Top of the World Highway (Dawson City,YT - Tok, Alaska)

June 21, we left the campground early because we had to get in line for the free, but small ferry, to take us across the Yukon River. We arrived at 7:20 AM and only 5 campers were in line ahead of us. The ferry could hold only several cars and RVs and took about 30 minutes for a round trip. The wait could be as long as 3 hours, but ours was only 1 ½ hr wait. Then the fun began. Our plans were to take us over the Top of the World Highway to the U.S. border and Alaska.

We had been told to expect a dusty, rough, narrow, gravel, washboard road. They weren’t kidding! It was very slow going-usually 25-30 mph and it took us 4 hrs. to cover 130 miles. The rough washboard roads were due able if we went slow, but Pris DID NOT APPRECIATED the narrow, winding, drop offs. There was no way for 2 large vehicles to pass each other. Luckily, through these stretches, we did not meet a truck or big rig. The views were pretty spectacular with many tundra covered rolling mountains. Most of the time we were above the tree line. The skies were a bright blue and you could see for a 100 miles.

There wasn’t a lot of traffic on the road, but it did create a LOT of dust. So each time a vehicle came by, we closed the windows and the vents. The poor rig and CRV have never been this dustier.

No problems crossing the border (an isolated outpost up in the mountains). It’s only open from 8 AM to 8 PM and you can’t cross except during those hours. No questions this time about meat, fruit or liquor. We did consume all of these before we left.

We passed Chicken, AK (the residents wanted to name it ptarmigan, but no one could spell it, so they picked Chicken instead, or so the story goes). We arrived here about noon (having turned back our clocks one hour for Alaska Time) and decided it was too early to stop. So we pushed on to Tok, AK.

We picked the highly recommended Sourdough Campground because it had large spaces with trees in between. After picking our site, we headed for the RV/car pressure wash and took off a heavy coat of dust. Most RV parks have these washing stations, and they are heavily used. After that, we wiped down the inside of the rig.

The RV park offered all you could eat sourdough pancakes with reindeer sausage and then in the evening reindeer chili in a warm sourdough bread bowl. (And you though we picked this place for the trees.)

Tok is a very small town (1800 people) with one grocery store, a few campgrounds and motels, but has a wonderful visitor’s center with lots of information about Alaska. This is usually the first town that people hit in Alaska, whether you come over the Top of the World Highway, or if you come up the Alaska Highway (easier).

We are surprised at the warm weather here. It’s in the high 70’s or low 80’s. We remember drizzling, cool weather from our two past trips to Alaska, but then we were mainly on the coast.

There are forest fires in Alaska every summer, and this summer is no exception. We haven’t seen any yet, but we understand that there are fires on the Kenai Peninsula and also near Homer. We will continue to check in with the toll free number about road closures and possible fires.