August 2022 Canlife Correspondence, Our Almost Monthly Newsletter

“This place, the land is more ancient and pure; it's like a concentrated tonic for the soul. If you take too much it can infect you, and if you don't take enough you have missed it completely and your efforts were in vain.” ~ From NPS website, Denali National Park

Denali: Our 50th U.S. National Park with Hamlet!

The caribou bull pops out of the brush along the road and heads straight for us at a relaxed trot.  Dismounting our bikes, we move over and give him all the space he needs.  He runs right up the middle of the road just like he owns the place -- which, of course, he does.  Up close, we see the fine velvet fur still covering his massive antlers, impressive even from a distance.  Paying us little mind, he continues on his journey for another 100 yards; when he stops, he turns back, giving us a parting look, and then pops back into the brush on the other side of the road.  

In the past 10 years, we've visited 50 U.S. National Parks with Hamlet + 4 others to which we had to fly or ferry.  There is only 1 more park available to him via roads, Kenai Fjords in Seward, AK.  Each and every park feels special, but we have to admit that Denali holds an unique appeal -- it is a quintessential "bucket list" destination and has been on ours for a lifetime.  Park visitations here number in the hundreds of thousands each year, but having a "Denali" experience means something different to each person.  Unlike other parks where most visitors go and "do the thing" -- view sunrise from Haleakala summit, watch Old Faithful erupt, or hike up Half Dome -- Denali offers 6 million acres (most of it wilderness) to discover for yourself.  Where else can you simply strike out with your hiking partners, gear, compass, and map and walk wherever the mood, curiosity, and the terrain will lead you?  

We gave ourselves 5 days here, yet barely got out of sight distance from the park road.  We were lucky to take a sampling of adventures by bus, bike, and foot during our time base-camped at the Teklanika campground -- the furthest campground you can get in an RV.  It's prepared us for our return visit, because once is just never enough, where we intend to spend some days backpacking and get further into the heart of the park.  We were lucky enough to see the summit of Denali not only once, but on 3 separate occasions, both inside the park and along the Parks Highway running along the southern border of the preserve.  We were lucky to simply be here, feel the vibe of the place, and let the wilderness soak into our bones...and join the 30% Club!

Along the road into the park, you can only drive your own car to mile 15.  After that you need a reservation to camp at Teklanika campground, take the shuttle bus, walk, or ride a bike to go further.  At the checkpoint, we told the Volunteer Ranger that our camper had been to 50 parks, and she proudly gave him a Jr. Ranger badge!

Roads + Climate Change Impact

The only road into the park winds nearly 90 miles through the rugged and ever changing landscape of the Alaskan interior.  It is cold, wet, frozen, hot, and unstable -- things change all the time.  Much of the road rolls through low valleys and vibrant forest, other parts cling to the side of the mountain with tenacity and hope.  Last year one section in the Polychrome Pass area lost its footing and the road fell away -- plunging nearly 100 feet in some spots.  

This particular road crossed over a section of steep glacial till, rocks, gravel, and dirt all pushed into a massive pile during the last ice age.  Stability here came from the permafrost layer of ice which kept all the conglomerate stuck together, but climate change has altered the dynamics.  Park officials and road crews had observed the situation since 2016, and yearly had to add extra material to keep the road open; but, with the increasing warm weather in summer, the slope became less and less stable.  In August 2021, the park beyond this section had to be evacuated before something catastrophic happened.  A new bridge project is underway, but the closure will remain likely through the summer of 2023, possibly longer.  This is the new reality of how we will have to adapt to climate change.  

In Front of the Mic: America's Largest RV Show, Sept 14-18th!

We are excited to return to America's Largest RV Show in Hershey, PA again this year at the Giant Center!  We'll be presenting two of our popular seminars: Tips & Tricks for Exploring America's National Parks -AND- Living on the Open Road: How in the World Do You...? 

Click here for show tickets and details, and here for more information about our daily seminars. Hope to see y'all there! P.S.  For those of you wondering if we are driving...we are flying and will be returning to Alaska for the remainder of September.

Featured Blog: Is Solar Powered RV Life More Sustainable? 

Recently published in Escapees Magazine, we explore the environmental, financial, and personal impact of living on the road for nearly 10 years.   What the heck is Escapees?  Escapees RV Membership Club https://escapees.com/ started as a homegrown venture in 1978 with 164 members, a 5-page newsletter, and a small gathering in Bakersfield, CA.  It has grown to a diverse, multi-generational club of 60K members strong with over 100 employees, an online magazine, gatherings across the nation, and a whole host of resources for RVers -- from weekenders to full-timers -- many who work from the road.

**Coming Next Month: Product review of the Renogy One, an all-in-one energy monitoring and smart home automation dashboard. We are currently testing out this product and will be doing a review and video for our September newsletter!

Featured Videos: RVing to Alaska - Weeks 7 & 8 + Special Feature!

Week 7: ALCAN Highway to Alaska Interior  

Now, THIS was a BIG week!   After 10 years and160K+ miles around the continent, Hamlet finally entered his 50th U.S. state...and we celebrated in style!  Not bad for a camper built during the Eisenhower administration. Join in the fun...

Week 8: Rendezvous in the Range Rally 

Shortly after arriving in Alaska's interior, we attended our first ever RV rally sponsored by RVing to Alaska https://rvingtoalaska.com/ at the base of the gorgeous Gulkana Glacier.  We met some fun new people, got some great tips of places to explore, and learned of helpful Alaskan resources.  This is an annual event, so we recommend you check it out if you are planning a future RV trip to the last frontier.

Special Feature:  Driving Alaskan Highways - The Ecstasy & the Agony

How are the roads?  How has Hamlet fared?  We've been asked this question hundreds of times now, so we put together a short video to show you what we've experienced over the past couple of months, and what you can expect as you travel through northern Canada and Alaska.


Recipe of the Month: Veggie Denali Dogs
In celebration of Hamlet making it to his 50th national park, we named this new creation 
"Denali Dogs," which we made on our fun OTZI Grill.   Think "meatball sub" on a skewer, stuffed with cheese and dipped in spicy marinara!  For more camp cooking inspiration, we created this compilation of our favorite recipes. 

Good News from Oliver!

For those of you who have been receiving our newsletter this summer, you have heard us talk about Oliver Tic from Slovenia.  He and his precious pup, Carlitos, set out on an adventure of a lifetime -- to WALK from Tierra del Fuego, Argentina and Prudhoe Bay, Alaska....30,000 miles!  On August 18th at 8:30pm, they made it -- in style and with a huge celebration!  Now that's an incredible accomplishment.  If you want to know more, follow him on Facebook. We are certain this is not his last pedestrian journey and are anxious to hear what he chooses to tackle next...after some well-deserved rest, that is.

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See you on the road, and be sure to honk if you see Hamlet rolling through your town!