Having arrived in Alaska the previous day, Choppy and I had one last day on the Alaska Highway.  Strangely enough, there are two ends to the Alaska Highway. Some people consider the end to be Delta Junction. When the Alaska Highway was built during WWII, this was the end of the newly completed road, as there already existed a road between Delta Junction and Fairbanks. Others consider the end to be Fairbanks. Considering I spent a couple hours in Fairbanks looking for anything marking the end of the Alaska Highway without finding anything, I’m less-than-impressed with their claim as the end of the Alaska Highway. Delta definitely wins the “cool things to take pictures with” aspect of the end of the road.

This was the view near our hotel in the morning. That's not fog obscuring the sun, it's smoke. This is probably when most people would decide to stay here until nature is less likely to prove deadly. I'm not most people.
This was the view near our hotel in the morning. That’s not fog obscuring the sun, it’s smoke from the nearby fires. This is probably when most people would decide to stay at the nice, pleasant hotel until nature is less likely to prove deadly. I’m not most people.
As we drove down the road, the smoke did not really clear up, though with the sun a little higher in the sky, it was at least brighter.
As we drove down the road, the smoke did not really clear up, though with the sun a little higher in the sky, it was at least brighter. Also? I really needed to clean off the windshield at that point, but I was not about to put gas in the car in Tok and clean the windshield. I had enough gas to get to the relatively un-middle of nowhere city of Fairbanks, where I presumed gas would be far cheaper.
Other than the bison, the trip across the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway had been large-animal-free. Leaving Tok, I saw this moose. Like a true Alaskan, she appeared unfazed by the nearby fires.
Other than the bison, the trip across the Canadian portion of the Alaska Highway had been large-animal-free. Leaving Tok, I saw this moose. Like a true Alaskan, she appeared unfazed by the nearby fires.
This sign showed fire information. Not in a "you should probably evacuate" way, but in a "hey, stuff's on fire. Here's where it is, in the event you want to look at it" way. Ah, Alaska.
This sign showed fire information. Not in a “you should probably evacuate” way, but in a “hey, stuff’s on fire. Here’s where it is, in the event you want to look at it” way. Ah, Alaska.
I'm pretty sure this is the time when most people who had ignored the previous warnings (obvious fire smoke and fire information board) would turn around and head back to the safety (and restaurants and hotels) of Tok. I did not.
I’m pretty sure this is the time when most people who had ignored the previous warnings (obvious fire smoke and fire information board) would turn around and head back to the safety (and restaurants and hotels) of Tok. I did not.
The end of the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction! As you can see, things got smokier. This was as close as we got to the fires - we were only a few miles away from them, and it was the only time on the trip that I actually saw Alaskans fazed by anything. They were all at the post office, looking at the updated fire information, as the fire was more or less right at Delta at this point.
The end of the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction! As you can see, things got smokier. This was as close as we got to the fires – we were only a few miles away from them, and it was the only time on the trip that I actually saw Alaskans fazed by anything. The fire was right outside town, and actually threatening homes and businesses.
The main signpost at the end of the Alaska Highway - 1422 miles, 1 broken finger and many adventures from its beginning in Dawson Creek.
The main signpost at the end of the Alaska Highway – 1422 miles, 1 broken finger and many adventures from its beginning in Dawson Creek.