Lumpy-Alaska Highway-2004 Thumbnails

The Alaska Highway,
Tok, AK to Burwash Landing, YT: Aug 30 and 31

Subject: Crossing into Canada,
Camping at Kluane Wilderness

Comments: This morning I left Tok (Milepost 1314) in anticipation of crossing the Canadian border for the first time in my life, and knowing that in the next 50 miles I would see portions of the forest on fire, and have to deal with considerable smoke. I did see fire, and the smoke was at times heavy, but it turned out to be less a problem than I was prepared for. And, the border crossing was easier than I expected. Just "where are you from?", "where are you going?" and then "have a nice day". After crossing the border, I stopped in at the visitor center and had a nice chat with the fellow working there. He helped me figure out how to change my American money to Canadian.

I stopped for dinner at Kluane Wilderness Village at Mile 1118 on the Alaska Highway, and had a delicious meal of beef sausage and mashed potatoes and veggies. After the meal, I asked about the RV park and camping across the road, and they told me to ask at the gas station. The price was reasonable, when I asked at the station, but the spot they directed me to wasn't much to my liking. I don't like to camp in isolated spots in bear country where no one can hear you scream, so to speak. So I chose a grassy spot within view of the gas station and no one ever complained about me creating a new camping area.

That night I went across the road for some socializing at Scully's Bar (the bar is famous for its burl wood furnishings, all carved by Scully, the former owner. The bar and the tables and the stools and chairs are all hand carved from burl wood). I just drank coffee and visited with the locals, and the cook from the restaurant sat next to me and told me all about his life in the Yukon. It was a great time.

The next morning I woke up and continued east on the Alaska Highway, and made a stop at Burwash Landing for a good breakfast by the lake.

The first four pictures on this page were taken in the stretch of highway between Tok and the Canadian Border, but past the area where the forest fires were burning themselves out along the highway and after I had gotten past the worst of the smoke. The next five pictures are taken at the "You are now entering the Yukon Territory" sign (the last of those is looking back from where I'd come, toward Tok). The next three were taken at various spots just inside Canada's boundary, and the next four are at Kluane Wilderness Village. The last three pictures were taken at Burwash Landing, next to Kluane Lake.