8/28/2010

The Long Haul

Aug 17 to 23, 2010.  7 days of grueling driving, we covered 2,330 miles from Seward, AK to Whistler, BC.  From Seward, we considered our trip at it's climax and we were ready to work our way back.  It was such a leisurely way up, we were ready to book it fast back down.

Aug. 17 - drive to Anchorage AK on the Seward Hwy.  127 miles in the rain.  Stayed in the shittiest motel yet, the Econo Inn, with paper thin walls, cop cars and no sleep.

Aug. 18 - drive to Tok, AK on the Glenn Hwy.  314 miles in the rain.  Leaves are starting to change color to Fall.  Stayed in a clean cabin at Tok RV.

Aug. 19 - drive to Haines Junction, YT on the Yukon 1 Hwy.  291 miles in the rain and the worse driving to date on our trip.  Cold, with an average of 47 degrees through wet and cloudy.  We crossed the border and encountered the same bad roads from our way up but intensified 100 times over with rain creating muddy, liquid pot holes on unpaved roads for 14 miles before the Canadian border.  It took at least an hour, to get through 14 miles, including passing a semi and skidded on the mud in passing.  SCARY.  We then had to drive the incredible frost heaves with the gnarliest pot holes of the Yukon, through the rain for a good 150 miles before reaching Haines Junction.  A very tiring drive.  Stayed at Cozy Corner Motel.  Yeah, it was kinda cozy.

Aug. 20 - drive to Watson Lake, YT on the Alaska Hwy.  367 miles in the rain.  Stayed once again in the Airforce Lodge.  A slight faint of wildfire smoke.  Our original plan was to driving back south on a different highway, (the Cassiar Hwy) but with all the wildfires happening, and their on the fly road closures, we took the same route back through the Alaska Hwy.

Aug. 21 - drive to Dawson Creek, BC on the Alaska Hwy.  601 miles in the rain.  Our longest day of driving yet, as weather hit 42 degrees and averaged about 46 degrees.  We hit a crazy hail storm and decided to push through even further than our planned stop.  Stayed in a much deserved Comfort Inn with fluffy pillows.  Yeah, it's really like the commercial in their hotels.  Strong wildfire smoke for a good 50 miles to Dawson Creek, even with the rain.

Aug. 22 - drive to 100 Mile House, BC on the Cariboo Hwy.  456 miles in the rain, arrival at 11:30pm at the 100 Mile Motel.

Aug. 23 & 24 - drive to Whistler, BC on the Cariboo Hwy to the 99.  171 miles in our first day of sunshine!!!  Great day of driving with the beginning of the 99 comparable to the Yukon frost heaves, but not as bad (if you've been to the worse, everything seems easy!), driving through mountain switchbacks.  Treated ourselves to 2 nights in Whistler, staying near the olympic village at a 4 star hotel (we got a great deal online).  Ate well, slept well, plenty of summer sun, finally.

The only shot we took on our long haul drive.  A view of Matanuska Glacier from the Glenn Highway in Alaska.
Our only shot from Whistler, in front of the Olympic rings at Whistler Village, where the 2010 winter games took place.

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