As I write this, day four of the drive up is only a little more than twenty four hours ago but it already seems like days ago. It is amazing how one's persepective of time can change so much at times.  After picking up a bit of extra FirstMate in Whitehorse - thanks to John and Laura at the char fish farm for helping us out there- we continued on up the Alcan. As Warren slept, I had caribou and a very intense wolverine out on the highway with me as well as a few owls. I drove until around 130 am, about 75 kilometers outside of Burwash Landing, before calling it a night. A quick drop of the dogs and I was off to bed. Warren was already sleeping. This week is my time for sleep deprivation - his will be on the trail soon enough.
We awoke to a brisk -17 celsius and a great view of the mountains. It is so refreshing to see these amazing mountain vistas again. The landscape outside of Whitehorse up  through the Glenellen area of Alaska is very similiar to Yellowknife with its black spruce and willow trees. The only thing that makes one realize that this is nowhere near Yellowknife is the mountains. The sky was abit cloudy so the tips of most of the mountains were hidden from view creating a mysterious look. 
Our border crossing was easy. We had the best customs officer yet with a cheery demeanor. It was very refreshing. For those of you that cross the border frequesntly, you know what I mean.
Crossing into Alaska the landscape is really the same as the Yukon except that on Monday morning there had been a light dusting of snow on this sideof the border and it created a very magically white coated landscape.
We stopped in Glennellen at the Carobou Cafe for a quick lunch. It is  a family run restaurant  that we highly recommend for its real hospitality and homecooked meals - even when the power goes out the cooking continues as we found out. The drive from Glenellen to Willow was full of vistas of magestic peaks, each turn you go around is a beautiful sight to see. The residents here really are blessed and we enjoyed each moment of it all.
Late in the evening we arrived at Willow, enjoyed a brief visit with John and Katie Woods and then collapsed at their comfortable house. They have been gracious enough to offer us a homebase while we are here. This  takes so much off our minds. It was a real joy to wake up this morning to look out the front windows and see MT. Mckinley bathed in the pink light of dawn as we listened to the dogs( ours and the Woods) howling to greet the day. Life is good.

More tomorrow.
Kate