Watson Lake, Alaska Highway, Yukon – Osterhausen goes international

The bison bulls already came down from their northern territories to mate with the cows. Still they are peacefully resting on the slopes on the other side of the ditch, breathing so hard that it steams from their nostrils and shake their head from left to right. Such a bull, up to nearly one ton heavy, accepts humans relatively close to him. He patiently lifts his head or sometimes his feet to give more action to the photos.

Contact Creek is the site where both of the construction teams of the Alaska Highway met and connected it with a bridge. The gas station here has the cheapest fuel, and many cars are lining up. 70 km further we are crossing the border to Yukon, one of three Canadian territories. Territories don’t have the same self-governmental rights as provinces do. In Watson Lake is the famous sign-post forest. During construction of Alaska Highway homesick soldier Carl K. Lindley from Illinois posted a sign of his village Danville and animated thousands of other travellers to emulate him. In the meanwhile around 65,000 signs from all over the world are fixed. Since this afternoon, the village of Osterhausen, district Mansfeld-Suedharz, federal state Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, is among them. Just beside we fixed the sign from welder Melvin from Capstick, Cape Breton Island, who had asked us for this favour.

In Watson Lake we are turning right to Robert Campbell Highway, named after a fur trader of the 19th century who discovered a canoe route through Yukon Territory. The road follows a valley between two mountain ranges. The scenery of the surrounding mountains, rivers and lakes, forest tundra, grasses and blooming flowers is very pretty. The gravel road is sometimes not wider than a better forest path, but partially already extended. Generally the highway is good for cars and motorhomes, but make sure to get updated information about road conditions.

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