June 15, 2012 – Tok RV Village, Tok, Alaska

We are in ALASKA!!! We left this morning at about 8. It was only 182 miles today, but it took us over 6 hours. With the condition of the road, we drove slowly the whole way to Tok. The road was pretty deserted with us being the only vehicle in sight most of the time.

We started by taking a ferry from Dawson City across the Yukon River and to began the Top of the World highway. You climb to the ridge line as soon as you leave the ferry and pretty well stay there the whole trip. The first part of the trip, almost to the US border, we had sunshine. The views were awesome and we really enjoyed the drive. I think that about 60 % of the road from Dawson City to the US border was paved and the rest was rock. You just had to watch for potholes and frost heaves, AND the road if Karen had her way. Since we were traveling the ridge line there are drop offs at least on one side for most of the time. Plus, they save money by putting guard rails up very sparingly.

Free Yukon River Ferry

View from the Top Of The World Highway

Just before the US border we started running into rain and had it off and on the rest of the trip. The trip from the border into Chicken and than Tok was more of an adventure. The border is about halfway from Dawson City to Tok, and Chicken is about half way from the border to Tok. It was raining off and on from just before the border. To quote the Milepost book, “Sections of rough road, soft shoulders, hairpin curves, steep drop-offs and narrow road south to Chicken. Do not risk a tip over by putting a wheel into the soft shoulder! Stop for oncoming traffic at narrow spots.” At one point Karen was reminding me to watch the road and stay in the middle, all the while she was leaning toward me (away from the drop off) to help out. Just a little past Chicken the road was paved, but we still had frost heaves and pot holes. When we stopped for tonight, the first thing I did (even before going to the site) was to take the RV and Truck to the wash rack to spray it off so we could get in and out without getting dirty.

The road ahead!

On entering the U.S. we immediately noticed the MPH signs instead of the kilometer speed signs. There were acres and acres of burned forests between the border and here. Along with the fantastic views, we saw a moose with two calves and a few gold miners working in a stream near the road.

Gold Miners hard at work!