Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Day Two Sawtooth National Forest
My second day in the Sawtooths was mostly about slowing down. I woke early near the Salmon River, drove back toward Redfish Lake for morning photography, and spent about ninety minutes watching the light move across the mountains. Later I relaxed beside the lake, read, cooked and took a 12 mile bike ride before returning to the same quiet overnight spot above the river.
Idaho Falls Bike Ride
After a productive morning taking care of van and bike errands, I spent the afternoon riding the Idaho Falls River Walk along the Snake River. The ride turned into a slow exploration of parks, landscaped waterways, the falls and downtown, followed by several hours of night photography along the river.
VA City, Bozeman, Livingston
I left Bannack for Virginia City, where old storefronts, vigilante history and an unexpected David Yarrow gallery kept me walking for hours. After a brief stop in Bozeman, I continued to Livingston for an evening bike ride, then spent the next day at Rx Coffee and the local library before dinner and another quiet night in town.
Drive South To Helena
Instead of taking I-15 from Wolf Creek to Helena, I followed back roads through the Missouri River valley and into Montana ranch country. The day brought fishermen, mountain valleys, creeks, old bridges, abandoned farms, red barns, a long conversation with fellow van travelers, a stop for new tires in Helena and an evening photographing the Montana State Capitol.
Dawson City
I left Alaska on the Top of the World Highway, following the remote road across the mountains and into the Yukon before descending toward Dawson City. A ferry ride across the Yukon River brought me into a unique historical town, filled with dirt streets, old buildings, Gold Rush history, and reminders of just how isolated this part of the world once was. It helped tie other parts of the trip together.
Dalton Highway to Fairbanks, AK
After visiting Deadhorse and the Arctic Ocean, I headed south to Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway. The long ride crossed the Brooks Range, the Arctic Circle and the Yukon River, following the Alaska Pipeline much of the way. After seeing the road firsthand—and the damage it can do to vehicles—I was very glad my campervan was safely parked in Fairbanks.
Haines, AK
A slow drive from Yukon to Haines, Alaska turned into one of the most memorable days of the trip. Along the way I photographed snow-covered mountains, discovered two black bears while shooting a panorama, crossed a nearly empty border, explored the surprisingly friendly town of Haines, and watched hundreds of birds feeding on Pacific herring just offshore.
Muncho Lake & Liard River Hot Springs
I continued north along the Alaska Highway into one of the most beautiful and remote sections of northern British Columbia. At Muncho Lake I photographed shifting blue lake ice before continuing to Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park, where warm wetlands, dense vegetation, mineral-rich springs, and unusual tufa formations create an ecosystem unlike anywhere else along the highway.
Mile 0 Alaska Highway
After visiting Mile 0 of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, I continued north through Fort St. John and into Rose Prairie, British Columbia. The landscape shifted between rolling prairie farmland, boreal forest, and large oil and gas operations. Along the way I photographed the northern evening light, learned about conservation farming techniques, and explored the region where the massive Chinchaga Fire began in 1950.