Dalton Highway and Coldfoot

We pack and leave Manley Hot Springs and make a stop at the town boat ramp on the Tanana River, which is wide but slow moving this time of year.  Steve pulls out a book and asks one of us to read to the group.  As we pull away from the boat ramp,  we hear the story of the Manley Hot Springs Massacre when a drifter on the run from the law brutally murdered six townspeople and one state trooper not to long ago at that spot.  Thanks a lot Steve.

The story is poignant to be because I had taken a hike to the town cemetery yesterday, unaware of this history.  But we saw nothing but good in our visit here.

Steve promises a 'quality van day' and it is. The Dalton Highway heads north, roughly following the Alaska Pipeline which we see much of the way. It is a long drive along the sometime dirt / sometime paved highway with a few construction delays as sections of the road are graded.  We see few vehicles, mostly trucks,  a few cars, two motorcycles, and a couple on a tandem bicycle.  At the Yukon River crossing there is a chance to see the pipeline up close and it is remarkable.  Later we cross the Arctic Circle and photos are mandatory.