Haines Junction, Yukon Territory to Haines, Alaska

Haines, Alaska is on the ocean, at the top of Lynn Canal (which is actually a huge fjord). It’s only 15 miles by ocean from Skagway (which is also on Lynn Canal), but it's 359 miles by land.

Haines Junction is in the Yukon Territory, on the Alaska Highway. It was a construction site when the highway was built and is now the headquarters for Kluane National Park. It is a 233 km drive down the Haines Highway to get to Haines, Alaska.

We had hoped for some scenic views on the drive but it rained all the way and the clouds were so low that sometimes they were lower than the highway! It’s too bad we weren’t able to see more as it is supposed to be really scenic with the high peaks of the Kluane National Park along the west side of the highway and other mountains on the east.

We did enjoy all the dark pink fireweed in the ditches and the impressive rivers.

The rivers are flowing fast and look really full (that makes sense since they start with melting glaciers).

We went through the Chilkat mountain pass, a piece of British Columbia and ended with a fairly steep, long decline to the Chilkat River which drains into Lynn Canal. We saw a few people fishing and a couple of fish wheels on the Chilkat River, but it seems the salmon aren’t running yet here. Fish wheels rotate slowly, with the current, and scoop up any fish that swim into it. These ones are catching fish to be tagged and released but the natives are still allowed to use them for fishing.

We drove past the 48,000 acre Bald Eagle Preserve but didn’t stop due to the rain. I did see one sitting on a dead tree branch. They sure are huge birds! In the fall, about 3,000 bald eagles come to the preserve along the Chilkat River.

The Haines Highway is really good except for a 21 km section which is under repair in B.C. The pavement has been stripped and gravel/oil laid down.

The Oceanview RV Park in Haines, our home for the next three nights, is small and there is barely enough room for us to back in. However, the view is fabulous and the owner/manager is really nice. She organized a crab feast/potluck supper for tonight that we were happy to get in on.

We look out on the ocean and have seen a bald eagle fly by. Apparently whales and other sealife are seen from time to time as well. There are a few cruise ships here each week but it isn’t anywhere near as ‘touristy’ as some Alaskan towns we’ve been to. There was one cruise ship here today. We could see it out our front window:

As I write this blog, we are watching cruise ships sail down Lynn Canal. They must be coming from Skagway. It is fairly dark so the lights of the ships look really pretty. We are noticing the days getting shorter as we travel south and the calendar advances. Soon we won’t have to double-cover the windows in order to sleep!

It rained most of the day but after setting up, we went for a short bike ride uptown (it is uphill, unfortunately) to pick up a few things from the grocery store and get oriented.

Supper was great! We each got a big crab and the potluck selection was a good complement. The crabs were delicious (fresh off the boat this afternoon).

I made a pecan pie last night which disappeared in a hurry. I never got a piece, but Fran made sure he did. This is Joyce, the owner/manager, showing us how to eat crab! LOL

The forecast is for more rain for the next few days – I sure hope not as it isn’t much fun sight-seeing by bike in the rain.