Camping at Cheney Reservoir State Park

We had one weekend that seemed to work for a camp trip this spring, between graduation and wheat harvest and new baby arrival, and it was a weekend with rain! Since the wetness was just Friday night, we opted to go ahead and camp one short night anyway. We left first thing Saturday morning so we'd have all that day besides Sunday. It turned out to be beautiful weather! A little on the cool side, but just right for a campfire to warm up to.

 Back on the road again! On the way to our first camp trip of the year.

Riley and his buddies left earlier and got the fire good and hot for us. They had evening plans so they went home late afternoon to get back after plowing bikes through flooded parking lots and roasting hot dogs.

The rest of use enjoyed  a bike ride or two as well. Those giant puddles were so alluring!

Cooking over the fire and cousin time make for fun memories!

Kitwanga to Prince George, British Columbia ~Alaska Trip Day 46

Thursday morning, we wanted to keep moving, so before 8 a.m. we walked down the steps and up Battle Hill in Kitwanga where we had spent the night. How fitting that an eagle soared overhead as we learned of the great Gitwangak chief that had previously dominated this area.

Since fuel in Canada is sold by the liter, to calculate gallons, we multiply by 3.785. However their dollar is about $.80 of the U.S. dollar, so that adds another twist to calculations. We generally paid with our credit card that automatically gave us the daily conversion rate without an additional percentage tacked on. The grand total mileage for this trip was 9,400...averaging the gas price to $2.73 per gallon.

We stopped at the Hazelton cabin visitor center and the Vanderhoof visitor center & heritage museum.

And we found another playground park in Prince George to fix and eat supper nearby.

Alaska Highway: Beavercreek to Whitehorse, Yukon ~Alaska Trip Day 43

We had bypassed this portion of the Alaska Highway when we drove north from Whitehorse to Dawson City. When planning the route, I tried not to backtrack as much as possible, but once actually driving midst this gorgeous scenery, we realized the view going the opposite direction was equally impressive! We really would have seen different eyefuls of wonder had we traveled this same route a month prior. Now we could see the white-tops of the St. Elias Range (Remember that huge icefield within this national park?) as we moved southeast.

Kluane Lake

Haines junction

We made it to Whitehorse in time for an evening stroll by the Yukon River before supper and nightfall. In the Yukon, Land of the Midnight Sun, we had noticed the elongated days the beginning of August. Now we are seeing it get dark much earlier. Another adjustment!

Rotary Peace Park exercise equipment

Valdez and Worthington Glacier ~Alaska Trip Day 41

We spent the night north of Valdez at a turnout beside a river. The next morning we walked the auto-tour of Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery. The weir caught so many salmon trying to go up the stream that didn't exist (because they originated from the hatchery) that it was a stinky decaying mess. Gulls screamed all over and it was so sad to see the wasted masses. We watched the fish that did manage to swim up the ladder waiting for the gate to be lifted for entrance into the hatchery.

Next we drove into the town of Valdez. The small boat harbor lured us to walk the docks. The locals and weekenders were snagging salmon right and left. Off the dock, in their boats, right on the bank, it was fun to see them reel in such heavy loads, then scoop up the fish with a net to knock on the head.

Trails in a town? This brushy overlook trail took us up a bluff for a higher view; a little piece of wilderness worked in amongst the paved streets.

We ate lunch at one of the parks with a playground so the children could run. The town was so quiet! Most of the people were out at the waterside with fishing poles in hand.

The sea also brought painters out to its shores. This gal lived a couple hours away. She taught homeschoolers acrylic painting and was trying her hand with oils today.

The road we came in on is the one out as well. We stopped for pictures at Horsetail Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Another stop for Worthington Glacier made a very worthwhile visit! We climbed a short distance past the lookout and information signs and actually touched the glacier!!! Others crossed the creek and walked up underneath the ice, but we were thrilled to just feel the icy breeze, taste the cold glacier, hear the rushing water, and see the blue-cold mass up close.

Wrangell Mountains