Across the Yukon Territory

We poked around most of the morning in Haines before continuing northward and leaving the coast. After about forty short miles we crossed into British Columbia. The crossing into Canada was smooth and uneventful. We climbed back into the mountains and skirted the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park. Shortly we crossed into the Yukon Territory. We then entered the Kluane National Park. We camped at a pull-out at the bridge over the Kluane River about 15 miles south of Haines Junction YT.



The next morning we continued our quest across the SW corner of the Yukon. We stopped at the Kluane NP visitor center in Haines Junction and enjoyed a cinnamon roll at the Village Bakery. At Haines Junction we joined the Alaska Highway for the first time. Most folks driving to Alaska will get on the Alaska Highway at its beginning in Dawson Creek about 1000 miles east of Haines Junction. We by-passed the bulk of the Alaska Highway by taking the Inside Passage.



Here we began to experience the infamous frost heaves so common in the north. About this time my engine monitoring display began to throw error codes relating to fuel delivery pressure. From experience I knew, or rather hoped, this meant one or both of my fuel filters were clogged. Dang. I had not changed the fuel filters during my extensive maintenance before leaving on this trip. No good excuse; I just thought it could wait until I changed the crankcase oil in the fall after we returned. Anyway, I had two sets of spare filters on-board. We stopped at another Kluane NP visitor center at sheep mountain, where we could see Dall sheep. There I changed the filters in the parking lot. I was able to drain the fuel from the old filters into a soda bottle and one of the rangers said she could dispose of it.



We hiked to Soldier's Summit where the dedication of the completion on the Alaska Highway was celebrated on November 20, 1942. Finally, we parked for the night at a pullout about 30 miles NW of Burwash Landing near the Donjek River, where we were treated to a display of sun dogs in the southern sky. I was amazed to find we could still clearly pick up an HD satellite signal, at latitude 61.5 degrees.