After a stressful stretch, things finally started looking up! Sage recovered after a couple of days of rest, and soon she was back to her usual self, eating normally and full of energy. With Sage on the mend, we turned our attention to the van. The part we ordered for the brakes arrived over the weekend, and we replaced it right there in the parking lot of the Ford dealership in Whitehorse. Thankfully, everything seemed to be running smoothly again, so we said our goodbyes to Whitehorse and headed back to Kluane National Park and Reserve.

We spent the next day exploring Kluane with easy hikes, giving Sage a chance to stretch her legs without overexerting herself. The beauty of the park was stunning, and though we didn’t want to leave, we were running short on time. We had a reservation for a public use cabin in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve on July 4th, so we packed up and made our way toward Alaska.

We packed up our gear, along with Sage and Gwyn’s, and hiked 3 miles along Caribou Creek to a public use cabin for a two-night stay.

If you ever get the chance to visit Wrangell-St. Elias, this is a must-do! We will posting a blog about just how to do this, so stay tuned. The isolation and beauty are unmatched, and the park is dog-friendly, so Sage and Gwyn got to join us for the adventure. We were so glad that the cabin was only 3 miles since Gwyn was just 5 months old and still struggling to hike long distances.

The cabin was far from private with many other hikers passing through, But the experience of celebrating July 4th in the middle of Alaska, surrounded by wilderness, was unforgettable. We spent the days playing cards, exploring the area, and finally feeling refreshed after the challenging few weeks we’d had. The cabin felt like a reset, a chance to fully appreciate why we love this lifestyle.