North to Alaska!

Spectacular scenery. Amazing wildlife. 

  In 1867 Secretary of State William H. Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for $7 million. Even at two cents an acre, that didn't seem like a very bright idea at the time. Until gold was discovered up in "Seward's Folly" in 1896. In 1897, 68 miners returned to Seattle with two tons of gold and the stampede was on. More than 100,000 prospectors rushed to Alaska and NW Canada. Almost all of them found more hardship than gold. Most went home. A few stayed.

  On Dec. 7, 1941 the Japanese gave the US another reason to notice Alaska because it could have been turned into the invaders' bridge to Canada and the Lower 48. There was even greater urgency when the Japanese invaded Kiska Island and Attu Island in the Aleutians. So the Canadians and Americans decided to build a road from the end of the railway at Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction, AK. Construction of the 1,700-mile road began March 8, 1942 and was completed October 28--of the same year! Can you believe it? Today they would still be filling out the paper work.
  After WWII, the road made getting to Alaska somewhat easier and population growth justified statehood in 1959. Thanks to rerouting  the Alaska Highway is now only 1,387 miles. (Of course, you have to get all the way to Dawson Creek before you can even begin counting the Alaska Highway miles.) For decades, the highway was gravel but in recent years it has been paved--a real boon to tourism. Just take it slow through the occasional rough spots where they are repairing winter frost heaves and other damage. If you can drive the streets in Toledo, OH you can undoubtedly drive to Alaska. 

So, it's just a fox. Things will get better.

See, better already.

Chicken, Alaska got its name when settlers couldn't agree on how

 to spell tarmagun tarmigen ptarmegan.

Everyone should see Denali but clouds keep about 70% of visitors from catching a glimpse.

 Caribou on the road out to Denali.

A moose cow wandered right through our campsite in Denali National Park.

And her calves followed right behind.

The Ring of Fire is a row of volcanoes on the shores of the Cook Inlet.

The Orthodox Church in Nanilchik.

A nice cup of hot tea on a July afternoon. "Next time we should come in Summer," said Shirley.        

Sea otters float on their backs to crack open shellfish on their chests. 

We took a cruise from Valdez to see the Columbia Glacier calving into the sea.

Lots of sea mammals along the way.

Like this one, for example.

Right out of an insurance company commercial.

Curious sea otters stared back at us from their ice flow.

Alaskans can have an irreverent sense of humor about local politics.

What says "Alaska" better than salmon swimming upstream to spawn?

Many people prefer to travel by cruise ship like this one in Skagway.

Some prefer to get around in a caravan of Jeeps.

And the Alaska Railway brings thousands of visitors to Denali.

There's a second cub in the upper left.

Mt. Iliamna in the early morning light. 

At Anchor Point, eagles came to perch right over our campsite.

Out looking for fresh seafood.

Got it!

Selfies with the tourists.

It is a walk of only a mile or so up to the toe of Exit Glacier.

In Alaska, you can spend the night just about anywhere you can get safely off the road. We were alone when we stopped. Thirteen of us the next morning.

Mt. Drum is almost as impressive as Denali.  Almost.

Sled dogs sleep on their houses just like Snoopy.

They take their heritage seriously in Skagway. Sorta.

Bear

Bear Glacier

Matanuska Glacier

Worthington Glacier