The Last Frontier?

Leaving Squamish was hard but the open road and unbealivable camping helped us get over it. The drive through British Columbia was the best we have had since leaving Minnesota. The first day started off a little slow (see picture below) but soon we were traveling at our comfortable speed of 54mph. This drive is certainly daunting but if you do the math: 2,200 (miles from Vancouver to Anchorage) divided by 54mph equals only 41 hours. Not bad we thought. If we were to drive straight through (which, no way josé) it would only take us two days.

Unfortunatly due to road construction, long stretches of rough gravel, pit stops, lunch breaks, short hikes, sleeping in, and renting canoes we actually averaged about 43mph. So 2,200 divided by 43 is 51 hours of driving. Sheesh!

No problemo. Luckily we were equipt with 20 hours of daylight everyday and about a dozen books on CD (thank you Brittnie Rosen). Those two things combined with the most beautiful driving in the entire world made for a very enjoyable six days. Soon we were at the Canada / US boarder entering Alaska where we admitted to having an illicit item on board: a tomato.

Boarder lady, "Now you can either give it to me or eat it."
Us, "We'll eat it."
Boarder lady, "Ok, but seriously, you really have to eat it."
Us, "We will."
Boarder lady, "Ok, go ahead."

What!?  Where's the strip search?  The interegation about how we have enough money to travel, we must be drug smugglers right?  Where was the intimidating K-9 unit that did a few circles around the car?  The huge X-Ray machine that you drive through capable of penetrating the solid steel components of your vehicle, but that somehow is completely safe for humans?

Where are we - a land of pink fluffy bunnies and rainbows!?  Boarder people aren't supposed to TRUST anyone, Mexico taught us that. What a bizarre experience. Maybe that is why Alaska is called the last frontier. It's the last frontier of people not being completely jaded by the emotional sterility of civility...for now.

Regardless of what their liscense plates claim, the real frontier days of the "rough'n it" life style seem to be fleeting.  The old gold panners are gone as are the original homesteaders who built their cabins without electricity, or nails, or mortages, or realators, or building codes.  Gone are the days where you just head into the wilderness with your donkey and a year's supply of salted pork and make a life for yourself.

Sure, there are millions upon millions of acres of wilderness where you could venture unprepared and face death. But the same could be said for Yosmite or Yellowstone where people die every year from bears and being swept away in swollen rivers (clearly marked by fences) and they don't call those places the last frontier.

Fact: No one has ever been killed by a bear in Denali National Park. Either the people who go camping in Denali are smarter or the bears have enough resourses so are less tempted to attack. Maybe both.

Even Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, has a boringly low death rate ever since they fixed ropes to the top and staffed a high-altitude ranger camp at 14,200ft ready to rescue the underly prepared and overly ambitious.  The consequenes just aren't what they use to be.

Anyway it has been a real treat typing this up for those of you who read our blog. (I love and adore you by the way, you are way cooler than people who don't read our blog... don't tell them I said that ;-) )

Jon developed a small amount of road rage during this 10mph event.

Very exciting.

The best driving scenery for sure.

Also best camping scenery.

Would we like to rent a canoe for 1/2 day for $20???? -----YES!

The coolest coffee shop in the Yukon.

"Hey Jon check it out, my jacket matches the sign!"

Hello Alaska. 

Who would have thought you could find such good Thai food in Tok?

The Chickaloon Post Office.

We met an amazing couple while camping in Moab who invited us to come to Alaska and stay in their cabin.  As we got closer and let them know we would be accepting their offer they informed us, "Unfortunately we are away for a few weeks but go ahead and make yourselves at home until we return." Can do :-)