I told him "Julie, don't go!"

Julius the deermouse decided to ignore his wife’s advice and hitched a ride in Whistler. He chewed on a paper bag and took a few bites out of an onion and as a result left evidence of his presence. Next night, he again forgot himself and made noise while gnawing on a sweet potato - really not smart. Next day saw the installation of Brutus, the mouse trap. Sadly, the Ides of March came to Julius in August in Prince George of all places.

Chetwynd - result of annual chainsaw carving festival

We are stopped at Chetwynd TI for lunch break. On a mission to get north but wondering if we'll make it as we notice fall starting here. 

Prince George seems to be the divide between climates. Temperature has dropped dramatically (14 degrees rather than 30!) Fall is showing up - birch and aspen are beginning to turn yellow. And the fire hazard is down to Medium from Extreme. 

We hope to make it to Fort Nelson tonight but if we do, will be staying in a provincial park so no wifi. 

As with last trip, we are noticing the stark contrast between industrial projects and the natural world. Clearcuts and a steady parade of logging trucks, village-sized cleared areas with drilling rigs, and massive clearings with enormous hydro towers stretching along valleys and up mountain sides.  All this in the iconic boreal forest with frequent signs warning about animal crossing.

Gas got cheaper every stop north. We keep wondering when it will stop. 

Sky still smoky and warnings still present

Wishful thinking

We came upon this just outside 100 Mile House. I'd give anything to see a wild badger. This signs just tantalizes me. Only two deer so far....

Tombstone here we come....

After a phone call to Tombstone Territorial Park, we are now completely focused on getting north of Dawson City as fast as we can. The colour is at its peak so taking the planned five days isn’t good enough! Prince George was our destination for tonight as we tried to get out of the smoke and heat but we are going to travel further. 

After leaving Cache Creek, we travelled north on the Chilcotin Plateau keenly aware of the fires. The smoke blanketed the countryside as we passed patches of scorched earth. Stopping in 100 mile house TI our map was circled with current active fires. None affected us - nothing close to the highway but the struggle to control them continues with no rest in sight. It was 38 degrees in 100 Mile House yesterday and threatened to be hotter today. The woman said the fires seem to be creating their own climate. They have been living in solid smoke in Clinton as well as the hot weather for at least a month. I can’t imagine how horrible it has been. 

Hill above Cache Creek

Skyline crossing Chilcotin Plateau

Just outside 150 mile House - Fire jumped highway

Afraid of heights? Skip this one!

We travelled from Whistler to Cache Creek on the Pemberton Highway. Unlike 30 years ago, the road was good if winding and steep. Clear rivers and meandering creeks all competed for best colour in show. Tall mountains and roads lined with fireweed surrounded us as we wound through the valley outside Pemberton. The Lillooet countryside is similar to Kamloops - dusty green sage growing on golden dry grass. 

We climbed up, up, up, then down the winding 13% grade with rock-faced mountains lining either side of the canyon. 

Cache Creek is surrounded by fire-scorched hills. We heard the harrowing story of evacuation from our waitress. They were out eleven days, others as long as six weeks! 

13% grade - going downnnnnnn!

Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything….

Said a woman coming back down the trail with her cell phone pressed to her ear. Go figure, we were already gob-smacked by glimpses of the turquoise river raging past us as we walked the forest trail to Nairn falls, our first stop of the day. The trek was dusty and the warning about wearing sturdy footwear accurate. The mile-long hike was rough but beautiful and we could hear the thunder of the falls long before we reached them. Then the challenge of capturing the scene in a photo. Sorry, Lady. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything!

Trail alongside Nairn River. Turquoise colour from rock dust.

Powerful falls thunder through narrow chasm

Wear sturdy footwear!

We are on-line!

Two nights without internet and nothing to do at night but watch the stars slowly blink alive. 

We’ve spent two days in Whistler RV park 20 km from Whistler Village. We hadn’t been up here for years and loved the drive through the mountains. The road was upgraded for the Olympics so easy and spectacular. We met up with Fay and Ted for happy hour and dinner already made - shades of our first Yukon trip.  

Our first full day started with a trip to Brandywine Falls, an easy walk to a spectacular long drop of water into a glacier-carved canyon. Everything in the forest is carpeted with thick, dry moss and must be a dripping rainforest (snow forest) in the winter.

View from our campsite, Whistler RV Park

Brandywine Falls

Brandywine Falls View of Daisy Lake

We went into Whistler Village for lunch and a walk-about. It has changed dramatically since we were last there decades ago. A meandering pedestrian-only village with every description of shops and restaurants and street entertainment  - Olympic rings, immaculate gardens, water features and art decorate the village. Our waitress has found that BC tourists are in the minority, even Canadians are not as numerous as people from around the world.

2:00 pm ferry tomorrow!

We are in the final stages of preparing for another trip to the Yukon. We check the fire situation in the interior constantly but are heading out hoping to make it through the smoke and fires in the interior and get further north quickly.
But first, we meet up with our intrepid Yukon partners for the first three or four days. You wouldn't want to be there. We'll spend all our time reminiscing about our first fabulous trip. A trip of a lifetime. It was fabulous enough that we want more! Last visit - spring, this visit - fall. Shorter days, maybe fewer bugs and hopefully loads of colour - including in the sky. Oh yes, also a bigger trailer - no cut-off tiny bed and squeezing past one another to move from one spot to another. A roomy queen-sized bed, counter space, living room and largish shower! Who could ask for anything more!

On ferry, leaving Victoria