Day 24

Day 24 - Teslin Lake, Yukon Territory
The Yukon is burning

This was a long driving day, but I wanted to get beyond a series of fires starting in Alaska, and running across the western region of the Yukon Territory.      After hearing that the entry into Canada might be closed to traffic later in the morning, I and several others that were up at 5:00 AM today decided to pack and leave... so we were on the road by 6:00.    In Alaska the sky was hazy with smoke as as we headed south on the Alaska Highway, the odor became stronger, then faded as we approached the Canadian border.   We went right through the border check with no problem and headed down toward Beaver Creek where we started to see more distant smoke and burn areas.

At Beaver Creek they had evacuated a number of "high risk" people because of the air pollution.    Then further down the road we were stopped by the firefighter, and had to wait for an "escort" car to take us through the next 20 miles that were still smoldering.. the fire had crossed the highway and burn areas were on both sides, the fire moving south and away from the highway for now, but many small fires and hot spots still springing up.    We went through a small town in the fire's path where the surrounding timber and several buildings had burned..   As we were led through the burn area, helicopters flew overhead carrying water or chemical containers that were being dumped to the area just to our left.   Small animals were on the road trying to escape the hot ashes, and a rabbit sat in the middle curled into a ball and just shaking as the traffic moved to avoid hitting it.   Seeing the fire up close like this gives you a real sensitivity to the impact of the devastation on living things in the fire's path..

We were all glad to get beyond the fires finally, but then were met with major road construction, Yukon style.   The next miles were some of the roughest I have seen on the trip.   Rocks, holes, gravel, calcium compound, water trucks....    The Jeep and the trailer are really a mess... I wanted to wash it but could not find a place here.. and the rig next to me looks at least as bad as they had just came up the Cassiar Highway... which is where I am going tomorrow.    So maybe I should just not worry about it.

Teslin is a beautiful area with lakes, streams and mountains... I passed through here coming up but did not stop so was glad I had a chance to spend the night here.    The RV park is right on a lake with the mountains in the background so is a beautiful sight to wake to in the morning.    Tomorrow I also hope to have a longer day, and camp at Iskut, BC, on the Cassiar Highway.    It appears to be the first place that has a campground listed and gets me close to the long gravel portion which I can then travel fresh the next day.

Driving through the fires and seeing first hand the effect adds to the Alaska/Yukon experience since these seem to be yearly events... it is something that travelers and particularly campers need to consider when they go into remote areas.     And the tourist season is here, as the RV parks are filling up and the roads are becoming crowded.. seems like the world is migrating to Alaska.. many with rented RVs.   Last night a German couple came over and asked if I would help them hookup.. as they could not find the electrical outlet or the cord from the RV that they had rented.   Also, there were several groups of motorcycles on the road today headed toward Alaska, and coated with the same dirt I have on my trailer.

Trip Photos