Dunfey Alaska Journey

We left Tok and drove to the northern entrance to Wrangell-St Elias Park.

Along the way, we stopped for a couple of short hikes. A park ranger suggested we take one trail and handed us a bear spray can just in case we ran into a brown bear that had been spotted in area.

When we got there, we parked our rig at a campsite in Porcupine Campground and went to the Slana Ranger station. The people there were very helpful and offered us coffee. We found out that the 1st 26 miles of Nabesna road had a fairly good road surface. We were advised not to go the rest of the way since our car was too low to the ground. Two days later, we ignored this advice and paid the consequences. The lead ranger mentioned there was a good primitive campsite at the six mile mark. We decided to take a drive down to that campsite to check it out.

As we started into the park, we saw a confederate flag flying over a wooded section. We later met the true Alaskan who owned the property. He had cut his thigh with a chain saw. He let us know how independent and self dependent he was! He started the Slana Alaskans Unite Movement.

MILEPOST PHOTO SHOOT

We loved the campsite at 6.1 miles into park on Nebesna Road. It had a picnic table and fire ring. The site was set back into the woods with Rufus Creek running just behind it.

There was no water source other than the creek and no outhouse. There was also no cost for staying here.

We set up camp. We collected wood which was readily available, started a campfire and sat around fire with our wine and cheese before our evening meal.

After a few minutes, a trucker camper came up the road and stopped next to the entrance to our campsite. We walked over to let the people know that we could move our car to make room for them to stay. They said they came to take our pictures for Milepost Travel Guide!

The woman was a photographer for the Milepost. She wanted to take pictures of peopel camping at this site since it was one of the best camping spots in the Alaskian interior. She proceeded to take photo’s of our camper, the creek and us having our wine around the camp fire.

Milly and I looked at each other and laughed. We are in the middle of no where.

The Milepost is the Alaskan Travel Guide that everyone buys who drives to British Columbia, Yukon and Alaska. It gives you information about camp sites, fuel stops, attractions along each highway. It is indespensible. Now, Milly and Fred maybe in next years issue or the corresponding newsletter!

HIKE

The next morning, we hiked the Caribou Trail – 7 mile round trip located about 20 miles into the park.

TO END OF NABESNA ROAD!

The following day we planned on paddling twin lakes at the 26 mile mark. When we got there, the access road was far too rutted for us to get though. We decided to drive to the first creek fording location to see if we could get across and perhaps drive to the end of the Nabesna Road. When we got there, we checked the depth of the water. We decided to give it a try. The first crossing was really two separate crossings.

We had to cross two other locations before we got to the end of the road. The views were great and different as the valley narrowed. What we found at the end of the road was a small airport and B&B rustic style. We turned around and went back. The 46 miles back dragged.

We knew the rear end of car had hit the rocked creek bottom a couple of times during out creek crossings. We discovered that the hitch electrical connection was now parallel to the ground instead of perpendicular. When we got back to camper, we tried to make the connection. It wouldn’t fully engage. Fred adjusted some connection points and we were ok. We now have an improved connection configuration.

Milly has stated there will be no more adventureous driving!

We decided to go to Valdez on the 4th of July. After Valdez, we will go to McCarthy at end of the southern entrance road into the park. We are going to stay at a lodge there for 2 days. We plan on leaving our camper at a primitive campsite