Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Up, Up and Away to the Top of the World Highway. 

Our morning departure from Dawson City was expedited as the entire caravan had to cross two big rigs at a time via the George Black ferry, part of the Yukon Highway system.  Our wait was short. 
we waited only 15 minutes for the ferry's round trip across the muddy, fast moving Yukon River.  Once aboard the ferry, everyone must remain in their vehicle during the ferry crossing, shut off your vehicle and apply the emergency brake.  We were instructed by our Wagon Master to unhook
our cars before getting on the ferry as there was plenty of room to hook up the towed vehicle across the river.  First I took the car over on the ferry.  Then LeRoy loaded the coach onto the ferry.  Both our trips were smooth sailing across the icy cold river.  We wondered if it would really cost more to build a bridge vs. operate a free ferry service for 6 or 7 months a year?  



After the ferry crossing, we climbed the steep western bank of the Yukon River as we ascended into the mountains. 

We climbed the steep western bank of the Yukon River as we ascended into the mountains.
Unfortunately it was foggy at the top of the hill for a way until the fog lifted above the clouds.  The Top of the World Highway is an alternate route that connects Dawson City and Tok, AK.  We were lucky the route was open as in 2010 it was closed for a while due to washouts.  We missed seeing Dawson City from on high but once we got above the fog ,we saw endless views of the sun bursting through the clouds beneath us as we meandered around the mountain tops and along ridges.  There are mountains and valleys in every direction.  The views were spectacular!  You almost felt like you reached up to touch the face of God.


The roads were better than expected, sure some gravel stretches along with the potholes in the pavement...and then we crossed the US border.  Oh my gosh, what happened to federal highway tax dollars in Alaska?The road was a lane and a half, dirt and hardly in drivable condition.  LeRoy said it was like driving through Nine Mile Swamp 45 years ago...we had to drive on this giant muddy washboard for almost 108 miles. Luckily there wasn't much oncoming traffic.  For when we met a fuel truck, tour buses, campers and even motorists, we stopped to be sure we could pass one another. This highway was built in 1955 and our caravan log warned of "soft shoulders, pot holes, steep drop offs, road switchbacks, hairpin curves, steep grades and narrow road".  And we survived our trip on The Top of The World Highway.

The Chicken Gold Camp in Chicken, AK is all about chicken.  Despite our campground only having 15 or 20 amp electric service, we had a great lunch at the Chicken Creek Outpost.  They had the best chicken tortilla soup I have tasted since I was in Mexico (sorry, couldn't get the recipe.)  Located here is another historic site, the Pedro Dredge.  No tour today as I am all dredged out from yesterday. Just up over the rise from our campground is the Chicken Mercantile Emporium along with the Chicken
liquor store, Chicken Creek Saloon and Chicken Creek Cafe.  Gold miners, who were the original settlers, ate many Ptarmigan (local fowl) and wanted to name the town Ptarmigan after these local birds  .However, no one knew how to spell Ptarmigan. And since they referred to the Ptarmigan as chickens, they named the town Chicken.  

Moose are a common sight and bears occasionally walk right through town.  People really do goldmine here, sort of vacuuming the bottom of the creek for gold. 

Tonight we have a Welcome to Alaska Party and a dessert party.  The Wagon master is making huge baked potatoes ( I have a feeling they are not Yukon Gold Potatoes) for us and we are supposed to bring our favorite potato topping. Then we are having a Chicken history presentation.