Neal and Brenda Smith

Special to the Enquirer

Driving North to Alaska was a plan and a dream fulfilled when we left Hartselle April 30, on a vacation with Fairbanks, Alaska as our destination.

Some asked, “Why don’t you fly?” Others asked, “Why don’t you cruise in a ship?”

Only by driving, can one see and experience 10,500 miles of scenery and wildlife that we witnessed. We witnessed live in the wild and up close buffalo, elk, caribou, rain deer, whitetail deer, mule deer, black bear, grizzly bear, moose, dall sheep, longhorn sheep, foxes, coyotes and numerous small critters.

We also saw many frozen lakes, jade colored lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, the Sign Post Forrest at Watson Lake and the Yukon Territory.

We traveled the Alaska Highway, the Alaska Pipeline, the Dalton Highway, the Yukon River and  the Arctic Circle where the temperature was 75 degrees.

We also visited Chenna Hot Springs, the Ice Palace, Denali Park by train, numerous museums and the Alaska Salmon Bake.

It was a beautiful sunset at 11 p.m., and the sun would rise at 3 a.m.

All roads except about 50 miles were paved and are average to better condition from Dawson Creek, B.C. through Yukon Territory and Alaska. Canadian roads up to that point were almost interstate quality.

The trip was recorded in approximately 1,500 pictures. It was an experience we will treasure always, and no flying or sailing would compare. It was a wonderful trip that was indescribable.

The Smiths encountered various beautiful views on their 10,500-mile journey to Alaska. | Special to the Enquirer