Tripping with MikenJudy 2012: Whitehorse, YT to Fairbanks, AK

Two days after leaving Whitehorse, we arrived in Tok, Alaska and were surprised by the great welcoming they had for us. The highway through town was lined with many people and we waved at them, but they paid us no attention. Really, they were waiting for the July 4^th parade to start and we were the last vehicle they allowed through. On the way we finally encountered the feared permafrost damaged sections of highway (frost upheavals and potholes in the road) for a 200 mile stretch, on and off. At one point for 5 miles we were going 15-30 miles per hour. Damaged areas are marked with red flags on both sides of the road. It is still rainy and in the 40’s. Late morning we were following two California rigs. They would pass us, and then we’d meet up again later and do the same thing all over again. At a gas stop, they were there also, so Mike asked where in California they were from. They both are from Bakersfield, one living by Calloway and Snow and the other one not too far from there. This afternoon was the beginning of the satellite radio losing its signal, and then getting it back.

The next two days we stayed at Tok, AK which was a staging point for the construction of the Alaskan Highway. When it was finished they created a town and named it after a worker’s dog. Their claim to fame is having recorded the lowest Alaska temperature of 86 below. They are unique for having no local government, no taxes, and as they proudly proclaim - NO ATTORNEYS. At 7pm each evening the campground had a great show in their pavilion. The entertainers were a brother (16) and sister (17) known as Alaska Sweetgrass and Dave Stancliff. It was a very enjoyable hour, with their favorite song titled “If you can’t take a joke, don’t live in Tok.

We took a day trip to Chicken, AK, a former gold mining town. The story goes that the miner’s wanted to name the town after the Ptarmigan (the State bird), but since no one knew how to spell it, they settled on Chicken. There are three stores with a public poop house, not an out-house.

The next day we stopped at the Rica Roadhouse and toured the buildings. In 1904, entrepreneur Ben Bennett built a trading post and roadhouse to provide travelers, miners and trappers with supplies and shelter. Swedish-born Rika Wallen ran the business and bought the roadhouse in 1923 for $10. It was open year-round, catering to travelers in the summer and locals in the winter. She raised livestock and grew vegetables and fruits, which allowed her to serve fresh produce, eggs, milk and meat. Rika ran the roadhouse until the mid-1940s; she died in 1969 and is buried on the grounds.

Hours down the road we spotted a moose. FINALLY! He crossed the road right in front of us. The sun was shining most of today, how nice! It was even in the 70°s when we arrived in Fairbanks.