No, not us!! This truck here:
A strange way to drive down the highway, with an 18-wheeler facing you.
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This is the last bit of great scenery we saw in Alaska, before crossing into Canada.
The Tanana River.
(CLICK TO ENLARGE)
More to come!
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Jack had an unusual wildlife sighting the other day on the Richardson Highway (the road that connects Fairbanks to Valdez). A grizzly bear crossed the road in front him, so Jack pulled over for a possible photo since the bear was now on the left side of the road and easy to see from the driver’s side.
As soon as he snapped the photo of the bear, a wolf stood up out of the brush and trotted off, away from the bear.
Then the bear turned around and followed the wolf into the woods.
It’s pretty rare to see a wolf by the road, much less a bear and wolf in such close proximity. Was the bear following the scent of the wolf? Was the wolf injured? Unfortunately, we’ll never know.
This musk ox was taking a break pretty close to the road, at least close enough for Jack to get a photo.
Musk ox are herding animals but this guy is a loner. He doesn’t appear injured, but you can see he trampled the snow, probably looking for food, before he laid down for a rest. Maybe he was eating those little twigs sticking out of the snow. Not very appetizing!
Jack sees Musk Ox all the time on the Dalton. He’s never heard of any driver hitting one (unlike caribou and moose who have a bad habit of running out into the road). Good thing, since Musk Ox weigh almost three-quarters of a ton!
Here is a small herd resting near the road back in 2008 when I went with Jack to Prudhoe. If you ever get a chance to drive the Dalton, do it in the fall! It’s unbelievably beautiful.
The Jack Jessee Blog 