French Creek, BC to Whitehorse, Yukon (290 miles)

After heading off from our campground by the Dease river alongside the Cassiar Highway we joined the Alaskan Highway. It is also known as the ALCAN which was the military name for the Alaska-Canada military highway which was completed in 1942 but not open to the public until 1948. The road was punched through the wilderness by the military to counter concern about those pesky japs. It seems a bit unfair to the Canadians as aboot 1000 of the 1500 miles of the Alaskan Highway is in Canada!

The ALCAN is also great for spotting Caribou from the highway!


After a few stops at random hamlets to try to top up the propane tank, we arrived in the relative metropolis of Whitehorse which is the capital of the Yukon Territory. (Heather told me to stop faffing about looking for propane until I explained how we heated the campervan, after which she agreed it was worth it!).

Whitehorse, Yukon to Kathleen Lake, Yukon (150 miles)

After a later start from Whitehorse we were back on the Alaska Highway (yes, there was a hangover involved, but also a run around the city). This stretch of road from Whitehorse was listed in the guide book as ‘a bit dull’, but we thought the views as we approached the Kluane National Park were stunning – maybe it pissed down with rain for them or they were in a bad mood!

We are ahead of schedule on the miles so we decided on another detour into Alaska from Canada, this time to Haines, AK. After turning off from Haines Junction heading for Haines, we pulled in at Kathleen Lake. The disadvantage of traveling at this time of year is that the campgrounds are mostly closed. The advantage of traveling at this time of year is that no one cares where you park up and sleep. So we nabbed a spot right by the lake for the night, next to the no camping sign in the day use area.


Kathleen Lake, Yukon to Haines, AK (120 miles)

Probably our shortest drive so far but it was one of the most scenic ones. We headed down highway 3 to Haines, passing over the Chilkat and Guardsman passes. The road was ploughed and good but judging by the height of snow I wouldn’t like to be here in bad weather!


The lonely planet guidebook raves about Haines – mainly because it dodges the cruise ship traffic which leaves it with a distinct lack of t-shirt shops! There are plenty of options out of town for free camping spots but that would have involved a stagger back from the local brewery, so we splashed out on a camping spot down by the waterfront in town.