Dan Wright – 2006 Trip from Seattle to Alaska

21 July 2006

Day 5: Haines, Alaska

Began the day by getting the car washed (removing much road dust and a 2-3" layer of insect carcasses). Drove to Haines Junction, Yukon, then headed south for a one day visit to Haines, Alaska. The Haines highway skirts the eastern edge of Kluane (clue-ah-nee) National Park. Lots of good mountain views that would have been much better without the clouds. Kluane’s best known geological denizen is Mt. Logan, the tallest peak in Canada, and the second-tallest peak in North America. Logan cannot be seen from either the Haines or Alaska highways, there are too many mountains in between. Closer to Haines, the south-eastern most peaks of the St. Elias range loom overhead.

Photographed another bald eagle near Haines. This was the first productive day of photography on this trip (despite the clouds).

AAA estimates of driving times have proven completely unreliable. Many routes take much less time than suggested by AAA (several hours less).

Departed Whitehorse, Yukon at 9:30 AM PDT

Arrived Haines, Alaska at 1:50 PM ADT (2:50 PM PDT)
Departed Haines at 4:30 PM ADT (5:30 PM PDT)

Arrived Haines Junction, Yukon (60°45'N, 137°32'W) at 8:50 PM PDT
Sun: 5:17 AM - 11:15 PM
Distance to the north pole: 2,023 miles
Distance to Seattle: 1,094 miles

Distance driven: 428 miles
Total driven: 2,272 miles
Daytime temperatures: 49-65° F

21 July 2006 10:25 PM PDT