Route 37 North Day 2

It started raining shortly after leaving Lower Gnat Lake.  The weather was switching between rain, drizzle, sunshine, and rain.  Sometime later, snowflakes hit the windshield and the wipers cleared them away.  I was surprised, but the temperature had dropped in the high 30s so it was possible. 

I went through a large area where a fire had destroyed whole region.  It was disheartening to see the destruction from the fire.  I checked MILEPOST and learned that the fire covered over 78 thousand acres.  There was nothing but bare ground and black tree trunks strewn around.  It was so sad to see the devastation from the fire.  I wanted to pull over to the Rest Area on the left of the road, but the semi behind me was wanting to pass and I did not want to brake to turn left in front of it, especially in the rain. 

Continuing up route 37 brings you to the Yukon Territories.  A couple of kilometers later, route 37 dead ends at an area called Watson Lake.  A right turn takes you east into Watson Lake and a left turn takes you west to Whitehorse and on to Alaska. 

This is highway 1 in the Yukon which is the Alaska Highway.  I am finally on the Alaska Highway.  It was so exciting to be on the Alaska Highway.  This is what I had dreamed, planned, and worked hard to reach for such a long time, and it was finally happening.  I turned left onto the ALCAN. 

I passed a gas station, but my directions were messed up and, in my mind, Watson Lake was just ahead of me not behind me.  I drove for a while and realized my mistake.  I debated whether turn around and get fuel or proceed.  I decided to continue and check it out the next time I stopped.  This would prove to be a mistake. 

I stopped to stretch my legs and walked the length of the Rest Area.  It is one of the longest Rest Areas I have seen so it felt good to walk and then do some squats. 

I started looking at the distance to the next gas station.  Even with the five gallon in the can in the back, I might not have enough to make it.  I wasn’t sure, so I made the decision to turnaround and go back 38 miles to the last station.  It took over an hour and a half to make the round trip back to where I had stopped. 

I will obviously keep closer status on fuel and not pass a gas station if the gauge is below three quarters full.  Lesson learned the hard way!

Highway 1 takes a dip into British Columbia and becomes 97.  I stopped at Helen Lake for the night.  Tomorrow the road will head back into Yukon toward Teslin YT.