 2, 2009
We left the West End Campground about 8:45 am PT, bought gas, got Canadian money at the bank, and headed toward Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory. We saw a black bear between Fort Nelson and Steamboat Mountain Summit. A must stop is the Tetsa River Services and Campground. It is very unique…a real world primitive frontier wilderness campground and fishing/hunting lodge. We bought cinnamon buns and homemade bread. The lodge/campground is still owned and operated as it was in the 1940s four generations ago but the same family. We saw a moose, passed through Summit Pass the highest elevation on the Alaska Highway, 4250’. Summit Lake is still frozen. We stopped for gas at the Toad River Lodge at mm 404. There we saw two wild horses and a herd of elk. At mm 420 we saw two Stone (or Big Horn-couldn’t tell) sheep and we saw our first road kill which was a porcupine. We saw one caribou at mm 430. We drove past Muncho Lake and saw 3 Stone Sheep at mm 455, a black bear at mm 468, three buffalo at mm 472, and two black bears at mm 477. Also at mm 477 is the Laird Hotsprings. We did not stop, but drove on about 12 miles and saw smoke. It could only mean a forest fire. We got stopped for about an hour waiting for the lead car to escort us through the fire. It was very exciting. The flames could be seen for miles. After we got through, we saw three buffalo at mm 578 and four beautiful wild horses at mm 592. We took lots of pictures. At mm 605 we crossed over into the Yukon Territory and the highway number changed to Hwy 1, YT. We finally arrived at Watson Lake, YT (mm 612) at 5:15 pm PT and stopped at the Campground Services CG, the first CG as you enter town. It was wooded and very nice. There is wifi, and a RV/truck service center. We ran into a couple (Bob and Judy) checking in that we had met earlier at the fire and chatted them up about their 41’ 5th-wheel. Seeing all the wildlife made it a very nice day. Our mileage is 24,320.7.
We left the West End Campground about 8:45 am PT, bought gas, got Canadian money at the bank, and headed toward Watson Lake in the Yukon Territory. We saw a black bear between Fort Nelson and Steamboat Mountain Summit. A must stop is the Tetsa River Services and Campground. It is very unique…a real world primitive frontier wilderness campground and fishing/hunting lodge. We bought cinnamon buns and homemade bread. The lodge/campground is still owned and operated as it was in the 1940s four generations ago but the same family. We saw a moose, passed through Summit Pass the highest elevation on the Alaska Highway, 4250’. Summit Lake is still frozen. We stopped for gas at the Toad River Lodge at mm 404. There we saw two wild horses and a herd of elk. At mm 420 we saw two Stone (or Big Horn-couldn’t tell) sheep and we saw our first road kill which was a porcupine. We saw one caribou at mm 430. We drove past Muncho Lake and saw 3 Stone Sheep at mm 455, a black bear at mm 468, three buffalo at mm 472, and two black bears at mm 477. Also at mm 477 is the Laird Hotsprings. We did not stop, but drove on about 12 miles and saw smoke. It could only mean a forest fire. We got stopped for about an hour waiting for the lead car to escort us through the fire. It was very exciting. The flames could be seen for miles. After we got through, we saw three buffalo at mm 578 and four beautiful wild horses at mm 592. We took lots of pictures. At mm 605 we crossed over into the Yukon Territory and the highway number changed to Hwy 1, YT. We finally arrived at Watson Lake, YT (mm 612) at 5:15 pm PT and stopped at the Campground Services CG, the first CG as you enter town. It was wooded and very nice. There is wifi, and a RV/truck service center. We ran into a couple (Bob and Judy) checking in that we had met earlier at the fire and chatted them up about their 41’ 5th-wheel. Seeing all the wildlife made it a very nice day. Our mileage is 24,320.7.
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