Alaska Highway: 1

Murray filling up amid snowflakes

A few snowflakes build up...

Boy, it hasn't stopped snowing

A nice rustic scene - quite bucolic really Gem

The day cleared to fine & sunny

Marie took this photo of us ahead of them en route to Fort Nelson

Uh, oh - they warned us some parts of the highway would be like this

A female elk on the side of the road

Day 1: After a glorious day yesterday, we were stunned to be greeted by snowflakes when we awoke in Dawson Creek this morning! Undeterred, we filled up the petrol tank - all 75 gallons worth - and headed North to Alaska. Marie & Eric were following behind us, and took some photos of us on the road which we have never had before. One of the advantages of driving with friends. The snowflakes were only flurries as we left Milepost 0, but the snowfall got heavier as we went north, then cleared up. By the time we pulled into our stop at Fort Nelson around 4pm, there were patches of blue sky & sunshine. However, it is supposed to get down to below freezing tonight.

Betsy, for your information, remember to top up with gas when you can. Several gas stations are marked on the maps, but when we passed them today, they were closed. I think the financial crisis & high gas prices may have resulted in the reduced Alaska highway traffic, and consequently we have noticed several businesses en route to be closed.

The only moose we saw today was a dead one on the side of the road, but we did see a coyote and an elk. The snow on the landscape made for a very pretty route. We enjoyed the whole drive today, and look forward to lunching at Muncho Lake (appropriate place for lunch) tomorrow, and then spending the night at Liard Hot Springs.