Wednesday, July 25, 2001
Burnslake
In the middle of nowhere!!!!
So, my second treking tour started. Even found my way to the hotel. YES!
This group is completely different from my first one. But the folks seem to be pretty cool too. Well, I mean, different place different people, have to get adjusted to it.
At least the tour members are more my age than on the last one. 24 is the age of the youngest.
Ok, now a short introduction of them:
- Steve (UK)
- Martin (UK)
- Mark (UK)
- Elsbeth (Wales)
- Milton (USA)
- Lara (Australia)
- Glen (New Zealand)
- Masa (Japan)
- Camilla (Netherlands)
- Mike (Netherlands)
- Peggy (Switzerland)
- Karin (Switzerland)
- and Chris (USA) -> Tourleader
In the evening we had a long talk and Chris told us all we had to know about Grizzlies and camping in this "dangerous" countryside.
Yesterday we drove to Lac La Hache. On our way there we made a little break and went riverrafting. First I almost chickened out but afterwards you could not get me out of the raft anymore. It was sooo cool. Unfortunately I wait till today of my picture from this trip.
Some background infos: the river is called "Thompson River, between the towns of Spences Bridge and Lytton -> about 28 km.
During the whole night I was freezing like hell, worse than in Moab. And you want to know the good part about it? It is just getting worse! I need to get more close on, though they say thats the wrong thing but I dont want to be ice cream in the next moring.
We have the Ford now and this one is much much much smaller then the Dodge we had before. Have I mentioned that we had the newest car Trek America has on the Transcon South tour?
Friday, July 27, 2001
Somewhere on the road....
Mouse Mountain I HATE MOSQUITOS !!!!!!!!!!!!
Are in Seward right now. Just returned
from a whole day boat sightesing trip. This was really an incredible day. We
saw everything what there was to see; whales (humpback and orkas), several
kind of birds, dolphins, seals and a glacier where bits of it broke out. When
we were in this little ice sea it actually sounded like these rise crips when
you pure milk over them. And of course the weather was to our favour and the sun
was accompagning us all day long.
On the ferry somewhere on the Inside Passage.
Finally around 6 pm did we arrive at our destination. Pretty deformed I pealed
myself out of the van and first had to absolve some stretch exercises. After our
usual build up tents routine I seated myself at the border of the lake and
enjoyed the great view offered.
Almost one week has passed now and we are still driving constantly north. The weather stayed good so far (touching wood). At night it hasnt been as cold as it was at Lac la Hache alas. I am soo glad I could get Steves fleece. Great that the British are used to cold.
Ok, on Wednesday there has not much more happened. Except that I could quickly check my email (no, I am not addicted) and a sweet get together of a rabbit and a kitten. First the rabbit was hunting down the kitten before it realised that it should be the other way around.
Saturday, July 28, 2001
Here some important Information:
Thursday, hhm, what was back then? Oh, right, Hyder, my first time entering Alaska. We drove the whole day, didnt see a lot except nature (which is lovely I am not complaining but sometime a bit too much for me) and a lovely glacier (see picture) and then arrived somewhen during the afternoon in Hyder. There I could finally cook again, how did I miss it... (rolling her eyes) but it still was great, some African food, an idea of Camilla who was next Masa in my team.
After trying to see some grizzlies and dinner we made our way to the bar! You have to go there. The bar is called Glacier Inn and you can get hyderised there. 75% pure alcohol and then you will receive a tiny certificate that you did it. And I mean this village has only 160 inhabitants (at least back then) but just going out again was great. If I should ever go back there, I have to check if my dollar is still hanging there somewhere. You have the posibility to leave a note there on a bill. So if you want to imortalise yourself... best way to do it. Ever there check if you find mine....
Yesterday was another long driving day. Saw two little black bears, how cute!!! (until they're grown up) We had our first rain as well, hey, I tried to behave but it is not always as easy as it seems.
Today we went on a canoe trip for the whole day. Ah, I still can feel the muscle pain I had afterwards for 2 days. Oh, and we had april weather during this day. From sun to rain to hail to wind to warm to cold. We have seen as well two beavers and Elsbeth and I made the whole trip without turning over the canoe (both beginners and it will stay like that, a too shaky thing all that).
Mike, Camilla and Mark went for a hike, but unfortunately they had to turn around after a short while as Camilla sprained her ankle. I felt so sorry for her, I mean, she is running marathons back home (some people need it) and now this. Well, they should come to Switzerland for another hike, we have plenty of mountains too.
Hey what I completely forgot to tell, this morning in Seattle, I slept through an earthquake. Damn, there is another action thingy going on and I miss it! Had a 4 point something. Typically me.
Monday, Auugst 6, 2001
Furhter we did a sightesing flight to Mt. McKinley. The weather there was great
too and the sun was shining from its brightest. I was the lucky one who got the
seat next to the pilot. But there the most impressive thing was the glacier
landing. Its kind of a funny feeling when you land there. Hopping over the ice and
seeing the wall getting closer and closer.
Finally on the glacier, we had a little snow flight, which nobody won but was
plenty of fun.
Three days before the scenic flight we were visiting the Denali National Park.
First Day we didnt do a lot except challenging our two tourguides (the one from
the other 2 Week Alaska Trek). Unfortunately Chris lost. Second day we got up early for a
bus trip into the park. Its the only way, except hiking to get into it without special
permission. (check out the two links)
As it was raining this day, we were able to see all kinds of wildlife. Even
possible wolfes, but we were not sure as they disappeared quit quickly.
But there were grizzlies, moses, caribous, marmots and and and.
PS: Tough it was raining all day long my tent didnt get washed away as it did
in Dawson, as I had a covered tent spot... oh I am getting smarter !!!
Third day we had to get up really early! 5.45h and that on my vacation! We drove
into the park again and there we splitted up and my group went hiking. And the mountain
we climed up was or is called Mt. Healy. But somehow it was scary to start hiking
that early in a day. I mean, did all the bears already had had their breakfast?
And there were nearly no other hikers, but when we finally came close to the top
the view we got offered paid us out for all the danger we had to bare.
And in the evening we went for Pizza! Unfortunately I was so tired, that I nearly
ate nothing, and that will mean something as Pizza is one of my favorite dishes.
Fairbanks, well, there is not much to
tell about it, except that I was sitting outside the tent after midnight and was
still reading in my book without artifical light. Impressive. Otherwise I have
no more memories of it.
Hey, wait a moment, I bought there my fleeze sleeping bag to keep me warm inside
my sleeping bag :). Important!
So, lets go further back into the past!
Before we arrived in Fairbanks we were in Dawson City.
Dawson City! Ah, what memories. Now I
can laugh about them. But back then. But lets start from the beginning. Tiny
city. Western flair, got stuck somewhen beginning of last century. Has its own
charme and I got lost in it! I who is used to big big cities and usually have
a quiet great orientation sence. Anyway.
You can still go digging for gold there but the chance to get rich is little.
They have a casino and even a musical show. And that in the middle of nowhere,
more or less. And we partied until the last ferry left to take us back to our
campground on the other side of town. Was that great. Steve and Martin even persuaded
me to sing Karaokee. Imagen that! And of course I flirted. One of my favorite
hobbies.
Other story: My tent and I. No problem so far, unless this time. I thought I am
a smart girl putting it up between some trees, behind a little hill. I guess
when the weather would have been great no problem. Unfortunately as it was placed
between some trees on my left and right side and the hill behind it, and it was
raining all day long, I nearly got washed away. At least in my opinion! Other
problem was as I didnt share my tent with anybody I did not put away my stuff
properly and therefore, well, as I had this little river running across my tent,
of course my cloathes got pretty wet! Unfortunately I slipped yesterday already
and had some pair of dirty pants and now this wet stuff, so instead of getting
rich I went to the laundry doing my cloathes. Probably somebody else found this
huge gold vein by now.
On the other side, Glen tried to teach me a card game I didnt understand. These
werent my two days back then. But I had my fun anyway. At least I have it now
by thinking about it.
About White Horse I have not
much I can tell, except that it looks pretty tiny for that over 2500 people are
supposed to live there. But we as well just spent a few hours there. What I re-
member is the night. Was one of the first night we had some good talks and loads
of fun. Well, at least Steve, Glen and I. But I cannot repeat everything, apart
from it that I dont remember everything, but hey, we had our laughs!
So, I guess that was it for now, caught up with all the good stuff. Just some
wee PS:
PS: Link about the Yukon Territory: Yukon Info
Tuesday, 14 August 2001
After Seward, where we did the Kenaij Fjord Trip we went straight to
Anchorage. What did we do there..hmm, oh
yes we went to our hostel, yes, you read right, we slept for once in a real
bed again.
In the afternoon we went to the city for a look around. But similar to Fairbanks
there was not really much to see. Finally I got stuck in a CD Store, imagen, they
even had a CD of a popstar-band here from Germany! I was quiet impressed. Then
I bought myself some new CDs, but well, they are pretty expensive there!
Back in the hostel there was a run for the showers, as it was the last one we
would have for the next couple of days. In the evening we went for a drink, others
went to the movie and thats about it.
Next morning we well Chris drove us to
McCarthy, which lay in the Wrangell-St.Elias Park.
Did you know that this is the biggest National Park of North America?
Well back to our drive, the only way to Mc Carthy is the way out. They told us
that normally it takes you 2,5hours to get there, we did it in 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Out we made it even in 1 hour and 36 minutes, just 2 minutes over the TrekAmerica
Records. Damn, if we just had known!
The Campground? Really rustical. For water we had to walk 15 minutes and there we
had to fill our tanks on a river itself, no other way possible. That was the
closest we got to floating water. We as well put up our Alaska Anti Mosquito tent
but in fact we did not us it. We rather sat around our Campfire chit chatting.
While most of the group went Ice Climbing the next day, I decided to visit the
Kennicott Mill. Here some facts about it:
The copper in this area was originally found by Ahtna Natives (Chitina).
Copper was rediscovered by prospectors who thought the green mountainside was pasture for their horses.
The mine operated from 1911 to 1938.
During operation, the workforce averaged around 500.
Btw, did I already mention that Mc Carthy had only about 26 inhabitants? And that
we had to walk into town, as you cannot reach it by car? Only during the winter
season when the river is frozen? And that walking "home" is really interesting
when your pissed and have no clue where to walk and everything is dark?
Hope you got the impression :)
The following day we got up early again, as we had a 12 hours drive ahead of us.
Goal: Kluane National
Park. Did the big mistake and sat all in the back of the van, and as I was
well rested, I felt somehow imprissioned there. Well, my calculation did not
work. So I had a really loooooooong day in front of me.
Somewhere in Chicago
After dinner, my dish washing duty we played once more some cards. Hey, I finally
got to understand the rules of Glens game. We stayed up long, as we had no particular
plans for tomorrow, except visiting the Visitor Center.
Early next morning I got waken up by some bum bum noises. Who the hell is shooting
up fire works? I thought, turned around and kept sleeping. Finally up I got informend
that it was no firework but gun shoots to get rid of the bears! Oh, good I had
some helpful watchers.
At the visitor Center we got informed that there were only two open path for
hiking as it was Grizzli Season.. (oh really?) Well, now I had a really hard
decision. Hiking or staying in Camp! Camp! My highest priority: doing laundry.
In the evening we were cooking our last meal, well actually Chris was cooking. Dont
ask me what; something Asian style with European flavor. Potato with a curry/ginger
sauce, peas, chicken, and for the chicken a chick pea - peanut sauce. Or something
like this.
Was not bad, except that when you are cooking yourself you usually lose your
appetite. Well at least I do.
In the evening we were playing "yuker".
Yes, you got it right, thats the game I was trying to get all the way since
Dawson, and now, I finally got it!!!!!
Later on we were just sitting around the fire, chatting and enjoying. Simply great.
Next day, Chris drove those hikers back to the visitor center, while I started
doing my laundry. I was in the middle of it when the others who stayed in the
camp came and forced me to join them for lunch. Had no chance to escape. But I reached
my goal anyway; Oh I am so proud of myself. I mean, we didnt just hope out for an
hour or so, no, we went some sightesing driving as well.
In the evening we had our last common meal, BBQ. Was really good, except that I had
the feeling I was eating all day long today. Afterwards, we could burn some
calories by starting the big cleaning all the gears stuff thingy. I draw the
big Jackpot, was just in charge for the cuttleries. But of course I helped the
others too. What I hated most during the trip was Van cleaning, such an unfaithful
job.
So, the last part of our trip started. The last time we got up early again. At 6am
we left Kluane. But that was good so, because as Chris last time called the office
they told him that the ferry company used to change their schedule as they
please and we might already leave at 1.45pm. Therefore, our guide wanted to be
sure not to miss it and that was the reason to leave so early.
Afterwards, we found out that this was the right desicion. The ferry left
Skagway at 1.45pm!
Arrived at around 12.00 o'clock and started queueing. We wanted to be the first
one arriving at the "Solarium" to catch be best spots. As we were sleaping outside
on deck chairs under heating lamps, we wanted to look if we could stay more or
less together.
Yes yes, we made it and so we finally left Alaska, next goal, Bellingham. Four days
on the ferry, four days doing nothing. Hmm, when I am writing this down now it
sounds like we were doing nothing for the last couple of days, but somehow I do
not have it in my mind this way. Well, as I would have some long days ahead of
me, rest would be great.
So we placed ourself into the sun, hoping to get a bit of color and to have a good
view of the countryside. Of course the ferry stopped from time to time where we
could go off board, what we did of course. As well we were frequent visitors of
the board bar, where we met some other young travelers. There was one who was
always challenging me for a game of backgammon. What a laugh.
We left the ferry at Juneau for a
midnight drink, at Ketchikan, our
last time in Alaska, and I had to buy urgently some gifts, as I didnt do it so
far.
Otherwise, there was not really much to do, except reading, enjoying the view
and the sun, playing games and have fun. Yes, can life not be hard sometimes?
And thats about it. We arrived back in Seattle, got driven to our hostel, hotels
or whatever and once again I had to say good bye to some great people I met. This
trip, really, I can only recommend it. Well, maybe it would look different if we
didnt have had such great weather but hey, I for myself are thinking about doing
it again.