Fantasy Caravan Day 49 - Destruction Bay, Yukon to Haines, Alaska

On Friday, we drove from Destruction Bay, Yukon Territory, to Haines, Alaska.

When we got up in the morning, there was snow on the mountains just up from our campground.

This was an interesting campground -- just electric hookups (no water or dump station). Our wagon masters told us that previously, the campground owner would serve a feast to the Fantasy guests, but he is dealing with illness and doesn't even answer the phone anymore. It was pretty tight, but fine for an overnight stay.

The roads were much better as we continued on...

.. and we had views over Kluane Lake.

We stopped at Soldier's Summit...

This was the location where "the Alaska Canada (ALCAN) Military Highway was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on blizzardy Nov. 20, 1942. A red, white, and blue ribbon was stretched across the road and 5 U.S. soldiers and 8 RCMP constables in dress uniform lined up facing the ribbon. The ribbon was cut by E.L. Bartlett, then Alaska's voteless delegate to Congress and later Senator, and Canada's Ian MacKenzie, MP from Ottawa, while the 18th Engineers Band played 'God Save the King' and 'The Star Spangled Banner.' A plaque by the parking area was erected during the rededication ceremony held Nov. 20, 1992, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the highway." (The Milepost)

We parked in the large parking area across the road (it was recommended for big rigs) -- you can see Gracie in the center with Kluane Lake just behind from our overlook at Soldier's Summit on the other side of the highway.

This shows the Alaska Highway and the red mark is where we were.

When we got back to Gracie, another couple had parked their camper van just in front of Gracie and were making some hot tea to enjoy by the lakeside. We got to chatting with them (they are from Texas near Houston but located out away from the city), and they were heading north. They had seen a lot of the other rigs in our caravan (who were in front of us).

We had a nice visit and got a quick selfie before heading out!

We continued around the Kluane Lake's Horseshoe Bay --

including crossing Slim's River Bridge.

From The Milepost, 

Slim's River, fed by Kaskawulsh Glacier, flowed into Kluane Lake until 2016, when meltwater from the retreating glacier changed course and flowed into the Kaskawulsh River, "The first known case of 'river piracy' in modern times," according to geoscientist at the University of Washington. The Slim's River was named for a packhorse that drowned here during the 1903 Kluane gold rush.

Another view of Kluane Lake

Interesting info from The Milepost:

Between 300 and 400 years ago Kaskawulsh Glacier advanced across the Slim's River and closed the drainage outlet of Kluane Lake. The water level rose more than 30 feed and the lake's drainage reversed. Water that had flowed south to the Gulf of Alaska carved out a new channel at the northeast end of the lake to connect with the Yukon River system, instead of traveling 140 miles south to the Pacific Ocean, Kluane Lake waters began a journey 10 times longer north to the Bering Sea.

When the waters receded to their present level, the lake's drainage had been permanently altered. The highway crosses what is left of the Slim's River at the south end of the lake. Looking across the lake from the highway, beaches from the former lake levels can be seen on grassy slops up to 40 feet above the present shoreline.

We were seeing views of the snow-covered Kluane Ranges...

... even in the clouds they were beautiful.

After stopping in Haines Junction for fuel, we turned west off the Alaska Highway for a visit to Haines, Alaska.

As we were driving out of Haines Junction, we came upon several folks training on cross-country skis (on wheels) on both sides of the road.

We eventually got back into Alaska (going through customs) and into Haines.

We went into Haines in the early evening for dinner -- the harbor was so pretty!

A long day, but we're looking forward to seeing things from Haines!