B & D's USA Hideout: The Drive South

The start of our sixth leg has arrived. We’ll be traveling south with the Trumpeter swans through Canada and back into the lower 48. We’re trying to finish up our Pacific Northwest tour by visiting all the National Parks in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington.

I met Brian with the trailer in tow in Anchorage. He safely returned home from sea and an all guys weekend spent in Colorado and Utah for an adventurous bachelor party. I've heard some stories but haven't seen much for pictures!

We drove the Alaska Highway, 1382 miles, in its entirety this time taking us in and out of B.C. and the Yukon and then diagonally down and away into Alberta. Alaska couldn't quite let us go without flattening a couple of our tires. Luckily there was a large pull off and the warm sun at our backs as we replaced one tire on the truck and then later a trailer tire. We made it to Tok for some rubber repair and rest from the road. We took care of everything in the morning and then continued on to cross the Canadian border. Shortly after we ventured into the foreign territory, snow came. The second night we slept in Beaver Creek but after that we spent most nights sleeping in pull offs we saw along the way. The highlight of our days and nights on the road was stopping in Watson Lake to put our sign amongst the sign post forest and later going for a midnight swim in Liard Hot Springs. There we witnessed some strange, interesting and comical Canadian interactions. It was just what we needed. The other highlight of the drive was seeing so much wildlife. Bison, Bighorn sheep, elk and Brown bears are pictured below but we also saw a fox, coyote, deer, a black bear, porcupines and numerous grouse.

Before we cross back into the states, we'll be spending a few days in Canada's National Parks Jasper and Banff respectively. We're ready for lots of hiking, sightseeing and snow dodging. Glad to be back!