Alaska Highway – Segment 3

(2018 Alaska Ep 27)

On June 17 we made our way from Muncho Lake (RabbiTRAILS Alaska Map, pt #31) to the small town of Watson Lake, Yukon (map pt #32).  North of Liard Hot Springs, we saw signs advising of Wood Bison along the highway.  We weren’t disappointed.

We stopped to see several individual and two larger herds of Wood Bison.

Our first take was the wood bison were smaller than the plains bison commonly seen at Yellowstone and elsewhere.  We learned that wood bison are actually larger but their overall numbers are much fewer.  Their behavior and demeanor are very similar, however.

Some even like to take dust baths to remove mites and excess winter coats  It is a sight indeed to see a 1500+ pound, 6-foot tall behemoth roll in the dirt like a hound dog!

Watson Lake

We arrived in Watson Lake, Yukon several hours later, and after getting set up, we visited what everyone who comes to Watson Lake visits – the sign post forest.

During construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942, a homesick soldier from Illinois added his hometown sign to an Army mileage post.  Others did the same and this quickly became a tradition followed by visitors from all over the world.  The single signpost has grown to a forest, with 90,000+ signs added over the years.

Make that 90,001 signs.

Critter Count Day 3 (Munchos Lake to Watson Lake)

• wood bison – 56
• black bear – 1 (smiling for the camera below)
• stone sheep – 1