On the Alaska Highway to the north

פֿאַרעפֿנטלעכט: 10.07.2024

Hello everyone, we haven't been in touch for a while since the last entry because we hardly ever had an internet connection.

After leaving Jasper, we went to Prince George, the city also calls itself "the gateway to the north". Before that, we made a "little detour" (about 400 km) to Barkerville. Barkerville is the oldest gold mining town in North America that has been preserved in its original form, and is now a museum town.


In Prince George, an older man (83) approached us and was keen to show us around the city. The man used to run a haulage company, knew his way around well and explained our route to us. We had no problems with the route or in the city, but we were happy to accept help. The man said we would do what he himself had planned, but unfortunately his wife had died 10 years ago and it's no fun alone.


When you drive on the Alaska Highway to the "real" north, there are a few things you have to be aware of and prepare. Fill up on food, put as much fresh water in the camper as possible, get AdBlue and engine oil, and always refuel, at the latest when the fuel gauge is at half. In some cases, there are no gas stations for several hundred kilometers. Many travelers have spare canisters and several spare tires with them. We have a spare tire and an inflation/repair spray with us.
When hiking in the wilderness or camping "wild", always carry bear spray on your belt. We have had many bear encounters, so far only black bears. Bears, moose, caribou, Dall sheep and bison also frequently cross the road.

So far we have driven the Alaska Highway from Fort St. John to Watson Lake (just under 1000 km). Then we will continue to Whitehorse and Alaska. The further route has not yet been decided, we have to pay attention to the weather and possible forest fires. The Dempster Highway to Tuktoyaktuk on the Arctic Ocean is gravelled throughout its 900 km and turns into a muddy track when it rains. The Campbell Highway and the Liard Highway to Yellowknife are also mostly gravelled and the entire city of Yellowknife (35,000) was evacuated in 2023 due to the severe forest fires. If we drive on the only road to the far north and there is a fire behind us, then we have a problem. So we should decide on the further travel plan sensibly. The next few weeks will certainly be the most adventurous of the trip.

Otherwise, our vehicle looks impossible from the outside. At a rest stop, a truck driver even gave us a canister of windshield washer fluid, which was supposed to help get rid of the hundreds of flies on our windshield. It worked so far, see the picture while driving on the Alaska Highway.



ענטפער (3)

Claudia und Michael
Hallo ihr Beiden, das sind wieder beeindruckende Bilder und ein interessanter Bericht über diesen Reiseabschnitt. Viele Grüße aus Agia Galini/Kreta.

Jürgen
Hallo ihr beiden, also ich lese kräftig mit und euere Reiseberichte, sowie eure Bilder sind eines atemberaubender wie das andere. Also weiter so, alles perfekt umgesetzt. Herzliche Grüße aus der Pfalz. Jürgen

Moni
Hallo ihr zwei, die Bilder eurer Reise waren bis jetzt sehr interessant und beindruckend. Jetzt beginnt sicher euer abenteuerlichster und aufregendster Teil der Reise. Wir, alle die immer dienstags an euch denken, wünschen euch noch viele schöne Eindrücke und Abenteuer. Liebe Grüße Moni

קאנאדע
רייזע ריפּאָרץ קאנאדע