My Antarctic Blog

 To see my Antarctic blogs of all three stations:

On the right margin, Blog Archive, year list click the year 2020 which was my last winter. My first South Pole blog was in 2013. My first of six Antarctic winters was in 2012 which is not present on this blog.

Back in the United States

 Due to the wildfires and smoke in British Columbia, I drove to Washington State much sooner than I wanted to. I was turned around at the two scenic routes I had planned to drive south. I really miss Alaska and the Yukon.

I visited my brother-in-law, Greg, in Tacoma, WA, and on this day we visited nearby Mt. Rainer to explore this beautiful National Park.

An obstacle course trail.

The summit of Mt. Rainier.

The view of the opposite side of the summit.

One of many glacial runoffs. 


Driving through Seattle is a challenge.

I camped in Mt. St. Helens National Park. All these trees were gone after the eruption in 1980. Beautiful and long bridge over a new forest.

                            The north face was blown out.

                                Camping in Seaside, Oregon.

I took many short hikes along the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California. After Alaska and the Yukon, it wasn't as exciting but still pretty.

Several coastal views from Oregon and California.

Stayed at a vineyard for the night. I was the only one there.

Back in Ventura County, California where I grew up. I have always wanted to camp at Rincon Beach so I did...

...along with a hundred or so of my friends!

The day ended great!

A visit with my mom and dad.

                            My family has been in Spain for a wedding.

Exploring the Chilkoot Trail and Driving the Cassiar Highway back into British Columbia

 

After two days of heavy rain and wind, I was finally able to explore with my bike.

                        A series of three pictures of Skagway.

I drove over to the old Dyea Townsite which was the start of the Chilkoot Goldrush Trail.

This is what it looked like in 1898.

This is the same view today. Since the harbor was so shallow a two mile long wharf was built where ships were moored, then it was a two mile walk while unloading the ships. Parts of the wharf still exist. 

The 1,000 foot Scales at the summit was also called the Golden Staircase.

I hiked a few miles in. But it was posted that the trail was closed because a bridge was out. When open many people hike this trail in 5 days.

Two trails of the Klondike Goldrush to Dawson City, Yukon territory. One from Dyea and the other from Skagway.

I am out of Alaska and the Yukon and back in British Columbia. They say that when it starts consistently raining in Alaska that winter is coming.

A friend recommended the beautiful Cassiar Highway for an exit plan to leave Canada. 

I spent a few nights boondocking (free camping) along the 500 miles of trees and waterways.

This was my view from Belle's kitchen of a beautiful valley as I was cooking one evening.

                        It was a very narrow road. I just took it slow.

A few weeks ago I started noticing a dull pain on the left side of my upper jaw. Then while chewing gum a crown came off my last upper tooth. A few days later I had plans to spend several more days exploring another interesting part of BC with a very large glacier and fjord then the pain kicked in. At this point, I drove 100 or so miles to get cell reception then started to call several dentists along the road I had planned to exit BC on. None of the dental offices were taking walk-ins. Then at Watson Lake, I asked the Chamber of Commerce if there was a dentist in town. I was told if traveling west the closest was in Whitehorse, Yukon at 500 miles, and to the east in Dawson Creek (the beginning of the AlCan that I previously drive through) at 1,000 miles! So I drove south to get better cell phone service. I contacted a dentist who had a cancellation the next day in the city of Prince George, BC. I set out on a 600-mile drive and 13 hours later I was in Prince George. Two of the roots were infected. So the tooth was extracted. Enough said.

After an hour out of Prince George, I pulled over for the night.
When I was stepping out of Belle the next morning I heard a noise and looked up to find this scared bear. He must have been walking by Belle and heard me cooking breakfast and scurried up this tree.  

At a rest stop in BC with washrooms. But I do miss the pit toilets.

 

Canadian money seems so smart as there are coins for $1 and $2 called a Looney and a Toonie.

Plus the Canadian currency is a lot more artistic. 

                                            Bear in the tree video.