Cruising the highways

We left Alaska and its wilderness and solitude on our way to Vancouver. We had to make a big detour as wild fires were raging  in central British Columbia (BC). Good for us as it allowed us to visit  two canadian national parks : Jasper and Banff. Northern BC is covered with green pine forest , central BC  is more farms, ranches land  (very dry lately) and as we drove toward Vancouver on the coast , we went from dry to wet coastal  green hills. Kluachon lake, northern BC Jasper NP Jasper NP Peyto Lake with changing color under the passing  clouds After 2 km hike... Explanation We were not alone... Kamloops lake Floating timbers  Dry Fraser river down the canyon  Pacific coast just North of Vancouver We are in Vancouver for  three days then we will sail ( ferry) to Vancouver Island  and then back to US.. .

Homer Harbour Fishing boat retrieving Trans Alaska pipe line terminal Valdez, Price William Sound  Downtown Seaward Water powered grinding wheel : Moose Pass

The Kenai Peninsula is south of Anchorage. It has it all: Beaches, fishing streams, ice fields, glaciers, mountains and a lot of history. Russian orthodox colonists were traders, trappers, soldiers and churchmen and came to coastal Alaska as early as the 17th century. The US purchase the state of Alaska  from the Russian Empire in 1867. Many villages have russian  name and russian is still spoken in some area of the Kenai Peninsula Alaska density: 1.3 habitant per square mile.... Halibut catch Local Alaskans  dip netting in  the Kasilof  river just north of Ninilchik At the campground, free catch of the day Take two ! Local fisherman checking the tide table. After all, we are in bear country... Orthodox church Katchemak Bay Homer,  Worthington glacier

On our way to Anchorage, we stopped by the river Susitna to enjoy three days of relaxation. Yes, driving most of the time, visiting a lot of places is sometimes tiring !   Relaxing Wasilla, home of the Iditarod Trail sled dog race headquarters: 1000 miles race from Anchorage to Nome Anchorage , largest city in Alaska where 40% of the population of the state congregate. With the short summer season , Alaskans are fond of  flowers and green lawn. 4th of July celebration,with a colorful downtown parade. Did not see the firework as the nights are very short ( 4.1/2 hr) and not that dark.

Going south  (400 + milers) toward the Kenai Peninsula, we visited a very smal portion of the Denali National Park. To quote the pro: Six million acres of lakes, tundra, peaks and wildlife dominated by North America's highest peak and interrupted only by a single 90 mile road.  We did only 33 M of it. Denali formally Mount Mckinley top at 20.310 ft (6.190m). We saw in the park  dall sheep, caribou, fox, , bears and moose but could not see the wolves. We were lucky that day to see the Denali, it could hide in the cloud for days  Denali National Park Bus ride only, as no car are allowed pass the 12 miles marker One lane up the mountain pass at 3695 ft  Don't give me five.... Grizzli 9' tall Caribou Grizzli Moose nursing calf Lots of hiking trails On 6/29, there was 179  climbers on the mountain by temperature well below freezing and howling wind.  ...