We’re back home, cozying up and basking in the glow of our epic five-month adventure. Our journey back was a joyride, and we can’t wait to share some of the highlights with you!
Our last day of work was bittersweet. We love the work and especially love the team of people we came to know and become friends with. As the train was readied with passengers, the crew took one last photo of the season as the guests looked on and cheered. Allen had the opportunity to drive the final train of the season. After a pizza lunch and helping shut down the operation, we bid farewell to the Gold Dredge 8 crew around 4:00 PM, officially kicking off our homeward journey.
The 2024 Gold Dredge 8 crew final photo for the year.
Allen driving the last train from the dredge camp to the entrance.
Saturday – Mile 1422
About 90 minutes south of Fairbanks, we found ourselves at Delta Junction, where we had to snap a photo at mile 1422, the grand finale of the ALCAN. Delta Junction marks the destination of the infamous Alaska Highway.
We had a mini photo shoot at the signpost. With our photo-journaling quest satisfied, we continued south to Tok, Alaska, for our first overnight stay. This was our last night in the great state of Alaska, and from here on out, our evenings would be spent in the welcoming embrace of Canada.
The end (our beginning point) of the ALCAN in Delta Junction, AK
As an aside, the star of our trip to Fairbanks from Washington was undoubtedly the Stewart-Cassiar Highway (a.k.a. Highway 37) in British Columbia. Before we left, the internet research was buzzing about the ALCAN. Our route to Fairbanks did not entail taking the entire ALCAN. We decided to take the road less traveled. We joined the ALCAN about 30 miles west of Watson Lake, BC, which is about mid-point of the ALCAN.
Highway 37 treated us to a visual feast of mountains, rivers, moose, bears, caribou, and untouched wilderness, with the occasional charming small town popping up like a surprise guest at a party. This route was so inspiring, it birthed our blog post titled, “Panoramic Dashboard.” Throughout the summer, many fellow travelers echoed our sentiments, praising the Stewart-Cassiar as a must-drive experience.
We did wonder if the ALCAN would live up to its legendary status and if we’d regret not taking the same route back. Spoiler alert: the ALCAN did not disappoint! Driving its full length was an unforgettable experience, and we’re thrilled to say it lived up to all the hype.
Sunday – Wrangell-St. Elias Range
Our Sunday drive from Tok, Alaska, to Haines Junction in the Yukon Territory was a familiar route for us, though this time we were heading south instead of north. Along the way, we couldn’t resist snapping a few pictures of the majestic Wrangell-St. Elias Range, which lies to the west of the ALCAN. We saw the same park on the western side when we drove to Valdez, AK. This impressive range is part of the larger Saint Elias Mountains, stretching across both Alaska and Canada.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park stretches out as far as the eye can see.
St. Elias Range mirrored in a pristine lake.
Welcome to Canada and the Yukon. Behind us is the welcome to Alaska sign.
Haines Junction, nestled in the Yukon Territory, is about 45 miles past the U.S.-Canada border. It’s a quaint little place with a population of around 1,000, where the mountains of the St. Elias loom close by, their snowcapped peaks hinting at the impending winter chill.
We felt the beginnings of winter at Haines Junction.
Monday – Signpost Forest
We continued our southward trek on the ALCAN, passing the junction of Highway 37, and ventured into uncharted territory for us—south of milepost 626. This meant we had 626 miles of the ALCAN left to conquer before we could proudly say we’d driven the entire highway.
At Watson Lake, we made a pit stop at the famous Signpost Forest. This quirky landmark along the Alaska Highway is a must-see. It all started back in 1942 when a homesick U.S. soldier, Private Carl K. Lindley, was tasked with repairing a damaged signpost. In a moment of nostalgia, he added a sign pointing to his hometown of Danville, Illinois, along with the distance to it. This sparked a tradition, and soon others followed suit. Today, there are over 100,000 signs from all over the world, each one a testament to the many travelers who’ve journeyed along the ALCAN.
Signpost Forest in Watson Lake.
Tuesday – Liard Hot Springs
Little did we know when we left Watson Lake that we were in for a delightful surprise on our drive to Fort Nelson. Our first stop was the enchanting Liard River Hot Springs, about two hours into our journey. It was the perfect spot to unwind and marvel at a unique geological wonder.
These natural hot springs are tucked away in a boreal forest, with mist rising from the mineral-rich waters like something out of a fairy tale. It reminded us of Yellowstone. Moose are frequent visitors here, and we just missed spotting one that other visitors had seen along the boardwalk from the parking area to the springs. Despite missing the moose, we had a wonderfully soothing soak in the springs, feeling all our travel fatigue melt away.
Bison, Moose, and Caribou
After a few blissful hours at Liard Hot Springs, we continued our southward journey. Not long after, we found ourselves in the company of a herd of bison casually strolling along the road. Later in the day, we were treated to sightings of caribou and moose. One particularly majestic moose with an impressive rack decided to make a dramatic entrance, galloping out of the woods. We had to brake immediately to avoid a collision, and the skidding noise startled the moose, who promptly did an about-face and dashed back into the woods. Crisis averted!
A herd of bison along the ALCAN.
A beautiful reindeer (Caribou).
Hello Moose. (This is not the one that ran out of the woods)
The ALCAN skirts around Muncho Lake, renowned for its stunning jade-colored waters. The highway runs along the eastern shore, offering breathtaking views of the lake’s jade hues against the backdrop of towering mountainsides.
Muncho Lake.
An interesting tidbit: Chief Charlie McDonald of the Kaska Dena people played a crucial role in guiding the ALCAN surveyors and engineers through this challenging stretch. This section of the highway winds through dense forests, river valleys, and mountain passes, making it hard to fathom how they managed to carve a road through such rugged terrain.
Beautiful scenery of the Northern Rockies.
After Muncho Lake, we passed through Stone Mountain Provincial Park. Within the park, Summit Lake marks the highest point on the Alaska Highway, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. This stretch of the ALCAN is arguably the most beautiful of the entire route.
We finally arrived at Fort Nelson and enjoyed a delightful dinner in this charming town.
We enjoy seeing the Canadian Flag.
Wednesday – Dawson Creek – Mile Zero
We departed Fort Nelson and continued our southward journey to Fort St. John. Along the way, we made a pit stop at Dawson Creek, BC, to snap a photo at the start of the ALCAN, which for us, marked the end of the road, but not the end of our adventure!
We reached mile zero!
This sculpture sits at the roundabout going to the ALCAN.
Notice the awesome Ram truck in the background.
Dawson Creek's answer to the signpost forest - sticker forest.
Can you spot the "Gold Baron" sticker?
Thursday – Grand Cache
With the ALCAN in our rearview mirror, we ventured further towards home. The road led us into Alberta, Canada, and right into the heart of the Northern Rockies. Our stop for Thursday evening was Grand Cache, Alberta. It was the first time either of us had been to Alberta.
Fun fact: Grand Cache is a hamlet, which is a fancy way of saying it’s smaller than a village. This tiny community of around 3,000 people was our last overnight stay away from the hustle and bustle.
Wild Rose Country, named for the province's official flower.
We pulled over to enjoy this excellent rest area near Grand Cache
Stunning view of the Northern Rockies on our way to Grand Cache.
Friday – Northern Rockies to Kamloops
On Friday morning, we set off for our final overnight stop in Kamloops. Our drive took us through the stunning Northern Rockies of Canada. We left Alberta and entered British Columbia one more time.
British Columbia advertises that it is the best place on earth!
We finally saw a grizzly bear! We saw it lumbering across the road about a half mile ahead. We’ve seen a few bear during our adventure, but not a grizzly. By the time we reached it, it was off the road and headed to the woods. It was huge and moved surprisingly quickly. Thankfully, we have a picture of the encounter. He stood up and waved to us as he entered the woods, but we have no photographic evidence of his friendly gesture.
A grizzly makes his way into the woods after crossing the road in front of us.
The road stretches out as we travel through the Northern Rockies.
We don't always toke photos looking through our windshield. Views like this were quite ordinary!
The driving through Canada was highlighted by Jasper National Park. It’s an intriguing park with great scenery and attractions. It is named after Jasper Haws, a fur trader in the area during the early 1800s. His house, Jasper’s House, was a famous trading post, hence the use of his first name for naming the park. Jasper NP is worth driving up to visit and spend time exploring.
Can you see the rainbow in Jasper National Park?
Arriving in Kamloops was quite the jolt! After miles of serene, thick forests and lush green landscapes, we were suddenly surrounded by traffic, sirens, and the hustle and bustle of a city with a population of 100,000. Nestled in the semi-arid Thompson Valley, Kamloops is filled with sagebrush and tall grasses—a stark contrast to the past couple thousand miles of our journey. We had a wonderful dinner and a restful night.
A vista overlooking Kamloops
Home at Last
We woke early on Saturday and eagerly left our room to begin the final leg home. The last stretch of our journey took us across the US-Canada border and back into Washington. We traversed familiar ground in Skagit Valley and through the busy Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia municipalities on I-5. The traffic was relentless even through the homestretch, but we were thrilled to finally arrive home in the charming town of Toledo. We rolled in road-weary but immensely grateful to have no major mishaps after driving over 11,000 miles in the past five months.
We hope you enjoyed reading along as we shared our Alaskan Adventure with you. What’s next? We rest and enjoy retirement as we await our next adventure. Who knows, maybe the Amazon or the Outback.
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