Two weeks ago I needed to visit Anchorage. Decided to drive my car the 670 miles, in one day! The alternative was fly from Whitehorse to Vancouver to Seattle to Anchorage, which seemed silly when there were some grand sights to see between here and there.Whitehorse YT to Tok AK: http://suethomas.ca/20140322_Anchorage.htmlTok AK to Anchorage AK: http://suethomas.ca/20140322_Anchorage2.htmlAccording to the GPS, I was on the road for 11.5 hours. Eleven hours of that was moving time with an average speed of 97 km/h (60 mph). It was a long day in the car, eating on the go. Stopped for fuel and some pictures. Wouldn't recommend trying to make the same distance in an RV in a single day. There's lots of good stuff to see and many places to camp along the way.The Alaska Highway from the Donjek River to Beaver Creek was a bit rough, likely will get rougher with spring breakup. I bottomed out once in my little car, which usually rolls right over the dips.Some teaser images:Sunrise near Haines Junction, YukonAlongside Kluane Lake and Sheep Mountain in YukonMatanuska Glacier along the Glenn Highway in Alaska

Wow. Alaska (and evidently its neighbor, which we haven't seen yet) is just drop-dead gorgeous. And wow on the drive too! I don't think we've ever driven close to that in one day (and took longer for a shorter distance).

Shoot, when I was driving the highway more frequently, I always figured I was just about home when I hit Whitehorse. :)Spectacular photos as always. For those making the drive, as these photos show, at least parts of Canada are as scenic as Alaska. 'Course, it is the most scenic part of the Alcan! :B

There was some overcast from Haines Junction to the border on my drive to Anchorage so not many pictures of that section. BUT on my drive home, it was clear blue sky all the way so many pictures of that section.Stay tuned... !

Phew, the images from my drive home from Anchorage are now posted too!Glenn Hwy and Tok Cut-off: http://suethomas.ca/20140328_Anch-Whrs.htmlAlaska Highway, Tok AK to Haines Jct YT: http://suethomas.ca/20140328_Anch-WhrsPM.htmlOf course, some teasers:Sunrise at the Eureka Summit, AlaskaNear Nabesna Road on the Tok Cut-off, AlaskaSouthbound at the White River, YukonApproaching Destruction Bay, southbound in Yukon

Whitehorse YT to Anchorage AK on March 22 & back on March 28

sue_t
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
DBay to the Donjek River isn't too bad right now.

Donjek to Beaver Creek continues to be interesting. Highway crews have moved the sign advising of rough road ahead to the Donjek River from where it was last year, nearer Burwash Landing.

Beaver Creek to the border is in good shape, about half of it being good gravel.

The area around Pickhandle Lake and the Koidern River is bad, as usual. Had to slow right down, even in my car. Noticed those towing were going even slower. I bottomed out on a dip between Snag and the White River.

The section west of Whitehorse has deteriorated a bit. Some good frost heaves now and the pavement breaks and potholes mean staying alert. Not many of them are flagged yet.
AKSuperDually
Explorer
Apr 10, 2014
How do the holes around destruction bay look? A couple of them swallowed us back in late September.

I've done Anchorage to Whitehorse twice before, but never in an RV or towing. Always in a truck, unloaded. I was usually pretty dead the next day also, but generally made it down to the bottom of the Cassiar the following day.

All of those pictures show road conditions looking really good.
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Apr 08, 2014
Yes...Long Lake iced over. Matanuska River between the hills and mountains.

On the SW end of Long Lake, there is a small pull out and a shallow beach where one can launch small boats (very small) and canoes. It is entirely possible to row a boat from one end of Long Lake to the other. It is much more advisable to traverse the lake with a canoe with trolling motor.

Don't ask how I know.
sue_t
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Yup, above the east end of Long Lake at N61.81045 W148.18696
You're good!

I assume, then, that is Long Lake iced over with the Matanuska River being on the other side of the hills. Ah so...

Most folks wouldn't stop for a picture here as the highway is narrow with no pull-offs; I took mine out the window while driving :E
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Yes....although taken from a perspective (further NE on the road) that is different than most.

Many of the pictures taken of King Mountain are taken from much closer to the King Mountain State Rec site near to Chickaloon vs. on the highway up above Long Lake (which is where I think your posted pic was taken). When a picture is taken closer to Chickaloon, one doesn't see the other mountains in profile and King Mountain stands much more on its own.
sue_t
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
That's a beautiful area! I was wishing the light was better through there but I needed to get an early start to make it home before bed-time!

So, you'd likely know for sure...is this Kings Mountain?
Took this shot on my way to Anchorage...
PA12DRVR
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
For a point of useless trivia, on the Anchorage - Whitehorse link, and the first picture ("East of Palmer")...if one was to turn and look over their right shoulder, my cabin and acreage is about 20-30 degrees behind and across the river.

From there, it's about a 15 minute flight to the low end of the Matanuska glacier and about 30-45 minutes (depending on wind) to the Eureka summit.

Short of the summit, there's a nice (well nice enough for a PA-12) airstrip (Skelton field, IIRC) near the Eureka Roadhouse where it's mighty convenient (in the summer and fall) to fly up there for the legendary $100/hamburger.

Have to ask myself why I'm in Ewe-Stun.
gmctoyman
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Beautiful photos (as usual)Sue, thanks for sharing !
sue_t
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
Phew, the images from my drive home from Anchorage are now posted too!
Glenn Hwy and Tok Cut-off: http://suethomas.ca/20140328_Anch-Whrs.html
Alaska Highway, Tok AK to Haines Jct YT: http://suethomas.ca/20140328_Anch-WhrsPM.html

Of course, some teasers:

Sunrise at the Eureka Summit, Alaska

Near Nabesna Road on the Tok Cut-off, Alaska

Southbound at the White River, Yukon

Approaching Destruction Bay, southbound in Yukon
lucy6194
Explorer
Apr 07, 2014
I wanna go back!!!!