The Alaska Highway (Yukon 1) to Whitehorse

Yesterday (August 7), we left the Cassiar Highway behind and started on the Alaska Highway. We stopped for a short hike to stretch our legs and I got this pic of a ptarmigan, which is Alaska's state bird (obviously they exist in the Yukon too). They're really cute, but they're also really stupid. We've seen tons of them just hanging out in the road (both alive and not so much), and they rarely seem to fly across; usually they run. Guys, you've got wings: use them!

As we neared the town of Teslin, we noticed a change in the atmosphere, and sure enough, when we rolled down the windows, it was smoke. It only got worse as we got closer to town, and then we saw a sign to tune to a certain radio station for emergency information. We did, and pulled into a little rest area to listen. Fires are burning on both sides of the Teslin River, it informed us, and people with breathing problems were advised o relocate to Whitehorse. Fortunately, that's where we were headed anyway, but it was pretty scary. Below is what the sky looked like overlooking the town/river; then later as we drove further west, we could actually see the smoke from the individual fires (there are 5 in all). I feel so scared for the people who live there. I don't even know if they have enough resources to fight the fire, since it's so unpopulated.



Just outside the city of Whitehorse (which, by the way, is a "big" city, with a population of 24,000), is Miles Canyon, which is awesome. Here is a scary pedestrian suspension bridge over the thing that moves A LOT when you walk on it:


Me on the scary bridge trying not to panic.


Mom on the bank of the canyon.


Other things we saw on this drive that I didn't get pics of: a red fox running across the road, and later, a horse grazing on the side of the road. It started walking up to our car and everything. Do people not believe in fences or what??

Today we should cross the American border and make it to Tok, Alaska. I'm planning a stop at Starbucks before we leave this town, because who knows when I'll see one again! haha!