Reset search
Alaska trip 2024Alaska trip 2024
Edit route

Alaska trip 2024

June - August 2024
Starting out for Alaska with the teardrop camper June 1, 2024. Will drive there and back Read more

List of countries

  • Italy
  • Canada
  • United States
Categories
Camper, Camping, Family, Nature, Wildlife
  • 40.7kmiles traveled
Means of transport
  • Flight-kilometers
  • Walking-kilometers
  • Hiking-kilometers
  • Bicycle-kilometers
  • Motorbike-kilometers
  • Tuk Tuk-kilometers
  • Car-kilometers
  • Train-kilometers
  • Bus-kilometers
  • Camper-kilometers
  • Caravan-kilometers
  • 4x4-kilometers
  • Swimming-kilometers
  • Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
  • Motorboat-kilometers
  • Sailing-kilometers
  • Houseboat-kilometers
  • Ferry-kilometers
  • Cruise ship-kilometers
  • Horse-kilometers
  • Skiing-kilometers
  • Hitchhiking-kilometers
  • Cable car-kilometers
  • Helicopter-kilometers
  • Barefoot-kilometers
  • 84footprints
  • 92days
  • 641photos
  • 366likes
FollowCalendarShareBucket list
Newest first
  • Alaska trip 2024
    1

    Pre-trip camping

    May 30–Jun 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    We are camping at Vedauwoo Campground, 8,300 ft above sea level, before the trip. Last night we slept on our old foam camping mattress on the apartment floor. It was from Boise when we still had the van. It wasn't too comfortable so we decided to take the camper up to the campground about 15 miles from Laramie in the Medicine Bow Pole Mountain area.

    It's pretty windy, but very beautiful. It's cool at about 60 degrees. In the morning, we'll take the car to be serviced and in the early afternoon check out of our apartment.

    My last week of school/work, I got an award from my department called the "Conveyor of Wisdom" or C.O.W. award and along with that came a big basket of different cows. I have one on the trip with us and I will call her "Bossy". You can see her below rock climbing at Vedauwoo.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024

    Thermopolis

    Jun 1–3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 77 °F

    Last night we spent again at Vedauwoo. I went on a loop hike around Turtle Rock and Phil went back to the campsite as he had not brought his hiking poles on the walk and felt unsteady. All total, my phone shows I walked 9 miles yesterday.

    We checked out of the apartment and the storage room, took a few last minute things to Goodwill, and got the oil changed in the car, yesterday.

    Phil saw a mountain bluebird, which flew right up and perched on the picnic table. We had steak and foil-wrapped potatoes with onionsoup mix and butter for supper.

    Today we got up and left early. At 6:45, it was chilly and breezy at Vedauwoo. It was in the 30's F. We stopped in Laramie and used a gift card Phil had to get coffee. We each had a pop tart with our coffee and Phil drank a protein shake.

    We drove north on highway 30 and stopped outside of Medicine Bow to take pictures of the house made of dinosaur fossil bones. Later outside of Casper, we stopped at Hell's Half-acre. We stopped for a picnic lunch a few miles up the road at a rest area with a covered picnic table. Now we are sitting in our shady campsite at the Lower Wind River Canyon campground. There are wild turkeys nesting nearby and a flock drifting through the campground. I just saw a drift boat with fly fishermen float by, too.

    We are here for 2 nights, we are getting ready to head into town for a soak in the healing waters of the Thermopolis Hot Springs State Park. It's a free bath house with showers and a modern soaking pool. There is a 20-minute soak limit, but you can come back several times. We'll get our showers and a soak there today and tomorrow and maybe Monday before we leave.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024

    Thermopolis Part 2

    June 2, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    We have enjoyed the free 20 minute soaks and free shower facilities at the Hot Springs State Park now twice. We'll stop by on our way through town tomorrow for one last soak and shower.

    Today we drove to Riverton. We first located and started to explore the 1838 Rendezvous site. This was one location where Mt Men came to trade furs. Unfortunately, just as we were getting started, a man came by and said he had to lock the gate. Apparently a man and his dog had gotten stranded on an island in the river and a rescue was underway. The area had to be closed as a result (not sure why).

    Next, Phil and I went out to the headquarters of the Wind River Buffalo Project. We were not able to get a tour, but we could see 5 or six bulls in a pen near the headquarters. Last winter we met Jason Baldez who is part of the Intertribal Buffalo council, which helps tribes across the nation get Yellowstone Bison for their tribes. The Wind River has a herd for each tribe (Eastern Shoshoni and Northern Arapaho). We donated to their cause this year and have watched several short documentaries.

    On our way back from the bath house, we stopped at a hardware store. I accidentally left my fire poking stick at Vedauwoo so we sourced 2 new ones by cutting a wooden dowel on half and wrapping the handle with tape. Although I have a spare now, I hope they both last me the trip.

    Tomorrow will head up to Cody and then take Chief Joseph Highway up to the north east entrance of Yellowstone. We will drive through the Lamar Valley and out the Gardiner entrance and hope to stay at a campground between Gardiner and Livingston.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024
    2

    Outside Yellowstone

    June 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    Long drive today through the mountains and also Yellowstone. We left Thermopolis at 9:30 after a soak and shower at the bathhouse.

    Saw 2 and maybe more bears. One was under a tree with two smaller ones up in a tree. Another was in a meadow. We didn't stop, because there were already a ton of people there and Phil was just trying to deal with the traffic.

    Already tons of people and only June 3! We snagged a $5 campsite at Canyon Campground north of Gardiner. It rained much of the afternoon and was raining when we set up camp. As a result we are having pizza and Salad at the Outpost in Emmigrant, Mt.

    Tomorrow we are at Helena!    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024

    Helena, Mt

    June 4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Short driving day no we could catch up on laundry with our US quarter cache before Canada. We are staying at the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds which is quite a good deal. We have electricity and there are showers here for a total of $27 per night. Laundry was not too far and not too expensive. We're out here on the edge of town. It is windy, but not terrible. We dug out the electric blanket for tonight since we have electricity. Also charged up all our batteries for the camper, fridge, and CPAP machines.

    Tomorrow 250 miles to Prince of Wales hotel in Waterton, CA. We'll stay at the hotel there.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024
    1

    Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton, AB, Can

    Jun 5–6, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    A drive through big sky country today. Beautiful vistas of the front range of the Bob Marshall Wilderness and lots of waiting in road construction for pilot cars. A friend from from Montana used to say there were 2 seasons, winter and road construction and he was right!

    We stopped at the Montana Dinosaur Center in Bynum. Bossy was napping so her new friend Ducky, the Crested Duck-billed Dinosaur showed us around. This part of Montana has one of the six locations in the world where Dinosaur nests have been found. The nesting dinosaurs here were hydrosaurs or duck-billed types. Phil and I stopped here 5 years ago when the baby first went on display. The baby changed how we think of dinosaurs as more bird like instead of lizard like. This location has active dinosaur digs you can participate in and a big lab to watch the preservation work.

    We fought the wind all day but finally made it to the Canadian border. We saw a red fox while eating a sandwich lunch near the Belly River Trailhead. About 13 years ago, Phil and I did a back country hike into the Belly River for 5 days, so it all felt familiar.

    At the border, we were quizzed on guns, tobacco, alcohol and pepper spray. We told the agent about our summer plans and she gave us some tips on more road construction for tomorrow. Seems Montana and Alberta have a lot of similar thinking.

    Tonight, we are at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton National Park. That's the Canadian side of Glacier National Park. We didn't realize that there is a whole town of AirBNB's and other lodging, but it is still fun to be in the historic hotel. We are in a "budget" room, which means the 5th floor where the workers used to stay. Elevator goes only to the 4th floor. The room is still nice and spacious, but with views of the parking lot. Great bathroom and killer shower.

    Tomorrow we are heading to Banff for 2 nights.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024
    1

    Singing and dancing through Montana

    June 5, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    We knew we were in Montana when we were listening to a local oldies AM station. Janet was singing and dancing to the music as we rolled along.

  • Alaska trip 2024
    1

    Banff, night 1

    Jun 6–8, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    A pretty easy drive today, minus two idiots with campers (one from Texas and the other from Florida) who nearly cut us off and made Phil screech on the brakes.

    We really enjoyed the Prince of Wales Hotel. We had coffee and breakfast, which was just as good as our supper of charcuterie and salads. I saw a fox catch his ground squirrel breakfast from our 5th floor window while Phil was showering.

    We stopped at a grocery store to get a few supplies and a picnic lunch. We made it around Calgary on the bypass and then to Banff. We are at Johnston Canyon Campground with about a hundred other families. It is a high bear area, so we got the full briefing as bears have been in the campground almost daily.

    In the morning, we hope to walk the Johnston Canyon trail. Which is about 7 miles round trip. I have Phil's poles ready this time. If we have extra time we'll, go to Lake Louise, although that's at least a car or bus ride away.

    We had grilled porkchops tonight with Kale salad and rehydrated sweet corn. We have brats for tomorrow, but Phil and I scoped out the Johnston Canyon Bistro in case of inclement weather.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024
    2

    Banff, night 2

    June 7, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    We slept soundly last night, and we're up about 6:45, intending to get an early start on our hike. It didn't quite happen like that, and we were not on our way until about 9:15 after chatting with neighbors, eating, etc.

    We also were not aware that the Johnston Canyon trail was among the most popular trails in the park! As we hiked from our campsite across the bridge to the trail head, a bus unloaded a group of Asian tourists. Also, several large family groups and people of all ages with children in strollers and backpack carriers were starting about the same time we were. The trail is paved for about 2.5 km(maybe further) but has a number of narrow walkways suspended in the Canyon over the river. The first stop is about halfway and is a turn out to see the "lower falls," and the trail climbs steadily the whole hike up to the "upper falls." There were 6 waterfalls between the grander upper and lower falls.

    Phil used his hiking poles but still lagged a little. We know he has some early emphysema from a test earlier this year, and that could account for why he's not as sure-footed or quick.

    Anyway, we turned around at the upper falls instead of going the further 2 miles away to the next site, which was even more uphill. We walked back to the campsite for lunch, and our phones tracked us at 6 miles for the morning already. Right now, mine is showing over 7 miles with all the walking around at the campsite and back and forth to showers and toilet.

    We went to town in the afternoon to get provisioned for our next 2 days in Jasper National Park north of us. We'll head out in the morning and it is about 250 miles.    Read more

  • Alaska trip 2024
    11

    Icefields Highway and Jasper

    Jun 8–10, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    We were waiting at the gas station for it to open at 8:30. On our way we say 2 deer and our first black bear near enough to see without binoculars. It was eating grass near the side of the road, and Phil looped around so he could see it, too.

    The Icefields Highway is part of the National Park system. We purchased annual Canada Park passes because if you use them 7 times, they pay for themselves. We've already needed them for 5 nights plus the Icefields Highway.

    We stopped and took photos of the glaciers in view of the highway. It's a weekend, so lots of busy trailhead, etc. Our lunch on the back of the camper consisted today of Baby Bell Cheese, olives, Pringles, and Phil polished off a container of blueberries while driving.

    We notice that there is much more diversity in the people camping here. Young, old, black, brown, yellow, white, and all types of camping gear from small tents, people camping in cars, expensive campervans, lots of rental motor homes, etc. We hear many different languages in the campground, too. It is nice to see more diversity than the US parks. Also, everything is much cleaner, and people take care of the resources more carefully.

    There was a herd of elk in the campground when we arrived in Jasper. We got the briefing to be careful near the female elk with babies and watch for bears. Our campsite has no fire ring this time, but we have both a gas stove and a gas grill, so no problem. We are near the showers and bathroom, which is a plus.

    After setting up, we drove into Jasper for another round of laundry. We were at the 3 Sheets laundromat and print shop. Quite a combo, but many interesting things to look at while our wash was underway. Afterward, we walked around the town and bought some T-shirts and postcards. We opted for "happy hour" priced pizza instead of cooking tonight, and the meal for 2 of us with a drink, entree, and large salad was only $42 with the tip! Phil had pizza, and I had meatballs.

    It's chilly, so we are back at the campsite in our camper contemplating an early night. Camping is hard work. My phone says I walked 4.5 miles today despite the long car ride. Most of the seems to be just at the campsite and back and forth to the bathrooms and showers. Tomorrow, we may take a short hike, but we need to reorganize and find some stuff in the depths of the pickup bed like hiking boots.    Read more

  • 2025© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice