After a cold start (-14.5F, see winter boondock post), we crossed from Canada into the US. We made it to Alaska! Technically we ended today at the finish line of the Alaska Highway, Delta Junction. Five days of driving the Alcan through spectacular scenery and wildlife every day. The common, unofficial end is Fairbanks, which we will pass through tomorrow.

We saw a small flock of gorgeous sage grouse. We also saw more red crossbills and another black-billed magpie (I keep forgetting to include these common Northern birds).

Later we saw about 20 caribou crossing a frozen lake. While we got a good look at them we couldn’t position ourselves for a photo. Below is a photo from May last year, at Denali NP.

We plan to arrive in Healy tomorrow, but the road to our cabin needs to be cleared before we can physically get all the way “home”. A lot of emotions in wrapping up the travel portion and facing the next challenge of our new life in Alaska.