Quick Update

We have been thru several areas since the last blog update. I'm using a public computer at the moment, so won't upload photos or detailed blogs. However, here's the "Reader's Digest" version--we went thru Palmer and "stocked up" on electricity and WIFI and did laundry and then headed to Valdez where we stopped along the way overlooking a glaciated mountain in the sun before continuing on in the rain the next day :(. We stayed in Valdez at a free primitive site near the Valdez glacier after exploring the town's museums, fish pier, small boat harbour, and salmon hatchery--where thousands of salmon were venturing up river and either making it into the "ladders" or getting their eyes gouged out by seagulls. Surprisingly we didn't spot any bears here, but there were a couple of bald eagles. From there we went up to the Wrangell-St. Elias Nat'l Park after fixing a diesel fuel leak. We drove in the 60 miles to Kennicott on an old railroad bed dirt road with huge potholes and washboard areas in the pouring rain. Not the highlight of our trip, but if it had been clear, the scenery that I imagined in my mind would have been spectacular. The drive took 4 hours each way!
We then headed up to Tok--a jumping off point to head back into Canada along the Alaska Highway. We had a wonderfully clear day there, so headed back for a drive to the south on the Nabesna Road into Wrangell-St. Elias, which was FABULOUS! Contrary to the other road, this one was much better without the risk of old railroad spikes stabbing one of your tires. The scenery was magnificent--with towering mountains, golden aspens (the leaves are already changing up here) and beautiful glaciers. The road crossed thru a few streambeds to end at a working gold mine. Unfortunately, we couldn't just walk up and pick up a bit of gold to help pay for the fuel on this trip.
From Tok, we crossed into Yukon in Canada and then headed toward Haines, Alaska. We plan to spend a few days in Haines until, as Alan says, we've had our fill of watching bears gorge themselves on salmon in the streams. It is FABULOUS! Although the weather is a bit overcast, you can still see the snow-capped peaks and this place is loaded with waterfalls. Watching the bears feeding up close and personal is an incredible experience!
More when we have internet with our own PCs--along with some photos.