Victor Creek Hike

Finished work early so decide to take Tucson for a well deserved hike across the road on the Victor Creek Trail.

After a 2/10 of a mile walk down the highway across the bridge with no shoulder and a blind curve, we make it to the trailhead.

 Hope we won't need our bear spray

 Leaders of the pack

 Tucson sees water and thinks swimming, but after he walked in it he decided maybe it was a bit too chilly.

 It's like walking through a fairy tale woodland.  The moss is super thick and so green.

 I think this is a Juvenile White Winged Crossbill.

 Mostly a really nice trail. 

 We catch a glimpse of Kenai Lake

 I am pretty sure these are Fiddlehead Ferns. I will research first before I pick and cook them.

Not sure how long the trail is, we turn around after a couple of miles.  Run into two young USFS guys carrying a chainsaw.  Guess they'll take care of that one tree we had to climb over.  They recommended some other hikes for us too.  Looking forward to getting back into a hike a day routine!

Beaver Creek to Delta Junction, AK

Just like this Snowshoe Rabbit, it's time for us to get moving.

We start to see some of the road conditions we were warned about.  It's been pretty smooth sailing so far.

Almost back to the good old USA

 
Made it through without a snag

 

We're in the Zone!

This selfie was a challenge I had to run up boulders to get into the picture. 

Well, looks like they've got the base finished for a Wall down the road.

Almost 300 miles to Fairbanks yet.

The Rivers are still partially frozen here.

The Milepost says this is a 1 mile hike.  A good place to get out and stretch the legs a bit and get Tucson some exercise.

A lot of the trail is boardwalk through woods and marshes

This rabbit got away

At the Lake.  We saw these free life jackets back in Oregon too.

There's also a boat you can borrow.  Too bad there is still ice in the lake.

Gary is on the lookout for Moose or Beaver.

This squirrel is keeping an eye on Tucson.

A nice hike and we're back on the road

Over the Tok River Bridge.  We were going to stay over in Tok but there wasn't much there and it was a little too early to pull over.

We finally spot a Moose!

and some really big Mosquitoes!

Well we've reached Delta Junction and the end of the Alcan Highway

On January 6, 1975 it hit 72 below here!

Just outside Delta Junction is the Big Delta State Historical Park.  The Milepost says there are 23 RV parking spaces here for $10.  Guess we'll pull over here.

Fairbanks tomorrow

Haines Junction to Beaver Creek

We leave Haines Junction

Historic Mile Post 1093

 

Burwash Landing - home of the world's largest Gold Pan

and a reminder of the 1999 fire when the town was evacuated - 8000 acres were burned and 5 houses destroyed. 

Gary needs a little break and I can use the facilities so we pull over at Pickhandle Lake Rest Area

 There are a lot of small lakes in the area

 I spotted these wild horses getting a drink at one

 Closing in!

These vent like structures along the highway are part of the Alaska Highway Permafrost Research Project.  They are trying to minimize melting of the permafrost by allowing cold air to penetrate the road and hopefully help solve the frost heave problems.

Beaver Creek our destination for the night

The only game in town

This cute church was built in 1961 from a recycled Quonset Hut left over from highway construction days.

Across the road was a small park displays centennial gold rush figures. 

Tucson looking for some Kibble

Next Stop - Alaska!