Rosen Blog: Adventures in the Far North.

Near Tok, Alaska we drove north on the Taylor Highway to Chicken, Alaska. Chicken has no electric, water or sewer service, but it has a post office and an airstrip. The twice weekly mail plane is the only way to get to Chicken in the winter, when the road is not maintained. Early gold miners wanted to name their settlement Ptarmigan, but were unable to spell it and settled instead for Chicken. From Chicken the Top of the World Highway (a gravel road) leads over the border to Dawson City. We enjoyed the views above tree line on the “top of the world”. Dawson City has a western movie ambiance with dirt streets and wood boardwalks. We stayed in the public campground across the Yukon River from Dawson and took the free ferry to see Dawson. We “happened” to visit the cabin of Robert Service while a Parks Canada costumed interpreter was giving a presentation on the life of Robert Service. We also visited Jack London’s cabin. These authors played a part in growing my sense of adventure as a youth. On our second day we left camp at 1 AM to cross the river and drive up Midnight Dome where we viewed the beautiful northern lights. When we left Dawson I decided to take a 3 day side trip on the Dempster Highway for 252 miles one-way to the Arctic Circle. When we reached the Arctic Circle Barb asked “Where’s the gift shop”. The Dempster is a gravel road with some sharp stones in the road surface. After a cracked windshield and 3 flat tires I asked why? The lesson I’m learning is to be joyful in all circumstances. And to never drive the Dempster again. Our second trailer tire flat was a slow leak and by pumping air every 5 miles we drove 20 miles to the Tombstone Mountain Park Visitor Center. There we left the trailer and drove 44 miles one-way to the nearest service center to get our flat tires fixed. Our trip is enjoyable but it does have its challenges. We were never so happy to get back on a paved road. We continued south to near Whitehorse, where we spent an enjoyable 3 days at Takhini Hot Springs campground and pool. Near Whitehorse, at Fireweed RV Services we had our trailer issues of a broken water pump, slide out motor that didn’t work and a broken power converter repaired under warranty coverage. Yea! Tonight we are at an RV park in Teslin. Tomorrow we’ll drive south on the Alaska Highway and then take the Cassiar Highway.