On up to Haines Junction and closer to the Alaska border

Day 5 was a continuim along the Alcan through Haines Junction and on up closer to the Alaska border. The road from Haines Junction was full of frost heaves the entire way which made it feel like I was on a bunking bronco for well over 100 miles. I talked with some motorcycle riders and one point that said it was close to terrifying at times and an older gentlemen in a minivan who thought he had broke his front suspension more than once. Fortunately I didn't have the same experience as they had, none the less it nearly wore me out getting bounced all over the place for hours on end. When I finally finished that section I sais to myself, "Sign me up for the pro rodeo tour, I'm ready!"

I was however treated to nearly two hours of what I've heard photographers call "god's light" along the way that evening. It made for an almost magical and ethereal experience with all the incredible lighting of the St. Elias range as I travelled around Destruction Bay and Kulane Lake.

Looking south to the north slopes of the St. Elias mountains in Wrangel St. Elias National Park.

Destruction Bay got its name from a severe storm that destroyed most of the buildings in a supply camp for the Alcan Highway contstruction in the 1940's.

One of the indications that things are a bit bigger up here. There are multiple peaks over 15,000 and 16,000 feet in Alaska, capped off by Mt. McKinley in Denali National Park at 20,310'.