Day One of our 4400 mile trip to VA.  We started the day seeing a wolf and ended the drive seeing a grizzly bear.   In between, there were many pretty snow-capped mountains with fresh snow.

It was snowing as we packed yesterday,  then turned to rain, then dropped to 21 degrees overnight.   Two of the truck’s four doors were frozen shut along with the access to the bed of the truck.   Minutes after we pulled out at 8:30, we saw a wolf!  We got a good look at it, though no good photos.   After looking again at C’s photos of a wolf he saw nearby in June, it seems likely it is the same one.

After our cold start, it warmed up nicely today, briefly reaching the low 50s.  It was a beautiful day, though more winter than fall, with most of the leaves on the ground already.   Last year about this time, there was more yellow remaining on the trees as we drove from Tok into the Yukon (http://roaming-nature.com/2023/09/25/day-5-valdez-to-beaver-creek-yt/).

We saw quite a few birds today, including Sandhill Cranes, Grouse, Bald Eagles,  Swans, Gray Jays, and many ducks.

Eleven hours into our drive, as the sun dropped below the horizon, we saw this chubby blonde bear eating vegetation beside the road.  It ignored us as we took lots of photos.  

We are staying at the Talbot Arm where we also ordered an excellent supper.  While there isn’t a microwave or refrigerator, we are always comfortable here and enjoy the luxury of taking a bath.