The Yukon

After 3 weeks and driving thousands of miles, we finally make it to the Yukon. I'm excited because of the Yukon's fascinating history and the stories that came from it.  BTW the Yukon is at least twice the size of California with less than 40 thousand residents.

Yeah! We made it!

Shortly after crossing the border, we find ourselves in Watson Lake. A few weeks ago, all north bound traffic was stopped for days in Watson Lake because of a large washout on the Alaska Hwy. In fact, the manager of the RV park we stopped at 20 miles west, tells this story when the road opened again. The Alaska Hwy opened it at 11pm for a single lane of full supply trucks only.  First came the fuel trucks followed by those carrying food.  Everyone was so happy to get rolling again.  The truck drivers were honking and waving while the residents all cheered them on. The Alaska Hwy is truly the lifeline for supplying all the small communities up the line.

In Dawson, a local resident tells her story of the town's experience of the road closure. Fortunately, one of the town's grocery stores had just been stocked, but the other one was awaiting truck deliveries. The owner had supplies flown in at a great cost.  The residents happily paid for the extra expense to get their supplies.

There are two main attractions in Watson Lake:

•  the Northern Lights Center, which is disappointing because of the washed out colors in their iMax Aurora Boreas film. Perhaps they need an upgrade to their projection system.
• the Signpost Forest, which is free and amazing to wander through.

Watson Lake welcome sign

Northern Lights Center

Entry into the Signpost Forest

Row after row of

single rows made up

of single signpost posts.

After wandering around the Sign Post Forest, we're back on the road for some classic Yukon scenery.
About mid day we stop for a short hike to see some waterfalls.

Long board walk through forest

A squirrel protests our presence

One of two of the double waterfalls.

Driving the Alaska Hwy does have some downsides.

Peter is VERY happy he installed an extra bug screen

A retiree from LA is going to have a job cleaning this car

In Teslin, we stop to see the Tlingit Cultural Center.

Totems of the 5 Clans - Raven, Frog, Beaver, Wolf and Eagle

Boat with traditional shape and decorations

Peter models his Eagle hat next to it's Totem Pole

Since it's Saturday and we don't have reservations, we stop outside of Whitehorse at Taggish. This small outpost was a major border stop manned by Mounties to collect customs from the Gold Stampeders entering Canada via the Chilkoot Trail. Apparently, the Mounties managed to collect a good sum of money in tariffs from the gold hungry crowds that came through this point. The town is home to only 206 residents, but it has it's own radio station that plays good music.

Mountains to south of Taggish River separating Skagway - major entry point to the Klondike gold fields

Taggish believes in the basics

People fishing from the bridge over the Taggish River

It's an ideal summer day and we enjoy the weather immensely. A lady we buy ice cream from says we should enjoy it as today is the best weather they've seen for the whole year. She tells us of the high snows and short supplies of the previous winter and of the store shelves going bare during the Spring Alaskan Hwy closure.

A summer's day in Taggish

We are surprised at how long the days still are. Sun sets around 10:30pm and rises around 5:30am. The sky is never really dark with a long twilight lasting through the night. It takes some adjusting to the long days and getting enough rest.

Sun thinking about setting around 10pm

Peter reading by sun light @ 10pm

Our campsite bathed in evening light

The next morning we head up the road for Whitehorse. 

By rocky cliffs

and snow covered mountains

past the Carcross Desert

But by far, the most spectacular sight is the lovely Emerald Lake, just south of Whitehorse. The lake gets it's stunning color from bottom deposits of marl, which is composed of clay and calcium carbonate.

Emerald Lake Yukon