Back into Canada
I got a late start from Seward on June 26, and drove back through Anchorage and Tok, then was in new territory again as I drove the Alaska Highway east towards the Yukon. I crossed back into Canada at about 8 pm and stopped for the night at Burwash Landing just before midnight. It was still daylight, or course, and the bar and poolhall were hopping. Yukon Gold is the best Canadian beer I encountered on my trip.
All photos link to large versions
The Burwash bar and restraunt.
They have a beautiful little campground here.
After an early breakfast at Burwash I got back on the Alaska Highway, driving through Haines Junction, right past Whitehorse, skipped the sidetrip to Skagway, White Pass, all that North to Alaska stuff, and instead made a right at Jakes corner, that took me on a wonderful one hour drive down to Atlin, BC.
Atlin is a small community on Atlin Lake which is largely surrounded by Atlin Provicial Park, which stretches west to the Alaska Panhandle boarder, just south of Skagway.
I guess they don't do lake tours anymore.
View from the waterfront.
This boat made me think of my friend Douglas Knapp, don't really know why. Here's to you, Doug.
Back north on the Alaska Highway: Mama and her cubs. I took this from the truck window.
For many miles along the Alaska Highway you see buffalo on and beside the road. Here are two having a snooze.
I was going to stop for the night at Watson Lake, but it just didn't appeal to me, so I gassed up and drove on, back into BC. The Liard Fire was still burning - there was smoke for miles along the highway. It burned right up to the top of some of the mountains.
At nine at night I arrived at the Liard Hotsprings. A good place to spend the night.
From the parking lot and campground there is about a .5 km boardwalk to the hotsprings.
It's almost like a tropical garden here.
The main pool is big and very hot at the north end (foreground.) Too hot for me (or anyone else, as you can see.) I took a dip that evening, then came back in the morning for these photos and another swim.
Here you can see where the almost-boiling water flows into the pool. Imagine this in the wintertime!
This is the Beta Pool. A bit further on, still bath temperature, and much less crowded.