Yukon through BC into Washington and Idaho



Another black bear along the road. This one wasnt skittish and we were able to get some good photos.




More moose




Can you see the bear peaking out? He was watching us as we were watching him.




A beautiful blonde colored fox




The series of photos to follow were probably one of the coolest things we saw on the trip. I saw a bear on a hillside and so Mark pulled over so we could watch it. It was about 100 yards away so we were just going to stay a minute but then....




Mark looks across the field and sees this blonde black bear who was wondering toward the black one. About the moment I took this picture the black one was below the blond and the blonde one smelled it. It got up on its honches and took off after the black one.




This is as it was chasing down the hill and I am not sure the black one even knows it is coming at it yet.




The blonde bear chased the black one into a tree that was proabably 50 feet tall (and he climbed it in seconds. Looked like he ran up it)




This is a photo of the black bear backing down out of the tree. We have a video of most of this and if I can figure it out I will post it when we get home. It was AWESOME!!!




Cherries on the trees.
We have been eating cherries from the Okanagen Valley all day. We stopped and got cherries apples and wine. The owner of the little winery told us about a fireworks display so we went. It was the 2nd largest display in Canada, for Canada Day. It was pretty good! 




Grand Cooley Dam




This photo was out of order but it snowed on us a little in BC. Guess it is time to head home!

 The last couple of days have been amazing as far as wild life goes. Lots of bear, moose, and fox. We are making our way home and are all sad about that but we have 2 boys who are anxious to see their cousin, the dog and light fireworks! We will see Marks Gma in Helena and then head home.

Train ride to Skagway

Marcia and Will

Gpa and Adam



One of the small waterfalls




As we arrive in Skagway




The conductor explaining how they turn the train around to Adam





The train stopped at Bennett which is a ghost town from the Klondike Gold Rush days and we had lunch and a short tour. This church is one of the only remaining buildings and it is beautiful.




Some of the train passes made me a little dizzy with the height and the drops but it was fun. I only had to go to the other side of the train and cover my eyes once. The boys went outside for part of these passages (Will was out there almost the whole time)



Some of the train photos from the train ride. Something everyone should do. About a 9 hour day with a lunch stop and breathtaking views. Lots of trussels and tons of waterfalls. I will try to post more of the photos when we have more time. Enjoy!

Sights in and around Atlin BC



The little island in the front is for sale and I think we need to live there!




A beautiful waterfall that was probably a quarter mile long and georgous. This is the top




and the middle.




Adam in some abandoned mining equipment we found as we scoped out the mines.




Alex




We took a tour of Atlin and a riverboat they are restoring. This is taken on the deck.




Trees planted upside down?



Llewellen Glacier

Will standing in front of the Grotto

Gpa Alex and Adam on our hike



Mark and Will on our hike




Alex and Will enjoying the view from the deck at the motel.




more wild flowers ~ they are stunning here



We have spent the last two days in Atlin BC which is a tiny little town they call "The Switzerland of the North" It has amazing views as it sits on a 90 mile long lake surrounded by huge peaks. We took a tour of the town and learned about its history and its people which was really amazing. The entire town is about 330 people and they are really about community. We also took some time to check out some old gold mines and little mines people are trying to make work with the price of gold up. We rounded out our day today with a hike up one of the mountains and enjoyed the 70 + degree weather. I am pretty sold on a move to the little island that is for sale. Now if I can just get a float plane, I will be all set! We will head out in the morning to head back to Alaska on the White pass and Yukon train and then will see Skagway.

Whitehorse, Yukon

 

Adam bought himself a "real camera" and has been busy taking photos ever since.




This must be a boy thing ~ Alex has about 8 photos of this car on my camera




The boys on our tour of the paddle boat "Klondike" It was so fun to get to see all of the ins and outs of one of these boats. Must have been a very exciting time to be a passenger! (and a lot of work if it was your job)




A view of the dam with the Fish Ladder in the fore ground. Interesting place to visit and to learn about how the salmon swim up the fish ladder to avoid the dam.



Visited another Hot Springs in Tahkini. It was fun but didnt even compare to Laird Hot Springs!



Hanging out and cooling off at the hot springs.



Uncle Will and the boys building a fire to cook Reindeer Sausages and Smores.

 

We have had a great time in Whitehorse. It has been relaxing and interesting. Bob, Marcia and Will (Marks family) got here and it has been great having them. (But we wish we had Beth too!) We will take off in the morning for Atlin, British Columbia for a couple of days.

Mat-Su Glacier area, bears, moose and Top of the World Highway

One of the glaciers in the region

Kind of a tradition in Alaska I guess. We saw it all over so we did it too!



Up close with Adam




Mat-Su glacier




Another glacier - not to seem uncaring but I dont have the book with me to tell me the name. They are all amazing!




Either a great horned owl or a Northern Grey. We have to do some research.




Trumpeter swan.




One of the moose mamas and babies we saw. This little lake was just full of moose and they were really fun to watch.




Same mama and baby



Not sure why but most of the rivers looked "chocolate" - Not dirty but deep brown.



The view at the end of the Top of the World highway. A surprise to me but fun.



Us heading across on the ferry



Peregrin Falcon with a mouth full of rodent as it flew over our heads



Grizzlies!



You can see how close we were to these guys. He is right beside the road. A local who stopped also told us these were a couple of cubs as they werent to big. Mark and I about died laughing as we thought they were plenty big!




Our rock hound on a piece of "conglomerate" which is naturally occuring concrete mixed with rock.




Another stunning view across Fox lake I believe.



World Famous Cinnamon Roll- 4 of us didnt finish it.

A sad part of journey came yesterday as we had to leave Alaska and head back into Canada. Mark reminded me though that we will be back in Alaska as soon as we take the White rail Yukon train back in and head to Skagway. That will be next week, so I am letting that ease my pain. :)  The last two days have been amazing again with incredible sights and animals like crazy. The photos show alot of the high lights but really the bears were the stars of the day. We got up close and personal with them as they were right beside us. Obviously they were hungry enough that they didnt even seem to mind us watching. It was pretty cool. The moose are also cool and I love that we are here when they have their babies. Just makes it that much more fun. We will be spending a few days here in Whitehorse and then will head to Atlin. More adventure to come!