Alaska - Promises Fulfilled Movie | Camping, Wildlife Encounters, Exploring, and Unexpected Moments

[Music] thank you living in the Midwest for the early part of my life the thought of snow-capped mountains was never something I could conceptualize it wasn't until our move to Washington State back in 2006 that the beauty of the outdoors truly hit home not only for myself but also my parents growing up my dad had routinely spoken about visiting and one day living in Alaska to be in the wild free and vast Landscapes of the Last Frontier a place with so much history and culture that truly redefined a way of living though in 2014 one week before my college graduation I received news of his passing a loss that still holds strong to this day I remember driving home on a clear sunny day back in Washington and off in the distance stood Mount Rainier my dad with subtle humor said you know when I'm no longer here you're gonna have to take me up there someday on July 20th 2018 I fulfilled that promise and stood on the summit of Mount Rainier at 14 410 feet fast forward to now there is still another promise yet to be fulfilled bringing him to Alaska for his final resting place over the next 15 days my mom and I are otherwise known as Camp Chef mom will be embarking on the trip of a lifetime we've set our agenda to visit places both known and lesser known all while having a deeper meaning as to why we are there [Music] helping to make this trip a possibility are the owners of Alaska Overlander both Craig and Brooke they have set us up for success by having two TurnKey rigs ready for the adventures ahead mom will be taking the keys to the 2021 Toyota 4Runner otherwise known as Beluga receiving its name after the social and playful mammals that call Alaska home Beluga is outfitted with all you'd expect of an Overland rig including drawer systems for various gear a drop down fridge upgraded tires and suspension and a very comfortable sleeping setup for me I'll be receiving the keys to a familiar rig of a 2021 Toyota Tacoma known as ninana named after the 140 mile long ninada river which forms on the eastern boundary of Denali National Park and Preserve this rig is in a class of its own with a spacious drawer system RSI smart cap canopy for gear management a 14 gallon water tank with a 12 volt pump and the most crucial for me the red Arc dual battery system making charging of production gear a breeze while on the road for the next two weeks we'll be living full time out of these vehicles and calling them our home as we travel the thousands of miles exploring The Many Wonders Alaska has to offer I invite you to ride along as we share our first time experience in this land and fulfill the promises as a family [Music] thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] welcome welcome to the beginning of our adventure to Alaska over the next few hours we'll be flying over 1400 miles into Anchorage getting a massive jump start to our trip while we would have loved to make the drive up we unfortunately are not blessed with full-time travel or have the endless gas and time budgets though we are open to conversations in that department with using two weeks of vacation we are able to make the comfortable Journey up and dive right into the adventure with making our initial stop at Alaska Overlander thank you [Music] upon picking up the keys to our new temporary Homes Craig was kind enough to give a full walkthrough of the rigs and showcase all the gear that comes included with each rental I was personally excited to try out some new features as well as use some that have prior experience with it's got to be in neutral and then you move it across this way and forward yeah and then once you're in four-wheel drive low then you have access to all the buttons thank you no tie table two in here just in case you're off of cell phone range um and then just a couple of activity guides and everything else here with keys in hand our next stop was groceries between two fridges and plenty of storage space this would be our one main stop for the whole duration of the trip for three meals a day Camp Chef mom was able to average about fifty dollars per day between the both of us granted we would plan to splurge in towns for getting a nice meal and enjoying the local eateries after a long day of travel and getting later in the evening it was now time to find our first night's camp foreign just nice and easy through the trees there [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] the next morning was a quick pack down of Camp followed by briefly exploring the general area it was easy to say that the bar was set High even after only spending one night here in Alaska today however was a big day something we have planned well into our initial itinerary and would be a first time experience for both of us [Music] well good morning and welcome to day two of our 15 day trip here in Alaska we figured we'd start this trip off right by doing a helicopter tour that's going to take us to a couple different spots along the Connecticut Glacier and honestly guys this is going to be a first for both of us as neither of us have been in a helicopter before and gonna be able to stand on a glacier here in Alaska for the first time so I am beyond excited and I cannot wait to share this with you so we got to the spot here a little early just so we can kind of get everything situated check in and do all that good stuff but the views so far have been amazing the weather is actually cooperating with us a little bit Alaska has been getting quite a bit of rain here lately so now that uh we're here it's a little bit partly cloudy so fingers crossed that it stays that way for the remainder of the afternoon but I'm looking forward to it I'm beyond excited and I cannot wait to show this to you guys so stay tuned and let's see where the afternoon takes us [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] words truly could not express the feeling of being in this fast and wild landscape witnessing Lakes glaciers waterfalls and Wildlife something I could have only imagined from the images of others before to say we were fortunate for having the incredible weather of blue skies and sunshine like we did would be an understatement foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] of the three Landings during the trip our final would be touching down on the Nick glacier at over 600 000 years of age this Glacier now spans at 25 miles in length five miles wide and an average of 200 feet thick making it one of the largest glaciers in South Central Alaska [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] I'm speechless this is only day two for my goodness this is incredible like I don't have any other words to describe it Alaska beautiful day on a glacier this is just amazing what a life experience I checked off a few bucket list items today wow our return trip back to base was just as exciting mom took the passenger seat up front to witness The Surreal views firsthand I have to give our pilot Shane Kudos and thank you for a job well done making this experience one of a kind and one that will be remembered for a lifetime P.S you certainly have the dream job here in Alaska [Music] [Applause] [Music] now that was an amazing adventure I think we definitely checked off a couple bucket list items today yeah that was one for the book I uh I have never seen anything so spectacular in my life I I don't think there's words there's definitely not and I'm glad we could experience it as a little mother-son experience so super cool I'm very happy we did that but let's go ahead and find camp and anywhere the evening takes us here right on let's do it [Applause] short people problems foreign ER for people under uh what are we five it's a little hard to deploy the tent there you go you got it foreign well guys so after wrapping up the incredible helicopter tour uh we actually started to head north up through Palmer and then we're currently in the very beginning of Hatcher's pass with it kind of being late in the evening here and dinner time kind of being among us we decided not to go through all the random Trails through the area or further into Hatcher's pass on finding Kip we actually found a I would give it you know a decent rating for a parking lot campsite here it is adjacent to some hiking trails but they do allow you for five bucks a night to go ahead and park your Reagan Camp so the views are still great it's just you are sharing it but it's not a big deal if anything this sets us up for Success the following day because as you may be able to see behind me there is the independence mine and that is one spot we definitely want to check out for tomorrow so this puts us in a great position to do so and then we can go ahead and complete the pass from there and then Venture on the following day so if anything we have Camp all set up we're just gonna hang out a little bit enjoy the views of the stunning stunning 360 degree views here for the beginning of Hatcher's pass and just call it an evening but overall incredible day absolutely incredible [Music] [Music] our first stop of the day was the Independence mine nestled within Hatcher's pass a photogenic Alpine passage that cuts through the Talkeetna Mountains and the Matsu Valley now without going too deep into a history lesson here there are several items I wanted to share with you to hopefully spark some inspiration for future Travelers wishing to make a visit out here [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Music] the independent's mind is part of a State Historical Park with 271 acres to explore and bear witness to a way of life from those before [Music] in the late 1800s the rumor of gold Drew thousands of optimistic Prospectors to Southeast Alaska the Yukon and the Klondike while the frenzy in the interior raged gold was quietly found in the Talkeetna mountains north of what would later become Anchorage claims were systematically staked equipment hauled in and the independence mine established at its peak in 1941 the mine employed more than 200 workers blasted almost 12 miles of tunnels and recovered 34 416 ounces of gold today worth almost 18 million all these accomplishments were able to support a small nearby Boom Town of businesses and minor families lucrative mining continued until the beginning of World War II when the independent's mine was ordered to close by the U.S government because it was considered non-essential to the war effort mining began again in 1946 but restrictions on pricing and increasing inflation made running the mine unprofitable the site was then abandoned in 1951. [Music] for those visiting today you can experience the true power of time and nature as the years of snowfall and harsh weather have caved in many of the prayer buildings while the meltwater whisks away the small remaining artifacts [Music] [Music] well guys what an experience that was uh witnessing Independence mind here to start day three absolutely incredible um I'm Amazed by the history and just the amount of effort and work it took to do with those individuals did back in the day especially with the resources that they had so if anybody is coming through Hatcher's pass I highly suggest you make the stop it is well worth it witnessing uh even the original buildings and structures uh still as they're deteriorating over time given the weather elements up here but man absolutely amazing the weather is holding off still for us pretty well so we're gonna complete Hatcher's pass here and then keep working our way further north for today foreign [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] with Hatcher's pass completed we continued our Trek North heading into Petersville Alaska the Petersville road is considered the other road to Denali acting as the southern Gateway and certainly one less traveled covering roughly 34 miles this historic bumpy road will span a two-hour drive one way not including the stops to take in the landscape views known in the beginning as the Cache Creek Wagon Road this route was the fastest and easiest way to reach the remote mining regions in the areas around Peters and Cache Creek back in 1917. though years later this road was renamed the Petersville Road as communities along the Route began to grow today however you'll find some of the main active uses include recreational Hunting Fishing and hiking so if you're so inclined the state of Alaska has set aside recreational mining areas allowing citizens to pan and mine for gold who knows you may just strike it rich in these vast historic lands [Music] so sometimes when I am questioning where the road leads or where something connects actually throwing the Drone up and seeing on the overhead from basically a bird's eye point of view is a great way to save a little time and possibly even some gas on where the road actually goes so we were one trying to find camp but also trying to find a uh an old mine site as well and the maps aren't connecting to what we're seeing out here so we just threw the Drone up here for a second just to see where we are get our bearings see if even pushing down the road is worth it and then we'll kind of make a decision for the evening from there oh [Music] foreign [Music] guys so it is just before six o'clock here on day three of our trip and we found a campsite for this evening just south of Denali National Park as we were working our way further north for uh today found an amazing Camp the Fall colors are just abundant in every direction we do have a little weather coming in but we're also continuing with the bugs hence my I have bug net screen as you can see here so a lot of mosquitoes a lot of gnats but you know what I think that just comes with the territory obviously Alaska is kind of known for that so we definitely found uh the spot here for them this evening thankfully we have the annex all set up off of the icamper tent so that's going to be kind of our shelter as we're cooking dinner and just hanging out for this evening and if it does start to rain we can kind of just retreat in there so it works out but with all that I will contend with it regardless because these views are incredible the Fall colors are absolutely spectacular and this is probably one of the most remote campsites I've found we are Miles and Miles off the main road here so this is amazing absolutely love it wouldn't have it any other way [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Applause] [Applause] well good morning everybody and welcome to day four here of our trip uh we're waking up to some overcast Skies this morning and we got quite a bit of rain last night and I think that's going to change some of our plans for this morning but we wanted to explore some of the side Trails off the main route here and I think with all the rain that has happened leading up to and even last night those trails are going to look in really muddy I threw the Drone up and they just looked pretty bad and with only basic recovery gear and on a tight schedule I think we're just going to hold off for another time but we will complete the main route before heading all the way back out and working our way further north into or around Denali National Park so we're gonna go ahead and start doing that we already have breakfast made coffee is going and as you can see the bugs are still out and about so I'm gonna go ahead and hop in the truck here and we're gonna work our way moving forward [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] more of the Petersville road we set our sights North for the few hour drive outside of Healy Alaska though with half the day already spoken for we decided to take the later part of the afternoon for simply finding Camp knowing all our efforts tomorrow would be set aside for experiencing Denali National Park and Preserve [Music] thank you take a selfie [Music] in order to drive more than the first 15 miles into Denali National Park other than using your own personal vehicle one must obtain a Transit bus ticket in order to continue further there are a few different options when it comes to reserving your ride though we simply chose the transit bus the green ones that allow you to ride with flexibility to experience the park on your own terms this would include hopping off to go on a hike visit the interior campgrounds reboarding on a different bus and of course stopping to view the wildlife as appearances are made [Music] out of your hey you were Buster driver today and I'm narrator I'll be concentrating on keeping a 40-foot bust between the ditches so that means that I'm going to be concentrating on the road you guys will be concentrating on looking for wildlife I never ever ever mind stopping to looking loose that turns into a spruce and trees and bushes false alarms do you see something you want to sell for so how did the word stop you say the word caramel assume you talk about your neighbors and I'll hit the accelerator while some folks May frown at the thought of getting on a bus in order to experience the park I personally found this trip very rewarding even best of all I feel we had one of the most entertaining and engaging bus drivers as he filled the trip full of lighthearted laughter while giving a great insight into the wildlife that called Denali National Park and preserve home [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] thank you at milepost 43 of the East Fork River our bus tour would reach its ending point on how far we could go in September 2021 the pretty Rock Landslide had displaced roughly 14 feet of the only road heading further westbound into the park it's estimated the pretty rocks Landslide has been active since the 1960s and probably earlier since the Denali Park Road was built in 1930. they're due to increased climate change in events of heavy rainfall these factors all point to the cause of thawing permafrost which has resulted in the acceleration of what was once a manageable road to upkeep however after departing the bus mom and I chose to take our adventures to the very end by hiking a mile and a quarter to what would be the official end of the current safe Public Access doing a little extra credit by hiking up a little bit more after the drop-off point for the transit buses I think it goes what a mile well mile and a quarter mile and a quarter about halfway there halfway there I'm a little louder but all kinds of grizzly bear sightings along the riverfront here so hopefully with our hike we can see some more and have some break in the weather so let's see what happens [Music] even though we couldn't experience more the park due to road access and overall timeline I am extremely grateful to have witnessed what we did my dad had always dreamed of coming here and this section of Denali will forevermore hold a special place in my heart [Music] [Music] tell you what guys after uh four days on the trail nothing feels better than a nice hot shower and uh we were able to do so at the Mercantile here right next to Riley Creek Campground within Denali National Park not only did they have showers but there's a laundry facility if you need it restrooms of course and a nice little gift shop with ice cream if you so choose so great little stop here I think we're gonna grab dinner in town tonight as a little Splurge for a great day and then I think we might also just go ahead and Camp here at the Riley Creek Campground for tonight make it easy and that way we can get going on our next leg of the journey early tomorrow morning oh thank you [Music] [Music] [Applause] welcome to the Denali Highway opened in 1957 this stretch of road spans 135 miles from Paxton to Cantwell connecting both the Richardson and Parks highways before the Parks Highway was completed in the early 1970s the Denali Highway was the only Road access to Denali National Park the road is mostly gravel with Max speeds ranging anywhere from 35 to 55 miles an hour depending on Surface conditions though during the winter months the Denali Highway closes every year from October through mid-may services are minimal at best along this road and it's advised all travelers preparing to take on this journey to pack and plan accordingly so if you are ready to take on this adventure you'll bear witness to one of the most spectacular drives in the world not only for landscape views but a chance to view the wildlife [Music] taking a break from the rain and wind we came across the Clearwater Mountain Lodge and decided to try the local coffee and pie at the sluice box all I can say is I am glad we stopped as this was one of the more memorable and tasteful visits so I gotta ask what's the story on all the dollar bills so you see it in like gold mining areas it's like you come in you're talking big game I got a plane I'm gonna find a beer sized nugget and then when you put your name on it put it up and then when you come back and you're broke you can take it down we know it's yours you buy yourself a beer perfect nice and then you know since the time the beer is only a dollar it's just turned into oh there you go nice part of the world to keep the tradition alive and having funds for a future beverage we found our claim on The Limited space left on the wall and hung a dollar it's crazy with the rain not letting up we kept disdain in the vehicles for most of the afternoon though we were anxious to see where Camp would be for the night following the tracks of those before us we had a destination in mind there weren't a hundred percent certain it would pan out foreign [Applause] [Applause] so how is that for your first pretty substantial water crossing not gonna lie it was a little intimidating but I did it took another new first for me we're knocking off a lot of Firsts here I'm proud that you did it you just gotta take it nice and easy not blast into it but not go too slow and you're good but to be honest here I will you know be the first to admit that we may not use this Trail all the way through just given how much rain is coming down and how much deeper those Crossings may be as we continue along we'll just sounds like a plan foreign [Applause] [Music] [Music] well we found the end of the road here for us I'm definitely not taking uh rental rigs or even my rig through uh River like this you can see that's technically the road so it goes on for well well a bit weighs longer and uh yeah with all the rain even more happening nope not happening play it smart beautiful drive now my goodness it's absolutely stunning Drive it's just the rain it's a bugger with roughly three-fourths at the Denali Highway completed it was now time to find camp though finding anything sheltered from the wind was going to be a challenge [Music] [Music] thank you [Music] so between the wind and the rain um we're calling it an early night this evening and it's going to be hanging out in our tents um I have some movies downloaded on my tablet so I'm gonna make it a movie night but uh if anything I just wanted to bring you guys in here and show you what's all happening this is the big boy this is the four person skycam 3.0 it's more than enough room for what I need and with that I've kind of configured it in a way to be more comfortable for myself so with the stock mattresses uh there's two pieces basically you have the big piece that fits on this main extension or main panel and then you have the smaller piece that goes on the extension panel up front and what I've done is actually just stack them on top of each other and then I sleep perpendicular to the tip this way I get even more comfort with the two paddings on top and I fit side to side versus lengthwise the correct way that you should be sleeping but it's really nice because then I get more Comfort on that um Craig and Brooke included with all the rentals they have a down duvet cover here and then we took it one step further and got a nice little fleece blanket to keep even warmer two pillows that I rock right there for just extra Comfort but otherwise it's got a nice got a little Skylight view to see through and look at the stars not gonna happen this evening with all the clouds and rain but otherwise it's cozy it's nice to get out of the wind it's nice to just hang out and relax so I'm gonna put on a movie and call it an evening so I will see you guys in the morning thank you with waking up to chilly temps in the low 40s we made for a quick breakfast and we're soon back on the road today's agenda was exploring trails north of Paxton along the Richardson Highway during our preparation for the trip and through inspiration of others there was a particular Road I distinctly wanted to explore so rain or shine we pointed the trucks in that direction to see where the road may take us thank you [Music] foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] thank you [Music] [Applause] [Applause] thank you well we reached the end of the line uh while this Trail isn't officially on a guy GPS we did just follow the two track up and it basically goes to the end of the road which looks like the road washed away from this dramatic river that you can hear behind me basically we paralleled that all the way coming up but it's a it's stunning it's one of those just kind of you know just see where the road goes yeah just beautiful just spectacular so pretty cool we're gonna work our way back I definitely don't you know as cool as this is I don't want to camp here we did have to go through some prior but it looked like some landslides that were almost covering the entire road and it would kind of suck to be on the opposite end if it went anymore so we're gonna work our way back but still pretty cool if so what'd we do wrong today you I I only worked there but apparently we both missed the uh extra material of the tent there hanging out hanging out while we were driving most of the day today so I haven't gone through any of the footage but if you happen to see some tint hanging out uh the material of it oops no bad word no it wasn't me but that's funny well at least we're gonna open the tent and set up camp so good stuff good stuff just a fun reminder to ensure Camp is completely stowed away when preparing for the day's travels though with Camp found and set up and a bonus of being sheltered from the wind we were soon into our evening routine of charging production gear making dinner and enjoying a relaxing evening foreign who's keeping us full all these days and nights as we are experiencing all kinds of weather from Wind and Rain to Sunshine and blue skies so you are Camp Chef Mama as everybody knows and you've been holding down the fort on basically all that is Galleon kitchen what are you whipping up for us tonight so tonight we're gonna do some chicken soup little onions spinach orzo a little sprinkle of Parmesan on top and your favorite crackers got the signature select they're the knockoff Ritz crackers still really good but soup sounds great on a nice nice cold day yep foreign of our adventures in Alaska we start the day by making a quick detour from our travels to a location many may not have on their initial itinerary located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks sits bus 142 or otherwise known as The Magic Bus the Stampede Trail bus or the into the wild bus for those who don't know Christopher McCandless an American Adventure Seeker living a self-chosen nomadic lifestyle had once used this abandoned bus as a makeshift shelter for recorded 113 days according to his written journal entries living off the land by minimal supplies carried in and with the surrounding landscape provided bus 142 was not only a founded Refuge but ultimately became Chris's place of passing using a Chinook helicopter bus 142 was removed from the Stampede Trail in June of 2020 not only for the safety of those taken on the dangerous hike to see it but to allow the history of this story to be told in a manner all can learn and experience today the Museum of the north is the official recipertory of bus 142 and has goals of restoration and preservation for the bus by making it the centerpiece of a free outdoor public exhibit at the museum that will allow people to safely experience all aspects of this vehicle's history [Music] [Music] let's go [Music] well right on guys we are officially on and starting the Dalton Highway going far north here in Alaska it's amazing it's it's kind of funny all the the pavement and the tarmac that was um just instantly stopped as soon as you got close to the start of the Dalton Highway which is primarily just uh gravel very muddy type of road so we're gonna take it easy the conditions are a little slick with all the rain but good start so far known as one of the muddier roads in Alaska the Dalton Highway begins 84 miles north of Fairbanks and ends 414 miles further north in dead horse at the oil industrial camp at prudo Bay this highway provides a rare opportunity to Traverse a remote largely unpopulated part of Alaska to the very top of the continent it was originally known as the Hall Road because almost everything supporting oil development was hauled on tractor trailers to its final destination in 1981 the state of Alaska named the highway after James W Dalton a lifelong Alaskan and expert in Arctic engineering who was involved in the early oil exploration efforts in the far north completed in only five months this highway was officially opened in 1981 strictly for commercial use though in 1994 Public Access was allowed all the way to Dead Horse for the first time and today beckon's Adventure Seekers to explore the still wild and mysterious Frontier thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the point here [Music] I already I think well folks after crossing the Yukon river and stopping at the Yukon river camp for a delicious Burger um we found camp for this evening at the Five Mile Campground which is basically this wide open little slab of gravel um we're the only ones here which works out pretty good the truck's there behind me but then we have some really awesome views to look out to the wind isn't too bad even being this exposed but I'm fingers crossed that we see some Aurora lights this evening I've been duped this entire time because of cloud coverage up until now so I'm hoping this far north things can change a little turn of luck our direction to see them we do have some decent weather some blue skies they're peeking through so hoping that stays through the night but we might stay up a little late just to see what we can see but otherwise not a bad Camp we're probably an hour south of actually passing into the Arctic Circle and we're gonna plan on hitting a lot of that tomorrow so a good little stopping point it's been a day we've have well over 200 miles driven today but we're going to go ahead and get set up hang out and enjoy the evening oh my goodness cold start to the day you guys it was even colder last night definitely got below freezing there was frozen water on the truck and tent and nearby tables and things we'll start here but because today we're going to be crossing the Arctic Circle so let's see where the rest of the Dalton Highway takes us all right [Music] here it is crossing the Arctic Circle I can't believe we're finally doing this [Music] [Music] thank you after an incredible drive so far on the Dalton we are officially here and crossing the Arctic Circle it's amazing oh my God I just can't believe we're here we've been dreaming about this what years now yeah yeah it's incredible so all the all the people on YouTube who have made it this far and even farther for providing us the inspiration to you know Venture this way but uh even to witness it ourselves guys it's put it on your list it's it's an accomplishment to get up here and you know have the means to be able to do so and come prepared and mentally and emotionally ready it's all that stuff so pretty freaking cool awesome [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] thank you foreign pass right now we're oh I would say maybe 20 30 minutes out from it uh going up a kind of a steep section here and man oh man it is a sloppy muddy nasty mess it is just kind of one we're crawling here at about 20 miles an hour or so the views are spectacular but my goodness is this section of the road just a total mud fest so be interesting when we do finally do stop to see how much is collected inside the fender Wells and along the sliders sorry Craig Chuck got a little money foreign [Music] [Music] [Music] so this is going to be our Turning Point here the summit of attican pass this is absolutely amazing it's only early September and there's snow on all the mountaintops here and the views are incredible in every direction I know a lot of folks who travel up to Dalton Highway the big highlight what everybody gets to is prudo Bay and dead horse and dipping your toes in the Arctic Ocean you know that is amazing and I will do that one day but just not this trip this was the highlight this was our Peak moment coming here for so many different reasons this was this is a good point for us and I'm more than okay with it uh this this is absolutely stunning up here I mean there is still so much to see here in Alaska with our a week less than a week left so we have a lot that we want to do on the Kenai Peninsula and a lot more to check off our bucket list so we're going to save those days and work our way back south but I will be back this is absolutely stunning up here foreign [Music] mountain peaks like that provides me a sense of comfort almost like being at home that same feeling is what my father had and always imagined what Alaska to be I know a part of him will find new Comforts in the far north within this peaceful wintry landscape for pushing on WE descended back down from atagan pass in search of camp for the evening luckily I managed to pin a couple good potential sites from our Drive passing through earlier foreign [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] foreign so before going to bed one of my evening routines here that I do every night is offloading footage for the entire day on each of the devices that I recorded on so cameras drones action cameras cell phones tablets whatever I use to record any content on I offload all of that and what I do is I actually put it on my computer here first and then I also back it up on an external drive just for redundancy and to make sure that nothing gets lost but this way everything stays nice and organized I actually create a folder by each device and then put all those folders in a main one for each day and then that way when I get back home and import everything into my editing software it's all good to go it's already organized and it just makes that process that much easier but it does take the time commitment each night to just go ahead and do it kind of like homework just get it done get it out of the way and then you set yourself up for Success later so this usually takes no more in about 20 or 30 minutes with reviewing some footage and then if I have a little extra time I'll edit some photos but otherwise this is just my nightly routine I wanted to bring you guys along and just show you the process before heading to bed and doing it all over again tomorrow so with that we will see you guys in am [Music] good [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] with our portion of the Dalton Highway complete we stopped in Fairbanks once more to rinse the initial layer off the rigs before continuing further south totaling our travels of over 400 miles for the day our goal was to land at a familiar spot knowing hot showers supplies and the potential of ice cream await well folks after a 10-hour day driving on the road in over 400 miles accomplished basically coming from well into the Dalton Highway all the way down to Denali National Park at Riley Creek Campground once again um we found home for it tonight it was nice we specifically wanted to come back here because they have the showers really close by to the campsite so that was nice and two weeks on the road here we're going to be showering twice for those asking in the meantime I do have the little body wipes like the shower pouches so we're not completely nasty but it is nice to be here to get a nice hot shower hang out we have cell service all that good stuff so we got the rigs all parked up we're gonna get Camp deployed get some dinner going but man it was a drive 400 miles plus today so uh the goal tomorrow we're gonna try and get down to the Kenai Peninsula and check out a lot there and end our trip in that general area so this is a good Landing point for tonight we're well in a good position to finish out some of the drive tomorrow and go from there so I'm going to call it probably an early evening it's been a long day but I just wanted to bring you guys along and give you an update nonetheless here we go 400 miles accomplished today Cheers Cheers before making a 300 mile push to the Kenai Peninsula we took the opportunity to fill the water tanks at the Riley Creek Campground inside Denali National Park this among many other amenities was a reason for our desired second stay here at the campground during our time in Alaska stocked up on supplies and Essentials we made the long trick South and search for Camp though foresight tells me this would be a top Contender a place that stayed so far [Music] [Music] foreign [Music] as beautiful as this site is we always have to remember to tread lightly folks fire pits are not a trash can let's do better let's be better clean up after yourself when you guys are out here like the mother she is picking up after the trash left by others thank you Camp Chef Mom all of YouTube thanks you to you oh my gosh cheers Michael great find so we're not gonna lie I was a little nervous coming in because it was just non-stop rain on the entire Drive-In and I'm thinking great we're gonna have zero views we're gonna be hiding underneath the awning the entire night and going to bed but thankfully uh maybe about 20 minutes after we got here the rain let up the clouds are starting to part ever so slightly and my goodness you guys look at this this probably ranks among the top two three campsites I've ever been at and stayed at this is spectacular I am kicking myself in a butt for not having a kayak or a fishing rod at the lease because this would be probably some epic time out on the water but you know what there's always next time in the next trip up here but yeah we're hanging out we got the fireplace going enjoying a nice little beverage and gonna have a nice meal later this evening but guys put Alaska on your list it is fantastic come up here do it make it happen foreign [Music] foreign [Music] yeah it's so cute so instead of like kind of overarching It kind of like be Lateral with the link and I kind of kind of whip it sideways did you see that there's more um one two three four five that was five you get more I'm behind it but it was fun I know you did good yeah if your rock turns in your gun that last one you did was good oh my God foreign with a quick start to the morning and finally being able to witness an Alaskan moose we were on our way towards the Kenai fjords National Park our plan for the morning was to get a quick hike in to witness the exit glacier [Music] established as an official Park in 1980 to protect the Alaskan wildlife and Landscape the Kenai fjords National Park spans over 600 000 Acres with 60 percent of the park covered by snow and ice the park is home to only a few Trails found at the end of the exit Glacier Road which Spurs off the Seward Highway just outside of the town of Seward at the end of this eight mile long road is the exit Glacier along with the Nature Center and trails that offer views of the glacier and the Harding ice field incredible to think that in 2010 this is where the glacier at one point was and then the Viewpoint way back over there that was 2005. so in five years that's how much loss and I'm probably estimate that at what 50 60 yards you think or so that's insane in five years and today it's tucked way up there which is probably another 100 yards or so so insane to think about that yeah goes as a reminder to get out and experience these Landscapes now as they are constantly changing in Dynamic ways I will say though although popular due to the ease of access this hike was certainly one of the most scenic viewpoints I've witnessed definitely put it on your list should you happen to venture out this way [Music] [Music] after grabbing a tasty local lunch of fish and chips we were off to find camp for the evening luckily there was a spot not too far outside of town that would be a welcome surprise given the scenery [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] well we found camp for the evening of day 12 here as you can see the bugs are out in full force so got my little netting on see how the rest of the evening goes but we found a nice little tucked away secluded spot with some vegetation and some trees and bushes and whatnot to protect us from the wind since being exposed out wide open on the river was pretty harsh so this will be good it's just with less wind equals more bugs but hopefully that'll die off this evening but yeah not bad beautiful area for sure can you see it yep just for proof just in case people don't believe me they're not even like mosquitoes they're like gnats or something so they're just more annoying I've eaten like five of them already foreign [Applause] the next morning we were greeted yet again by rainy conditions though we didn't let that damper the mood as breakfast was on point the plans for today was to head further south for the oceanfront views at Anchor Point one theme for this trip was the amount of road work construction that was taking place on nearly all roads we encountered this one however was more memorable as it reminded me of the standstill traffic experience on a daily basis back home in Washington as we came into Anchor Point we decided to venture on one of the roads leading down to the beach my excitement of exploring a new area got the best of me as I quickly learned the hard way of needing to look before you leap well kids always see how soft the uh rocks are so you don't have to try and use max tracks to get out from five feet from the road thank you [Applause] I know it doesn't look like much but this is very soft sand rock seaweed so guys don't do what I did and just go for it always kind of test the area before you just drive in and especially be mindful of the recovery gear that you have it would have been a lot easier with four tracks or even a snap strap but with two we may do with just a few attempts and that's all you got to do so just take the situation one step at a time and you'll get there don't freak out that you're stuck but um I gotta wash my hands this was a little stinky probably one of the stinkier recoveries that I've done but uh we're out we'll find camp thankfully mom didn't follow suit behind me to further the embarrassment of needing to recover both vehicles as opposed to the one though with the excitement of the afternoon out of the way we made for a nearby campground to post up for the evening giving us a chance to simply enjoy the views [Music] thank you [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Music] well guys as you can hear behind me we made it to uh Anchor Point here on the far south end on the Kenai Peninsula absolutely beautiful here got the waves the crashing waves there behind me the rain finally let off I don't think we've actually had a single day of no rain this entire trip and even if we have it came later in the evenings or started out that way but we did find a campground here kind of in the earlier afternoon it's nice to actually just set up camp earlier than late in the evening like we have been I've been driving a lot of miles so it's nice to just relax a little bit at Camp take in the views and just add yet another scenery list to our overall accomplishments and we've seen the massive mountains of the Brooks range way up North all the lakes and River spots that we've stayed at so far and the wide open plain area on the far end of the Denali highway so it's really nice to kind of taken a whole new landscape view with the ocean here behind me so really happy with that but honestly it's nice to just be able to hang out a little bit at Camp catch up on a couple of our favorite YouTube shows and just relax so as this trip is winding down it's definitely one where we're starting to reflect back on all our experiences so far and you know thinking back on it is just absolutely fantastic and guys put Alaska on your list it doesn't have to be the most grand trip in the entire world and it doesn't have to be several months long you just got to get up here pick what you want to see and just set out and do it so I know we still have a couple more days left but I honestly cannot wait to begin editing all this footage I have well over several hundred gigs of content of photo and video so I know this is going to be a very very exciting series to begin editing but with that yeah we're just going to hang out at Camp a little bit more for this evening before turning in and plan to head back prop towards hope tomorrow and check out that area for our final day of camping before flying back to Seattle but man good stuff good stuff put Alaska on your list make it happen this is truly a fantastic place to experience and embrace foreign welcome to Hope Alaska less than a two-hour drive from Anchorage this small town was all the rage when gold was initially discovered back in 1888 which soon after brought over 3 000 gold Seekers hoping to strike it rich the community was assumed a thriving social center with stores hotels social Halls Community councils post offices and saloons unfortunately hopes Heyday was short-lived by 1898 news of the famous Klondike gold rush in Canada's Yukon had spread and most of the miners in Hope packed up for their next opportunity among the original buildings still in use is the Hope Social Hall which was built in 1902. today hope is a known local gym for great opportunities of fishing rafting camping hiking and surprisingly incredible tasting food Camp Chef mom and I decided to take the day off from cooking to enjoy the Local eats and what would soon be known for their evening entertainment and live music [Music] while nearly everything on the menu sounded good what really caught my eye was the chef famous chicken wings naturally I had to order and compare against those from before and let me say these were by far among the very best that paired with a beverage of choice and you got yourself a fine meal with some of the best hospitality and atmosphere so far we decided to stay a while longer and embrace the local Flair of the evening's live music foreign [Music] Cafe on this fine Friday night was none other than the band known as loaded Karma this five-piece crew stole the hearts of everyone as they performed reggae hits with a banjo a pink guitar and memorable attire the band had certainly brought a smile to our face as well as a fun evening to celebrate our last night here in Alaska [Music] well good morning folks and welcome to day 15 of our trip here um we are in Hope Alaska and last night we spent the the night in town it was a really cool little place they had some live music going great food and uh just an awesome atmosphere so we ended up finding a open site here at the campground just at the very far end of town which was all of a few minute drive so we landed here late last night but as per usual and as the Alaskan morning start we have rain I don't think we've started a single day on this trip on clear skies but that's okay um this is our last night this is the last night we had uh sleeping in the tents our last pack down of the tents but we are going to move to give ourselves a little bit more room to make some breakfast before heading back towards Anchorage but man I'm glad we came here hope is a really cool unique little town a lot of history a lot of friendly folks here fun place put it on your itinerary all right last time can she do it lifted 4Runner versus five five mom with a little bit of water splash back so this one's been tough because we have to stand all over the truck and everything due to our vertical difficulties uh backing this big four person tin away but um I was leaving one of the ladder rungs down you can actually get a little bit more leverage but there we go always got to give her a hard time okay [Music] it's always difficult when anything comes to an end especially a first time experience like this in Alaska out of the 15-day Journey here there's absolutely nothing I would have changed on our itinerary well maybe one thing odd how the sunshine decided to come out in full effect on our final day as opposed to the weeks before [Music] [Music] before getting to the airport we had one final stop to make before returning back to Washington Craig and Brooke the owners of Alaska Overlander graciously invited us to their home not only to drop off the rigs but to host a lunch and catch up on our past two weeks on the road let me say the stories from our days here in Alaska will forever be memories held close to the heart and I can't thank Craig and Brooke enough for helping us turn this trip into a reality as lunch came and went so did the hours leading up to our flight back to Seattle and the realization of Life at home waiting for us 15 days over 2600 miles driven 68 hours on the road and a total Ascent of over 90 000 feet in elevation our time in Alaska was certainly well spent the Landscapes witnessed history learned people Met Food enjoyed and personal goals and challenges accomplished made these last two weeks simply Unforgettable dad this one was for you [Music] foreign [Applause] thank you [Music] thank you [Music] just beautiful that's the word for this whole series beautiful beautiful that would be the word your dad would have loved this until next time safe travels

Channel: Conquest Overland

Views: 842,627

Keywords: Toyota, Tacoma, Offroad, Overland, Travel, Adventure, 4Runner

Id: he6_AxoentA

Length: 112min 33sec (6753 seconds)

Published: Tue Sep 05 2023