You read it here…last. I can’t say we are breaking a news story here.
We rolled into Dawson Creek and got the details of the road closure at the visitors center. It read as follows: “road closed, update noon tomorrow”. We asked for a few more details and found that road was closed many hundred miles ahead and the washout didn’t look like something they’d just fix overnight.
The debate in the parking lot at the visitors center was if people should wait it out or go around. We opted to go forward to Fort St. John for the night and then head back down and around. This would mean to keep on track for our plans in Skagway, we’d need to add 10 hours to our 3 day drive.
The new route is the Stewart–Cassiar Highway. While it’s a shorter route to Alaska, it’s not always faster given the road conditions and weather. I’m not saying this is the shorter route for us as, well, we’re already on the Alaska Highway. It’s not a BAD road, it’s just not good for much of the 600 miles. We managed to rattle many things apart in the trailer over 2 days on the road, but nothing broke that couldn’t be put back together. Basically I’d say it’s like driving on about any road in Idaho, but for hundreds and hundreds of miles. 40mph is probably all faster anyone should ever go with frequent slams on the brakes for potholes, bumps, ditches, gravel sections, cracks?, and wildlife. Parts of the road were good enough for 100…kph. Teaser, this isn’t the worst road we’ve driven, but you’ll have to wait a few more weeks to hear about that adventure.
At the end of the first day on the Cassiar, I noticed one of the tires was low and opted to just put air in it and see what happens. We stopped in a rest area for the night to enjoy the thunderstorms and mosquitoes. No chance I was working on anything but a FLAT tire here. At lunch the second day I checked on the tire and found the issue…screw. Lucky for us we were near a repair shop. Probably one of 3 on the whole highway. At this point the screw was causing a full on leak and flat was only minutes away. I think the large ditch just outside of Dease Lake did the last pounding in of the screw. Charlie’s Repair shop got us in and out in under 2 hours which we were very thankful for! I was also not keen on the idea of going on using the spare….without a spare.
We drove to the far edge of the Cassiar highway and spent the night in a pullout with other travelers. The forest in the area had burned in 2011 and 2012. It made for an interesting landscape. The mosquitoes were so thick it was hard to breath without sucking one in. The constant buzz was rather concerning.
Early the next day we were back on the road and back on the Alaska Highway to our reservation at Caribou RV park outside of Whitehorse Yukon Territory.
If this bump in the road sounds like the rough part so far, just wait for the details of our next day(s). It’s a real lesson in being prepared and being prepared to learn a lesson. I think Heather has something to say about these issues.
Damage to date:
- Broken windshield (expected)
- Flat trailer tire (expected)
- Sun burns x3 (I mean the sun is up quite a bit)
- Mosquito bite x400 (come on these can be BAD)
- Skinned knuckle x2 (best way to lean how not to do things)
- Ruined underwear x… (Cassiar highway twists and turns)
Interesting “facts”
- Gas got cheaper as we got away from the US boarder. Odd
- Gas is 5-8 bucks a gallon, if you can get it. Often 87 only. Expect lines, so plan for snacks and a pee break. BYOB(athroom) because one often isn’t provided. BIG towns have gas.
- The weather, even in the Yukon, is NICE. 80 for the high, MAYBE 40 for a low. Crisp morning with warm sun by the time I bust the door open on the aluminum can we live in.
- KPH is a scam to make you think you are driving FAST. Look! We’re going 110!!! Aka 65mph. BUT at these gas prices, 80kph works fine.
- If you see a gas pump without a line, they aren’t open or don’t have gas. If you see a gas pump with a line, get gas.
- What’s more rare than empty tanks, full gas tank, and smooth pavement? Internet service greater than 1mbps. Days with no cell coverage is common.
- 2600 miles so far; Skagway, Alaska.
The exciting part is that when we rolled into Caribou RV park on schedule after rolling hundreds of extra miles, the Alaska Highway was reopened due to a miracle rerouting to the old section of Alaska highway nearby. Really an innovative solution that saved the “season” for many. Lesson- Don’t sell yourself short on solving problems. Don’t sell other short either.
