The Group at Kispiox Totem Village               Jim, Joyce & Spike (Tour Leaders)

Sourdough on a stick for all.          Our leader with the DanceTroupe      Salmon Glacier-Hyder

Jim wants to live "Here"                   I am holding my stomach in.          Eating Dandelions "Bear Candy"

Everyone arrived safe and sound. Hazelton is a beautiful "Gitsan Native Village" with Totem Poles and Clan Houses. We all went on a tour of Kispox Native Village and learned about Clan symbols, such as Wolf, Bear, Frog, and many more. 

8-10 after orientation and a lecture on patience we headed out for Hyder, Alaska.  We went to several more villages to view poles and ended up at Bear Glacier and Hyder-the smallest Ghost town in Alaska. We saw Salmon spawning in the River with Bears running up and down catching all they could. Many went up to see Salmon Glacier, the second largest in the northern Hemisphere. 

Totem Pole "Eagle"           Caravan at Bear Glacier                                  We make it to Alaska

8-11

We are now at SeaAlaska Inn for a Halibut dinner and in the morning - off to Dease Lake and then Watson Lake, Yukon. 

8-16

We are in Skagway, Alaska enjoying the warm weather.  We traveled from Hyder to Dease Lake for one traveling night.  Then on to Watson Lake where saw the famous "Sign Forest" (Over 30 Thousand signs from all over the world nailed to trees in the north of town.)  In Skagway we saw a Video on the Klondike Gold Rush then after a City Walking Tour. We carpooled on another town tour then we went up to the Chilcoot Trail to see where the Stampeders started their trek.  Most went up the trail to the Ranger Post and signed in as being on the trail. Plenty of history at that spot. We then went to the Historic Skagway Graveyard and on up to Reed Falls, which was really roaring.  Today is a shopping day then on up to Whitehorse, Yukon for more Klondike history and tours.  We went to the "Days of 98' show and have some funny photos of some of our group.

The famous Can Can Dancers                                The on-lookers                                                     The adventurous

And the Brave                                                       Happy 44th Anniversary-Poem                                  Soapy Smith lived way over there

Our Sunday Prayer Meeting had a Band.            Micky & Nell trying Texas Hold'em                 They all Lost the Inheritance faster then ever

El Dorado Dan and his Girls                   Oh-El Dorado, who do you like best       I knew you loved me most of all

We have Kickers on the tour (Rose & Barb)      Always the Ladies Man                                                  (Frantic Follies) 

We saw Miles Canyon on the Yukon where Jack London worked as a 19 year old Boat Steerman.      Dave is saving the lipstick from "LiL"

8-17

The weather is clear and warm in Whitehorse.  After seeing the Frantic Follies we all went on a cruise up the Yukon River through Miles Canyon Rapids.  This is the spot a young Jack London charged $25 per boat to steer the Klondikers through the rapids.  Jack was an adventurer as he sailed to Skagway and climbed the Chilcoot pass along with the Gold Stampeders.  Most of the material for his books came from this adventure. (Call of the Wild etc..)  Then it was off to see the S.S. Klondike Sternwheeler Museum and the worlds longest fish ladder.  The Salmon travel over 2000 miles up the Yukon to reach their Spawning grounds.  The Beringia Center showed us a film and exhibits of the 30 thousand year old Bering Land Bridge where Man and Animals crossed into the Americas until the end of the last ice age ten thousand years ago.  Tomorrow its off to Dawson City and panning for Gold on Bonanza Creek-the home of the Klondike Gold Rush.

8-22

Weather has been beautiful.  We drove into Dawson City, Yukon under clear sky's & warm weather. First we settled into our sites and then prepared to see the town. Dawson is like going back into time with its dirt streets and wood boardwalks, loose dogs and the original houses from the goldrush.  The city tour introduced us to everything in Dawson City encluding up to Midnight Dome to see the entire Yukon River & Bonanza creek.  Everyone who joined us at the Goldfields came away with flakes and nuggets of gold. Many now have gold fever and we can't get them out of the Creeks. We also went to Diamond Tooth Gerties where some of our group distinguished themselves by singing and dancing with the Can Can girls. Today is our last day here and everyone is out shopping. More from Fairbanks

A visit to Jack London's Cabin                         Jim built a Deer blind replica of Jack's Cache    Now we are visiting Robert W. Service's Cabin

Everyone enjoys our Sunday Morning Prayer Meetings with organist and Chaplain Moore     Now we are learning about Gold Dredge #4

Working to pay for the tour                               Who has found some Gold?                              Once again Dave is in trouble with Gertie

Dave, does your wife know where you are?               Fording Creek - placer mine in background                          "On the road again"

8-28

Hello from Fairbanks - We went on the Discovery Riverboat Tour and everyone met Susan Butcher and her husband Dave Monson of the Iditarod Dog Sled Races.  A visit to the dog yard and plenty of questions, then off to an Athabaskan Native Village to learn more about Native Culture and Heritage.  We panned gold at El Dorado Gold Mine (everyone found more) ate Salmon a-plenty then saw the Palace Follies.  Today was a day off to shop around and get ready for tomorrow; Sunday service then off to Denali Park and more animals. Mt McKinley is there and we hope she is visible. Two days and we will be in Anchorage - more photos then.

9-2

Denali had more animals then anyone could believe-plenty of photos were taken.  McKinley was hidden but we have high hopes for clearing of the clouds. In Anchorage we enjoyed the City Tour and the Native Heritage Center-a group dinner at Grizzley's Junction and a show by Dusty Sourdough then a visit to the Wild Berry Company and Klondike Goldie (Cheryl Warnke) played the Piano as we gauked at the 11 foot Chocolate waterfall.  Today we all went to the Great Alaska Fair, 100 lb cabbages, giant squash, porkchops on a stick, what else is there?  Below are the latest photos. Tomorrow its off to the Kenai Peninsula and the Glacier & Wildlife Cruise. That means Joyce and Spike will walk our 11 dogs and 3 cats while the group is gone for the eight hour tour. Maybe we could train them for the Iditarod Dog Sled Race. More Later.

Back on the Creek at Crow Creek Mine, just outside of Anchorage.  Gold Fever is still running rampent.  Plenty was found by all

Desperate times call for desperate measures     Lynne and Richard are starting a new Iditarod Kennel with the "Reddington Dogs"

Nell & Mickey attempt to break the sound barrier while Iditarod Musher "Raymie Reddington readys another attempt with Bob & Nancy

Klondike Goldie plays while Bob taps his toes      A giant Pumpkin, Cream Puff & Cabbage      Proud father of a Giant Pumpkin, Tony

9/5

Anchorage kept us busy as we enjoyed the City Tour, Native Heritage Center, Mining at Crow Creek Gold Claim and Homestesd Grounds.  We also took in the Great Alaska State Fair.  Soon after we went to Seward to Cruise on the Glascier and Wildlife Tour and try some fishing for the Salmon.  Then off to Homer for shopping and Halibut fishing.  Fifteen of us went out for the trip and all limited out; a few big ones were caught.

9/9

In Kenai we saw the oldest Russian Orthodox Church located on the mainland.  The ending potluck was filled with Fresh cooked Halibut and plenty of side dishes, poems and skits were the highlight.  After many sad good-bye's most traveled back to Anchorage for a few last days of shopping before heading home.

This one fed us all at the ending Potluck -                   A few brave hikers                         The Old Fishing Hole in Homer

What a sight, thats fireweed and a Fjord              Jim, poses with Spike's fish                       Yes, thats a Moose at the Moose crossing

While the rest of us fished, Jim baged a Trophy Carabou          A fun stop at the log cutters      They even clean our fish for us

                                      The mighty fishermen return to the dock with the catch and then we all enjoyed King Crab Night

Stay in touch as we will be posting the Mid-Winter Potluck and Rally, dates and place to be announced.

Thanks for visiting out site, Spike & Lindy Fortier.  mailto: spikealaska@earthlink.net