Tuesday, 23 July
The previous evening’s temperature was in the mid-50s, making it very comfortable overnight. We enjoyed a beautiful day with highs only in the mid-60s.
We left Destruction Bay around 7:50 a.m. and headed toward Tok, Alaska, 225 miles away. This section of the trip was known to have the worst road conditions, so we expected to drive slowly, which made for a long day.
The Journey from Destruction Bay to Kluane River
As we left Destruction Bay, we followed the southern shore of Kluane Lake. We then followed the Kluane River, which flowed from the northwestern end of the lake and generally northward through Kluane National Park and Reserve. Eventually, the river joined the larger Donjek River. After 25 miles, we stopped at the Kluane River Outlook, which gave us an elevated view of the Kluane River valley.
Kluane River to Alaska Border
The paved roads were full of potholes and raised bumps caused by the frost heaves. We had to drive between 30-40 mph most of the way to avoid damaging our suspension. The bad sections of the road were often marked with orange pylons or flags on either side of the road, but not always.
After 48 miles, we crossed the Donjek River, and at 83 miles, we crossed the White River and Beaver Creek at 114 miles. The town of Beaver Creek is the most westerly community in Canada.
After 135 miles, we stopped at the Alaska/Canada border and took pictures of the various signs.
Alaska Border to Tok
We crossed into Alaska, and the road was better for the first 10 minutes but quickly deteriorated. Alaska did not mark the bad sections of the road as well as Canada did, so we even had to be more careful.
The border area was surrounded by vast wilderness, offering a mix of forested slopes and open tundra dotted with small lakes and streams, many of which were fed by snowmelt or glacial runoff.
We stopped at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center, ten miles from the border. The Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge covers approximately 600,000 acres and features a mix of wetlands, forests, and alpine tundra, making it a critical habitat for numerous species. The refuge seemed especially important to the Trumpeter swan. There was a taxidermy of several swans in the center and a viewing station outside to help you find swans in the lakes below the center.
As we continued north, we crossed areas of permafrost, which created uneven ground, small ponds, and frost-heaved soils. To the south, the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains dominate the horizon, offering stunning views of glaciated peaks and rugged terrain. Although distant, these towering mountains were a dramatic backdrop.
Tok was located in a broad, flat valley surrounded by forested lowlands. The terrain consists primarily of spruce and birch forests, with pockets of open tundra and marshy areas. The area is part of the Tanana River Basin, and the land is relatively flat with occasional rolling hills.
Tok
When we arrived at the campground, we used their RV wash before we parked. The RV wash was dual-lane, with only one wand per lane, a brush on a handle, and a bucket. We had to supply our soap. Unfortunately, the water was very hard and left spots all over the truck and trailer, but it made it a little cleaner.
We were directed to site 502, which was 70 feet long. The wagonmaster gave us a coupon for free ice cream, redeemable at the front office. It was a nice treat.
After we set up the camper, we ran up to Muklukland.
This quirky attraction is located along the Alaska Highway north of the campground. It is a mix of a junkyard, theme park, and museum, featuring a wide range of eclectic exhibits and activities. It was supposed to have everything from a collection of outhouses to a giant mosquito, a Santa Claus rocket ship, a doll mausoleum, and an extensive collection of Alaska memorabilia. Even though it was not 6 pm, they were closed, so all we could see was the world’s largest mukluks hanging on a sign outside its gates.
When we returned to our camper, a lady was running around the campground on a bicycle selling ice cream, so we used our vouchers and bought some.
That night, we had our first LEO (Let’s Eat Out) with the caravan and walked to Fast Eddy’s. This was a large, popular family-style restaurant, although there was no competition in the tiny town. They did a reasonably good job serving the 50+ members in our caravan, and the food was good.