We left Dawson, following the Top of the World Highway, destination Chicken, Alaska. Yes, there really is a town called Chicken. That wasn't it's original name.
The Top of the World Highway has pretty awesome views. We had thought about boondocking somewhere on top but with cloudy, threatening weather, we decided to go right to Chicken. The border crossing was no problem. The road is mostly gravel but you'll want to take your time to take in the 365 degree views of boreal forest with some peaks above treeline.
Oh, and if you are hankering for golf, you can stop and play at the 9 hole golf course, Top of the World Golf, a few miles up the road from the Yukon River ferry.
For the traveler who has navigated the windy, downhill stretches that the woman George quoted called a nightmare, Chicken isn't much of a relief. There is nowhere to wash your vehicle. In fact, the RV parks have only electric. We stayed in "The Town of Chicken" RV park. You could fill your water from a tank; dump, even if you were staying at the RV park, was $15. The other RV park, Chicken Creek RV Park, charged $12 if you weren't staying there and $6 for guests. Both are Passport America parks and The Town of Chicken RV park also has a coupon for a 2nd night free in the Great Alaska Tour Saver book.The Town of Chicken RV Park offered three-hole golf. Frankly, the course did not look in playable condition even though they supplied the clubs and we saw no one using this free attraction. (It did rain, though, which could discourage the hearty.)
There is a good reason for the charge, however. Because of the permafrost being only 6-12" below the surface, Chicken does not have a way to process sewage nor can they put in septic tanks. Sewage must be hauled to Tok.
Other than a post office and the two RV parks, the only other shopping in Chicken was what George humorously dubbed "The Mall." This was the big time! In one building was housed the Chicken Mercantile Emporium, the Chicken Liquor Store, the Chicken Creek Saloon, the attack chicken and companion duck, and the Chicken Creek Cafe. The cafe offered the special, "Complete chicken dinner for $1.50." Visions of chicken, potatoes and peas danced in my head. However, a fellow New Horizon owner we'd met in Dawson Creek spoiled the surprise. It wasn't even a chicken wing. The complete chicken dinner is a hard boiled egg! (See bottom right on menu.)
We were disappointed to find out we had just missed Chickenstock - Chicken's music festival. That would have been fun.
Our Great Alaskan Tour Saver book included a coupon for a free gift at the "Town of Chicken/Gold Panner" store - chicken key rings. My sister spotted a coupon for a gift when she was checking out Chicken online to see where we would travel. We printed those off the Web site - your choice of bumper stickers. Here is a photo of our bounty. The cinnamon roll George is clutching was not free. Chicken Creek RV Park actually had the nicest gift store of the lot, a place that sold coffee and pastries. Their competition with the cinnamon roll was a cinnamon roll scone. George sampled both. Well, I did too- a tiny bite of each.(Of course the cinnamon tasting was done in the name of Lloyd.)
So that was Chicken. We did have WiFi so got a little caught up and rested before heading back to the Alaska Highway and north again. Oh, and by the way, Chicken was originally named Ptarmigan - also known as the snow chicken, but no one could spell it! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak
Photos by George and Jaimie Bruzenak
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