Top of the World Highway and Chicken, AK

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Today we head to Chicken, Alaska via the Top of the World Highway.  This drive is supposed to take us 4 hours to go 174 miles to Chicken because it is all gravel/dirt road and bad in many places.  Because of that, we decided to stop at Walker Forks Campground (BLM) which is only 150 miles.

 We started our morning riding the ferry across the Yukon River to Dawson City West.

 From the ferry we could see the Klondike Spirit again.  It was about 9:30 am.

We found this Welcome to Dawson City facade.  We are excited to start our drive via the Top of the World Highway to Walker Fork Campground.

 We saw many of these flowers along the first part of the drive. Aren't they pretty?

More of the Yukon River.  A little hazy but beautiful views.

A panorama from the Top of the World Highway.  I was amazed at what looked like rolling green hillsides.
 

See the road we will be taking.  See the road continue in the upper left corner also.
 

We made it to Alaska!  Below is the building on the Alaska side of the border.

More rolling hills.  Not what I expected to see when on the Top of the World Highway.  Still gorgeous!
 

This is the "highway" not a forest service road.  When it was dirt or gravel it was in the best condition.
 

We have arrived in the community of Chicken, AK.  Above is their mascot. The population of Chicken is 23 in summer and 7 in winter.  They are proud of the fact there is no city services of any kind i.e. electricity, water, sewer. Not even any cell service. Everyone must provide there own electricity either by solar or generator. Everyone has their own water well and outhouses . The RV park uses solar to produce electricity for visitors.

The next 3 pictures of the cafe, saloon and mercantile.  They are actually all connected.

We ate lunch at the cafe.  We both had buffalo chili.  It was very good.  It came with homemade bread that was delicious also.
 

How is this for the restroom...... an outhouse!
 

This metal artwork was outside the RV Park office.

This is Pedro Dredge No. 4 which operated from 1959 to 1967.  Chicken is still an active gold mining town.
 

These are some of the original structures in this town. The tall structure was for food storage. Notice the sod roof. We learned that under the sod is birch bark making the roof waterproof.  The weight of the sod helps compress the logs thereby reducing the draft between the logs. Sod is also a reasonably efficient insulator in cold climate.
 

We decided to stay at Walker Fork Campground (BLM).  We had a nice big mostly level site.  AND it was quiet.  Nice!!
 

This is the Walker Fork of the Jack Wade Creek.  Looks wide for a creek to me.

The water was stained by tannin, but was very clear.

There were a few wild poppies growing around the campground.

After a short rain, this beautiful rainbow came out.

Firewood was free so we ended our day with a wonderful campfire.  Yes the mosquitoes were out so we did have to use repellent.  We still enjoyed the fire.