In an April snowstorm on the Haines Highway with the RV
With my visit to Haines cut a bit short by the combination of a call about a friend in hospital and an approaching storm, I headed towards home at 6:30 Wednesday evening.
With the workers having gone home for the day, there were no delays through the 8 miles of construction on the Haines Highway.
Crossing back into Canada was also quick and simple, and an hour and 10 minutes after leaving Haines I was nearing the summit, with the spectacular peaks mostly hidden in clouds that were starting to drop snow.
The snow got heavier, and at the summit, strong winds were drifting it across the highway, with very little traffic to break it up.
At 8:30 (9:30 Yukon time) I decided to park for the night, feeling that 30 kilometers past the summit would keep me out of the worst of the snow.
When I woke up at 06:30 Yukon time, it was snowing fairly heavy and strong south winds were rocking the rig. The border would be closed for another hour and a half so there was no traffic.
“No Camping or Overnight Parking”. These signs are so ridiculous. It’s the middle of nowhere and even in the summer there are no campgrounds.
At 07:20, an early-bird fuel tanker was the first vehicle to go by.
After the semi went by I took Bella and Tucker out for another play. Bella in particular loves fresh snow!
At 08:15 I decided to not wait any longer for a snow plow (one had gone by southbound a while after the semi), and asked the kids if they wanted to go home. Tucker’s response was clearly “why would we go home??”
I carry tire chains for emergencies, but it wasn’t that bad – at least not for someone with as many miles on as I have. Slow and easy is the key…
Within about 50 km, the snow was gone, and things looked good as we approached Dezadeash Lake. It started sleeting at Haines Junction, though, confirming the decision to call it quits and go home.
My friend is out of danger, and now I’m just waiting for the sun to return to head out again – probably in 3 days, on Wednesday.
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