KLONDIKE HIGHWAY

From Whitehorse to Alaska

I have to admit I am feeling very at home here in the north. The highways look just like the ones at home, in places you could be driving to Canso or down to Guysborough. Except for the fact that the trees are so exceptionally tall and skinny, and of course, you come across a desert, or a lake that is so green you think you're in a calendar. The mountains are the surreal backdrop to everything.















Carcross Desert is not actually a desert at all, but a "Dune System", "remains of an ancient lake" and "the result of a glacial system", according to the plaques on the side of the road. We were going to stop for a closer look on the way to Skagway, but the 3 bears (first encounter of my trip - see previous blog post) interfered with our plans and we only stopped briefly to take a few pictures on the way back. The plaques say that to be a true desert it must be hot, but the sandy dunes with conifers growing upon them make one freaky looking landscape.

Not far from here is the coffee shop where we stopped for pictures with signage about buns and starving, and the general store in Carcross is reminiscent of Little House on the Prairie or Sherbrooke Village. Inside there are tourist items and practical items, and Ice cream!

The mountains themselves continue to remind me of Lord of the Rings. Except for the lack of wind. It seems to me the hobbits battled much wind in their attempt to cross the mountains. Here not so much. In fact, they've been complaining about how windy it is around here, and I have to smile (politely... on the inside). They don't know from wind! There's been a pleasant breeze come up now and then to counteract the summer sun that's been virtually beating down most days.

As a result of all this beautiful, hot weather, we were able to capture some incredible pictures of the mountains reflected in the water of Tutshi Lake.

Skagway was over-run by tourists yesterday. It was like summer had arrived with a vengeance and spilled the foreigners from the humongous cruise ships and bus tours onto the quaint main street with a vengeance. I would have enjoyed strolling down emptier streets and checking out the diamond stores and coffee bars, but agreed readily with Debbie when the din in the Red Onion began to make our heads pound and drove us to quieter climes near the docks where we quaffed some excellent Alaskan brewed stout and white (beer), and chowed down on halibut fish and chips.

I was well amused by the department store souvenir shop, "The Alaska T-shirt Company" It was so insanely busy and Wal-mart like! But I did find my "beautiful ulu" there.