Sunday, September 17, 2017 – Glennallen to Lakeview Campsite (50 miles east of Tok, AK)

The weather gods were with us today!  We awoke to clear weather.  The sky was semi-cloudy, but the sun was shining on the mountains.  Our decision the knock-off early yesterday, paid-off.  We returned north on the Richardson Highway to the Denali Highway.  The mountains were clear and in the sunshine.  We drove west on the Denali Highway again.  We thought we would just go until the pavement stopped (28 miles), but then we did go another 7 miles to get the photos we wanted! 

Beautiful Lake Reflections

The Alaska Range

Hunters were returning home today, by the masses, and a few had racks on top of the vehicle.  When we stopped for a cup of coffee at one of the only places open along the Denali Highway, the waitress said the hunters did not do well this year.  She said there were a lot of frustrated hunters going home today.

We retraced our way back to the Richardson Highway and turned north to return to Delta Junction.  It is interesting when traveling in one direction, you do not see what is behind you.  By returning on the same road we were able to see the   sights from the other direction.  This has happened to us several times on this trip.  We drove the opposite direction from which we went in 1999.

In Delta Junction, we drove east on the Alaska Highway toward Tok. East of Delta Junction we turned off the main highway for about 5 miles.  We had read how Delta Junction was a very agricultural area, settled by Midwest farmers in the 1930’s.  Off the main road to found huge fields, herds of cattle and a herd of American Bison. 

The Pipeline

Our only Moose to date

A Bison Farm

East of the Junction, way out ahead, Cal saw a moose crossing the road.  By the time we reached him, he was into the trees, but we drove down a narrow road to an open field, and sure enough the moose had walked through the wooded area to the open area.  We were able to get photos of him.

In Tok we ate an early supper at Fast Eddies – We continued east, not sure where we would stop for the night.  All of a sudden, Cal saw a black bear.  He scooted into the wooded area, but we have a photo of his face, as he was looking through the trees at us.  After approximately 50 miles we stopped at a campsite along a lake. The photos of the sunset over the lake are great, plus, we saw a beaver swimming in the lake. There is evidence the beaver has been active in our campground, cutting down trees. 

Another Bear

Reflections in the lake near our camp site