Dawson City and Chicken
I left Inuvik midmorning on June 22, headed for Dawson City. I picked up a couple of hitchhikers half-way, at Eagle Plains. Kinda nice having a bit of company. We arrived in Dawson City at about 8 pm, time for fish and chips and a few beers. I met an East German named Uwe sitting at a picnic table in the river-side park. We talked until about 2 am (the sun finally set, but it didn't get dark.) We were both sleeping in our vehicles. In the morning he was gone.
All photos link to large versions
There are lots of semis on the Dempster. I decided to stop and take a picture of the dust storm, but this time the truck almost stopped (which was a first.) Anyway, you get the idea. Usually there is much more and completely blinding dust. Amazingly, there are some cyclists on this highway, and many motorcyclists.
The northern-most part of the Yukon is the Vuntut National Park. I didn't drive through it, but the Vantut tribe has territory outside of the park, just north of the Dempster Highway.
It is beautiful territory.
When I arrived at Dawson City I drove up to 'The Dome', a hill above the town with great views. This is Dawson City at midnight of June 22.
This is the view in the other direction - the Yukon river flowing NW towards Alaska.
The Dawson City tourist strip.
Another view of the Dawson City main drag. Dawson City is about 7 blocks by 7 blocks. Mostly a tourist trap. In a back corner is Robert Service's cabin.
The Klondike Highway ends at Dawson City. But there is a small ferry that takes you across the Yukon River to the start of the 'Top of the World Highway' into Alaska.
Top of the World Highway, in BC.
The highway is about half paved.
Seems like you can see forever
Looking at the Alaska border crossing from the BC side of the Top of the World Highway.
Alaska Border Crossing. At this point the road becomes terrible. Crossing into Alaska is falling into a pothole!
Chicken Alaska is a tiny tourist stop about an hour into Alaska. They still mine the creeks for gold here. The place is open only in the summertime. The roads are closed in winter. I had a good breakfast here.