Alaska Day 5 Fly/Fly

Today's drive was entirely on the Alaska Highway as we traveled between Whitehorse and Tok. We got to experience long sweeping curves of smooth highway, surrounded by beautiful mountains. There were also a number of miles where the highway wasn't so smooth! It's difficult to build highways over ground that is not solid and permafrost. Miles of wilderness, forest and the Yukon scenery were a good glimpse of the north country. Special stops were at a national park visitor center and a wonderful bakery in Haines Junction, the visitor center at Sheep Mountain where the ranger gave us a great talk on the Dall sheep, and the Tetlin
National Wildlife Refuge. We saw a porcupine with its quills all extended because the bus was too close, and then after it went into the ditch we noticed that the quills were relaxed again. We also stopped for a view of a wilderness pond with a trumpeter swan nest. Both adults and several babies were there, and we watched the mom and the little ones slip into the water and start swimming. After checking into our motel, we had a great meal together. The evening gave us time for gift shops and enjoying this unusual junction town. Laurel Johnson, Tour Director