Author Topic: Driving to Alaska, what did I see? (Read 11068 times)

Sitka_Blacktail · « **on:** April 09, 2019, 09:15:01 AM »

Just had a nice drive to Alaska. Saw lots of animals including deer, elk, caribou, bison and a fox, but my favorites this trip were some Dall sheep in the sanctuary at Kluane Lake in the Yukon. Saw a nice ram not too far above the road so hiked up to try to get some photos. Found him with a ewe and another ram who turned out to be a much more interesting subject. He was battle-scarred with broomed horns but even cooler was the large chunk out of his left horn. He'd obviously been the vetren of many battles. He was also the most tolerant of my picture taking and eventually fed to within 10 ft of me.

First two photos are the younger ram. A very nice looking specimen. The second two are the ewe.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #1 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:21:20 AM »

This is the old guy who interested me the most though.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:23:42 AM »

A few more of this old Monarch. You can see the scars of a hard fought life.

Skillet · « **Reply #3 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:27:36 AM »

Wow, great shots. He's definitely an old "dagga boy."

Thanks for sharing!

NOCK NOCK · « **Reply #4 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:28:16 AM »

He has definitely seen his share of battles, cool pics, thanks for sharing. Will be spending 10 days up there in August, getting excited.

Boss .300 winmag · « **Reply #5 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:28:31 AM »

He definitely likes to rumble.🤣

gaddy · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:30:11 AM »

Nice! Great pictures !!

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:33:02 AM »

I would have liked to seen the collision that broke that big chunk off his horn.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:34:28 AM »

Also saw the usual bison between Liard Hot Springs and Watson Lake.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2019, 09:38:40 AM »

And some caribou. These two were licking salt off the road near Muncho Lake. They didn't mind me taking pictures, but when a truck came by they scooted into the brush.

eastsidemallard74 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2019, 10:05:57 AM »

Bucket list road trip. Awesome pics..

BDildine · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2019, 10:10:45 AM »

Heard several cool stories from people making the drive, hope to complete it someday, might drive up then bring marine highway back

jackson7 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2019, 10:58:36 AM »

cool pics. one day will do the trip. thx.

Brushcrawler · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2019, 03:18:25 PM »

That’s a great ram! Did the drive last summer and also saw lots of animals, including sheep in the same section, but not him.

crazywednesday · « **Reply #14 on:** April 09, 2019, 03:52:47 PM »

Thanks for sharing your photo's. What did you shoot them with?

TVHunts · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2019, 04:17:45 PM »

Great photos! Man, I want to make that trip!

saylean · « **Reply #16 on:** April 09, 2019, 04:59:27 PM »

Great shots! That ram is beastly.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** April 09, 2019, 07:45:19 PM »

Cool sheep pics!

TrkyBob53 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 09, 2019, 07:52:07 PM »

Nice pics. I think I will put that drive on my bucket list now that I am retired. How long would that take from central Washington?

RB · « **Reply #19 on:** April 09, 2019, 07:59:36 PM »

Nice very cool!

pashok23 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 09, 2019, 08:50:31 PM »

Thanks for sharing.

MLHSN · « **Reply #21 on:** April 09, 2019, 08:57:51 PM »

Cool pics, thanks for sharing.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #22 on:** April 10, 2019, 12:47:39 AM »

Quote from: crazywednesday on April 09, 2019, 03:52:47 PM

Thanks for sharing your photo's. What did you shoot them with?

Just a Fuji Film Fine Pix. All free hand, no tripod.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #23 on:** April 10, 2019, 12:57:10 AM »

Quote from: TrkyBob53 on April 09, 2019, 07:52:07 PM

Nice pics. I think I will put that drive on my bucket list now that I am retired. How long would that take from central Washington?

I made a fairly fast trip this time. I usually take 4 days to get to Tok from Aberdeen. Made it in 3 days this go around. 15 hours driving the first day, 12 the second day, and about 8 the third day. A friend had driven up 5 days before me and hit awful ice and snow from Muncho Lake, north. I had great weather and dry roads so was taking advantage of it in case another storm blew in. The longest I ever took was 5 days. One of these times I'm gonna take at least two weeks and make some side trips to see places I'm aware of but have never been. Would like to drive out to Prince Rupert or Hyder some time and maybe drive up to Yellowknife. Have also never been to Dawson. Was gonna take the Top of the World Highway on the way home last fall, but the boarder was already closed when I got to the cutoff at Tetlin Junction.

huntnphool · « **Reply #24 on:** April 10, 2019, 01:39:34 AM »

Awesome Sitka, thanks for sharing!

Birdgetter · « **Reply #25 on:** April 11, 2019, 02:44:32 PM »

Wow that is a cool old ram! He definitely has a story to tell.

sudburymike · « **Reply #26 on:** April 18, 2020, 08:19:15 AM »

Absolutely awesome. I've never seen a dall sheep in the wild, and getting up to Alaska has always been a dream of mine.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #27 on:** April 18, 2020, 12:34:05 PM »

So this year I have to fly. Canada is closed. I could maybe get in by jumping through some hoops as an essential worker in Alaska, but once I got there, the ferry isn't running so I'd still have to fly. I'm just going to fly up and depend on my friends to help me move nets and launch the boat, unless I find a cheap truck there for sale.

So here are some more pix from the Alcan from past trips. (I've driven to and from Alaska over 50 times now, but I've lost count)

These first pix are from 2018 driving north about mid April. This is a small bunch of caribou that almost took me out in a blinding snow storm north of Watson Lake, Yukon. I came around a corner and they were right in the middle of the road. I tapped the brakes and went sideways down the road. Luckily I missed them and no one was coming and I didn't end up in the ditch. I was probably going too fast for the conditions as it turned out.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #28 on:** April 18, 2020, 12:56:22 PM »

This guy was from the trip home last fall. He was walking down the highway like he owned it along side of Kluane Lake, not far from where I saw the Dall ram with the big chunk out of his horns. About five rigs stopped to watch him and take photos. I tokk a couple from a ways away and then passed the other cars and got ahead of them and the bear as he kept plodding down the edge of the road. I stopped and rolled down my passenger window and took this shot while he passed me. He was probably about 5-6 ft from me when I took this. Then I left him to whatever he was up to.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #29 on:** April 18, 2020, 01:57:49 PM »

Lots of black bears in BC and the Yukon.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #30 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:01:32 PM »

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #31 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:04:15 PM »

My favorites, Stone Sheep.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #32 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:06:57 PM »

And you don't want to miss a stop at Liard Hot Springs

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #33 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:13:56 PM »

Then of course there are moose. Sometimes you even see a dead one in the fall. I was driving through a forest fire that was still burning in places when I came upon this guy and his family who had just taken this bull and dragged it down to the road. His 10 year old son was proud to tell me that the year before, he'd taken one that was bigger than his dad's bull.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #34 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:18:24 PM »

Another great stop driving the Alcan is Chetwynd, where every year they have a big chainsaw carving contest. Here are a few from the last couple years. They display them year round after each contest.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #35 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:22:23 PM »

There are also waterfowl and other water critters. Here is a swan family near Hudson's Hope and a beaver in the Yukon.

Sitka_Blacktail · « **Reply #36 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:24:56 PM »

Besides all the mountains there are also many rivers and lakes. And once in a while the conditions are right to get some good reflection photos.

Pegasus · « **Reply #37 on:** April 18, 2020, 02:30:22 PM »

Super pics. Just what the doctor ordered for everyone.

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Author Topic: Driving to Alaska, what did I see? (Read 11068 times)

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