Leaving the 49th state on Day 49

Day 49

8/8/26 Saturday. 

Such a coincidence that we are leaving Alaska (the 49th state) on day 49 of our trip. It just dawned on me as I was writing this.

Mosquito count: they’re back in Canada Thick!!

Weather. Today is a warm day. We both were overdressed and by the end of the day in sandals and tee shirts. I can tell you that dress code has been rare this summer season.

Oh Alaska… you did yourself proud. We were hoping to see and experience so many different places and things and you delivered on each and every one of them! But more than that we really did love everyday… no matter the weather (rain, sun, wind or cold) we loved exploring. Seeing things everyday with new eyes and no expectations. Your people and your places are so kind and so beautiful, so big and so untouched. Alaska is so great… beyond what I even imagined. 

I can’t believe we’ve been 4 full weeks in Alaska and it really isn’t enough. Maybe another month would have given us time to spend more days in some of the places we only skimmed the surface. 

Alaska’s people… we have found the people we’ve met to be open and friendly. It’s a feeling much like Montana. It’s a very rural state geographically separated by coastal communities, northern tundra communities, square miles of wilderness and really long streets. 

Visit but don’t stay? Ot seems in Montana residents like to argue who has the deepest roots…who’s the “most Montanan”. The claim is you are only a “real” Montanan when you have generations of Montana residency and reject people moving in because they choose too (which is silly btw), I don’t think you can act like that in the young state of Alaska. People in Alaska have moved here from all over the other 49 states and other countries only since 1959 statehood. They move here because they like the rural aspect, the hunting and fishing, the outdoor lifestyle or petroleum, mining and other jobs. Regardless of the reason people live here, the only real Alaskans are the Alaska Native (indigenous), without a doubt. You can’t be more Alaskan than that! I don’t think Alaskan citizens criticize people moving to Alaska. Of course I understand I could be totally wrong but this is the impression I had visiting Alaska. 

Fairbanks first impression. Population 36,000. (90,000 in the borough). We weren’t here but a few hours but it made a good impression on me. I think I like this city. It seems that the University has a solid important role in the community.  It brings a progressive university culture to the area. There’s also a government appearance (Army, Air Force Base) and without seeing it there’s the Alaskan pipeline industry. 

There are 2 rivers (Tanana River (TAN-ah-nah) on the edge and the Chena slough runs through the heart. The Chena is slow moving and tranquil which makes a nice park feeling. I also saw many bicycle trails as we traveled across the city. I have a favorable impression of Fairbanks. Oh… and it feels like summer here… it’s warm! Maybe that’s what I like!

Richardson Highway. We are now driving south on what they call the Richardson Highway. It runs from Fairbanks to Valdez.  

North Pole Alaska. Could there be a better place for a postage stamp on a letter from Santa? The city light posts are striped like candy canes. There’s a park with the original North Pole sign from 1951 planted at “THE” North Pole. It’s really a bedroom community of Fairbanks. I can just imagine it in the dark days of Christmas! 

Tanana River pullout not only had a good view of this big river but the guard rail was entertaining with Sticker shock. 

We crossed a bridge that also had the famous Alaskan pipeline on its own bridge over Tanana River.

Salmon have many names. This confused me so many times.  Signs will call them one name and people the other.

Quick pit stop in Tok to make lunch and go to our favorite Visitor Center. We got some literature on the Tetlin Natl Wildlife Refuge. We planned to make a stop there. 

Back to Boreal forests. Deadman’s Campground Interpretive trail in a taiga (boreal) forest. We learned more about Labrador tea. The Spruce trees are back to tiny sticks. The highway is going through sand dunes in the taiga forest. 

Road conditions. Back to Dodge Driving of potholes and the endless bouncing of frost heaves for a few miles. Then we had really good highway for many miles, then some construction and then more rough roads with orange cones marking dips and hazards. Overall from Fairbanks to the border… very good. 

Unusual things I see…

Hello (again) Canada… Yukon we’re back! The road deteriorated dramatically. 40 mph is good. 

Even though we are back into Canada we are crossing at a different border than before. We are much further south now than Dawson but still on a different highway route that will take us to Whitehorse tomorrow. 

Marshy wetlands. Even though the road was terrible the roadside scenery was really nice. Marshy wetlands with trumpeter swans on both sides of the highway. High hazy mountains in the distance beyond the low boreal forest. 

We found a pullout that had a gravel area to tuck into the trees. This pullout even had pit toilets. It will be just fine. And yes the mosquitos are here waiting for us. Jim cooked dinner tonight on the Blackstone griddle last night in full mosquito armor… including head net. There are 3 other campers here tonight and one more came in in the wee hours of the morning.