I admit ... I took the reports of rough road between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek with a grain of salt. Beaver Creek is my home town and I thought the reports of bad road were much exaggerated. Drove the section yesterday and must report it is all true. The worse thing they did was pave the highway ... now they can now longer grade it smooth!
I never thought I'd see the day we anticipated, with glee, road construction signs! Along this stretch of road though, they were a welcome sight as they meant a smooth gravel stretch was upcoming!
It took 5 hours between Haines Junction and Beaver Creek, with no stops. Just like the old days, 40 years ago, when it was a twisty windy gravel highway!!
We checked out all the territorial campgrounds as we drove from Whitehorse. All were quite decent. Have to say that the Yukon government has the NICEST outhouses around! We stayed overnight at the Kathleen Lake campground just 25 km or so up the Haines Highway. It's a federal campground, and no where near as nice as the territorial campgrounds. The scenery at the lake was spectacular, but the camping not so great. And the feds charge $8.80 for firewood, whereas your firewood is free at the territorial campgrounds.
At Haines Junction, do NOT gas up at the Shell station on the corner of the highways. Up to 15 cents more than the other stations for diesel. Cheapest diesel appeared to be at the Kluane RV Kampground just a bit north of Haines Junction.
Longest day of the year today ... we'll be whooping it up in Beaver Creek!
AMEN! the road from Destruction Bay on into Alaska is "rock and roll" all the way. We drove it last week and drove most at 30 mph. Don't get in a hurry and be careful. It is much worse than it was 3 years ago.
As we've found for most of the roads in the north "slow down and don't get in a hurry and all will be OK". Just accept it's a slow trip along that streach and enjoy the view as much as you can. You'll be spending most of the time with both eyes concentrating on the road.
DRIVE A 2001 NEWMAR DUTCH STAR WITH 330 HP CUMMINS AND TOW A RANGER 4X4. TRAVEL WITH SPOUSE AND PET TINKER BELL OUR CORGIE.
Today we drove from Destruction Bay to Tok & what a loooong drive! After crossing the border there were several construction delays (one for 20 minutes). It seems that once you get up to speed, there are pavement breaks filled with loose gravel every mile or so. Thank goodness for clear skies so we could enjoy the scenery; but the driver really can't because of the pot holes. So if your driving this route, plan for an average of about 35-45 MPH. Relax, you're in Alaska!
Even going slowly I hit a couple so hard when I didn't see them that I feared my truck camper would come adrift. There was a Ford Explorer that got sideways on a big one and the vehicle ended up on its lid. The man was not badly hurt.
As Sue says, we hoped for good old gravel construction.
We are on our way home now to Colorado after six weeks in the wonderfull north country
Clattertruck
2008 SD F450 PSD 6.4L CC 4X4 DRW, Lariat Auto trans 4.30 LS, 2008 Snowriver 108 truck camper. Jeep Unlimited Rubicon as toad.
We left Beaver Creek Sunday Jun 22 and headed back for Whitehorse. 3.5 hours from Beaver Creek to Destruction Bay, a distance of just over 100 miles. However, the day we left it was rainy and we were lucky enough to sight 8 moose: 2 cows with calves, and four bulls (two travelling together).
Overnighted at Congdon Creek YTG along Kluane Lake. That is a beautiful area and we love the campground. Drive a rough road along the east side of the lake and loved every moment, but it was rough. 4x4 is essential as there are several creek crossings.
From there headed to Dezadeash Lake YTG campground on the Haines Highway. We had stayed at the Kathleen Lake one on the way north and decided to drive in to Dezadeash. Beautiful, although a bit windy!
Then out to the Alaska Highway again and on to Kusawa Lake YTG campground, about 20 miles in from the highway an hour north of Whitehorse. Milepost doesn't recommend it for large RVs or trailers ... but really ... we had no problems with our 25' fiver, and there were large TTs in there. I'd be hesitant to take a large Class A in, and also would not recommend the drive if it's wet out. Otherwise, another beautiful lakeside campground.
Tonight (Thursday 26th) back in Whitehorse at Hi Country RV park to wash laundry, truck, and humans. Then heading north on the North Klondike Highway for the Campbell Highway. We have yet to explore the Mayo/Keno area and are looking forward to that.
We shouldn't be down towards Haines until mid Aug. Sure hope they have everything fixed by then. Currently, we are in Dawson City for a few days and I gotta tell ya, the last 20 - 30 miles of the Klondike highway kept me down to 35 or less...sometimes I came to a complete stop and edged my way over the bumps. Mama really had her panties in a bunch on a couple of the hard one. Trouble is, the little red flags and the warning signs with humps aren't always where they're suppose to be. I see flags/sign and slow down and it's smooth as glass...then outta nowhere, a big one tries to eject me through the top of the MH. I don't know how the toad stayed hitched!!
As others said...slow way down and let the ones who want to go faster pass you. Of course on the Klondike, there's not always someplace to pass for miles, so they'll just have to tag along behind you until there is.
We'll head over the Yukon ferry on Sunday and check out the TOW and Chicken...maybe a toad ride up to Eagle.
Ron
Ron & Sandie
'08 Safari Simba SBD35
86 Toy 4x4 P/U for Toad.
Tow Bar: Sterling
Brakes: Unified
Toys:
Yamaha 660R Raptor (mine)
Honda 350ES Rancher (hers)
64 Fairlane w/351c - 4sp
Both Fed CS Retirees
Hobbies:
DW's: Quilting
Mine: DW
We just got to Tok yesterday from Destruction
Bay and it's quite the trip. Everything others have described. Probably won't be going back that way. I think we'll try the Top of the World to Dawson City.
On to the Kenai!
Fred Wishnie
2006 Carriage Cameo 35KS3, 2006 Ford F350 diesel dually, fulltimer
See our blog at http://www.mytripjournal.com/wanderingwishnies
“If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got.”
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