MC Raven Ride Report 15 - Juneau to Stewart B.C.

MC Raven Ride Report – Juneau to Stewart BC

I’m not going to say too much about my time in Juneau other than that I spent 3 ½ weeks surrounded by people who truly love me and who I love right back just as much. They know who they are. You were wonderful guys.

Here’s the sign that greeted me as I entered the Mendenhall Glacier Campground.

And, though it was the rainiest July on record, the sun did manage to peek out at least long enough for this picture.

I’ve said it before: ‘When it’s rainy you ask yourself “Why, oh why do I live here?” When it’s sunny you ask yourself “Why does anyone live anywhere else?”’

I caught the ferry (my third ferry so far on this trip) to Skagway and managed to head up over the White Pass and into Canada without getting too wet. I spent the first night camped behind the Teslin RV Park and Gas right next to the bridge – ahhhhh; soft, comfy grass to lay on and, no rain! The bridge is one of those pierced deck metal bridges that sing every time a vehicle crosses over.

From there I continued down the Alaska Hwy to the start of the Cassiar Hwy (Hwy 37) going south into B.C.. At either end of the Cassiar are free campgrounds (in the middle, you just find a road heading off into the woods and go out it until you find a good spot to camp). They call them ‘Recreation Areas’ and, unfortunately, don’t sign them very well. You almost always zoom right past them and have to turn around and go back to find a campsite. It’s almost always worth the trip though. I stayed at the northernmost recreation area (about 30 miles down the Cassiar) for 2 nights; right alongside the river. One of my neighbors was a fly fisherman who maxed out his limit on graylings in just over an hour!

I continued on down the Cassiar to the junction (Meziadin Junction) with the highway that heads over to Stewart B.C, and Hyder, AK. I figured “what the heck? I’ve never been  to Stewart or Hyder before. I’ll go there!”

Here’s a picture of the glacier alongside the highway as you drop down into Stewart, B.C.

I spent 3 nights at the campground in Stewart B.C. It rained the entire time (this became the theme for the entire first half of my travels this summer – RAIN). The only interesting thing that happened other than rain was when a black bear wandered through the campground at breakfast time. All the other campers gathered together (a less generous person than I might suggest that they huddled together). I, on the other hand didn’t like having my breakfast interrupted so, I banged my pots together and shouted “Go Home!” at the bear and, he did. I did have my can of bear spray handy just in case he decided to try to go for my ramen noodles with cheese and summer sausage.

Sadly, I didn’t take many pictures of my stay in Stewart; it was just too rainy and dismal. Finally, on the third day I rode into Alaska and up the dirt highway past the bear viewing area towards the glacier. Rain and cloud covered everything and I didn’t see either bears or glaciers! Turned around and headed back to Stewart vowing to leave the next day.

MC Raven Trip Report 14 - Shane's to Haines

Shane's to Haines

I left Shanes in North Pole in light drizzle. Was in and out of rain til south of Tok. Spent the night at the no fee campground in Northway. Heavy smoke from fires in Copper River Area.

Crossed back into Canada at Beaver Ceek where frequent roadwork  began. I fell in wiith a large group of Harley riders - slow over dirt sections, jumping from one side of the lane to the other to avoid rocks. Caused lots of dust and thrown pebbles to those of us behind. I was glad to be away from them by Kluane Lake!

Luxury accommodations on the south shore of Kluane Lake.

Stayed at campground south of Haines Junction then headed over the pass and down into Haines, AK. My headlight burned out in fog at the top of the pass.

Since I was staying at the campground by Fort Chilkoot I was able to go by the auto parts store and buy a repacement headlight bulb. Following the directions in the owners manual, I unscrewed the cover from the back of the headlight bucket and undid the retainer spring that holds the old bulb in place. The spring sprung and disappeared from this universe. I suspect a micro-black hole sucked it into another dimension. Anyway, to keep the new bulb in place, I stuffed the headlight bucket cap with toilet paper and replaced it. Considering how hot halogen bulbs get, I do have a little concern about fire.

I went to the library in town and via wifi found a replacement retainer spring for $17 plus shipping - all for something that looks like a paperclip that someone twisted into a funny shape during a boring staff meeting.

I caught the ferry to Juneau and arrived about a hour late ue to a delay at Skagway so, it was about 2230 by the time I got off the ship. I went right around the corner to the Auke Rec Campground. This being Juneau, it rained all night.