By motorcoach through the Yukon & Alaska: Anchorage to Whitehorse
Getting ready to leave Anchorage at 2:10 a.m. on July 23rd, for the 735-mile day. That may seem odd (it certainly did to the hotel desk staff), but that’s when I need to leave to get home at a reasonable hour. A couple of bonuses are that I get the often-wonderful morning light, and more animal sightings (only 3 moose this trip, though). This shot was taken at 1/3.3 sec, f3.5 and ISO 400, steadying myself with a seat back.
The Matanuska River as seen from the viewpoint at Mile 59 of the Glenn Highway at 3:27 a.m.
The dramatic outcropping of rock known as Lion Head, at Mile 115 of the Glenn Highway, was still in the shadows at 5:10 a.m.
Looking back down the Glenn Highway at Tahneeta Pass (Mile 122), at 5:25 a.m. – this is the sort of light that photographers cherish!
Taking a short break along the Alaska Highway at Mile 1285 at 11:24 a.m.
A section of the Alaska Highway being rebuilt again, at 1:42 p.m.
The old steel truss Donjek River bridge at 3:24 p.m., with a new concrete bridge being built beside it.
After cleaning the bus for the last time, I got home just after 8:00 – 17 hours after leaving Anchorage. That’s an hour and a half longer than normal, but the weather made it much more difficult to not stop for pictures!
July 24, 2006: Whitehorse to Skagway and back – 224 miles
The timing of the cruise that my group is on makes it easy for Cathy and I to take our huskies to Skagway to meet them when they arrive there. The reaction is always wonderful (I have no doubt that most of them think I’m kidding when I tell them to look for me at 10:00 a.m. as they get off the ship). This year there was an added incentive for us to be there, as we wanted to take Kevin to the cabin to show him that part of our world. It turned out to be about as perfect an ending to not only this trip, but the entire 17-year-long adventure, as I could have hoped for. I joked several times that somebody on the bus was truly blessed to get us both weather and wildlife – now I think that maybe it was me, and I feel extremely lucky.
The total distance travelled in 14 days was 2,503 miles (4,005 km). Total number of photographs taken was about 600 – there are 551 left after editing.
Now, Web sites, photography, writing, working on the construction of a new house at Carcross, and planning a trip to New Zealand in 2008 are the focusses in the short term, with other tourism opportunities available in the longer term (likely with the White Pass & Yukon Route railway that runs 100 feet from our front door in the picture in some way). Whereever it all goes, I hope that you continue to travel with me through the pages of ExploreNorth!
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