Not Just Alaska

This trip started off as "Wouldn't it be cool if..." and is now becoming reality. After raising a family and working for 35 years it is time for us to explore with no set path... Read more

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Not Just Alaska No Set Path
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Day 21
Thursday, June 7, 2018
⛅ 5 °C
Altitude: 640 m
Canada Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport 60.7161, -135.053760°42’58” N 135°3’13” W
Whitehorse walk about
June 7, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 5 °C
Great day, met up with a friend for lunch, got caught up talking and walking around, found a Laundromat and availed ourselves of its facilities, Janet bought her Quiviut (and Arctic Fox!), by the time we were ready to go to some museums they were all closed. We shall have to try again!Read more
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Day 22
Friday, June 8, 2018 at 2:49 PM
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 640 m
Canada Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport 60.718078, -135.04975760°43’5” N 135°2’59” W
Hike - No go
June 8, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
The plan today was to hike Grey Mountain to the summit. It was great until the storm clouds came rolling in. When the snow began to fall we debated continuing thinking that perhaps the storm would pass us by. We aborted our hike further along when the snow did not abate but got a little worse and we realized the clouds were no longer only to our front but behind us as well. A couple of hardy souls passed by us on their way in but we decided not to tempt fate; besides it was cold, windy and thundering, that was good enough for us Southerners! By the way, the views (when we had them) were spectacular!Read more
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Day 22
Friday, June 8, 2018 at 7:36 PM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 640 m
Canada Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport 60.718078, -135.04975760°43’5” N 135°2’59” W
Museum Instead
June 8, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
After aborting our hike, we decided to go visit a museum instead, so we went to the MacBride Museum. . It is a wonderful place and I loved how the museum has exhibits both in and out of doors. Sam McGee’s cabin has been faithfully restored and is included with the outdoor exhibits, so too are a small river boat and the telegraph station. the museum is currently expanding and remodelling so we were unable to go into the telegraph station as it is part of the section undergoing construction. In case you are wondering, the telegraph station is the building nestled underneath the modern museum and will be accessible through a courtyard in the middle of the museum once it is done. On our way back to camp, we stopped by Miles Canyon to scope out a possible hike for tomorrow.Read more
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Day 24
Sunday, June 10, 2018
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 720 m
Canada Faro 62.228542, -133.3531662°13’43” N 133°21’11” W
Faro, Yukon
June 10, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
We got sidetracked at Carmacks by 163km and landed at Faro for the night. Highway 4 – (the Robert Campbell Highway) has some spectacular scenery (even through the rain). Faro was established in 1968 as a mining town just above the Pelly River. In the picture below of the Pelly River, you can see Faro as the collection of buildings to the right hand side of the Picture. Enroute to Faro, we stopped to explore the Montague Road House Historic Site. Even as a ruin, it is still a very impressive building. The smaller of the two buildings was where they kept food frozen in the winter.Read more
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Day 25
Monday, June 11, 2018
🌧 10 °C
Altitude: 634 m
Canada Yukon 62.181674, -134.96377562°10’54” N 134°57’50” W
Little Salmon Lake, Yukon
June 11, 2018 in Canada ⋅ 🌧 10 °C
Did not travel too far today, we found a great campsite on the beach at the West end of Little Salmon Lake and decided to spend the rest of the day there. On our way in we chanced upon this little guy, he had such a blasé attitude that he had to stop for a scratch before meandering on his way.Read more
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Day 26
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 11:03 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 588 m
Canada Yukon 62.034112, -135.86518362°2’3” N 135°51’55” W
Columbian Disaster, yukon
June 12, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Along the Robert Campbell Highway there is a very prominent feature on the Yukon River called Eagle Rock as named by the coastal Chilkat Traders. . In 1906 it was the site of the worst accident in Yukon’s Riverboat history. In September of that year the sternwheeler, Columbian exploded and burned. The streamer was carrying a crew of 25 men and a full cargo that included cattle, and 3 tonnes of blasting powder destined for the Tantalus Butte coal mine downriver. Five men lost their lives and another was badly burned. Today, this area is the scene of the aftermath of a massive wildfire that consumed the forest as far as the eye can see.Read more
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Day 26
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 11:03 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 532 m
Canada Carmacks 11 62.088468, -136.2872962°5’18” N 136°17’14” W
Carmacks, Yukon
June 12, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Historically, Carmacks has been an important waypoint for travellers in the Yukon. It was a major stop on the Winter Road from Whitehorse to Dawson for the White Pass & Yukon Route (WP & YR) company. In the summer, Carmacks was an important stop on for river boats on the way from Whitehorse to Dawson. Sternwheelers would take on wood to feed their boilers and also take on coal from nearby mines to deliver to Dawson. Finally, when the Klondike Highway was built it passed through Carmacks so the community was able to survive the demise of the Winter Road and sternwheelers.
I had a personal reason as well to stop in Carmacks, to visit the site and cairn memorializing the death of my uncle, RCMP Cpl. R.W. AsbilRead more
The area looks so beautiful. And it’s incredibly meaningful to be able to visit the cairn for your uncle. Alysia
6/17/18Reply
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Day 26
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 5:56 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 484 m
Canada Yukon Crossing 62.356994, -136.45687862°21’25” N 136°27’25” W
Five Finger Rapid
June 12, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Further along the Yukon River is Five Finger Rapid. In the time of sternwheelers only one channel (the northern most) was deep enough to let the ship pass through the Fiver Finger Rapid. The current is very strong here but when the water level was low the boats could steam up and through the rapid. At high water the falls created a 1 -2 foot drop. As a result a cable was attached to the rocks so that sternwheelers could winch themselves up stream. While the system worked, boats continued to strike the rocks. In 1900 blasting began to get rid of the rapid and the channel was widened by 20 feet. The rocks are favourite nesting sites for some birdsRead more
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Day 26
Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 11:59 PM
⛅ 11 °C
Altitude: 542 m
Canada Tatchun Lake 62.298319, -136.14651462°17’54” N 136°8’47” W
Tatchun Lake, Yukon
June 12, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Beautiful out-of-the-way campsite. In case you were wondering about the longer daylight hours, this is our camp at midnight. And this is how we go to sleep now. Pretty glamorous don't you think?
Super galmorous! No need for a nightlight when you get up for the facilities at night, though!😄
6/17/18Reply
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Day 27
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 12:04 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 308 m
Canada Yukon River 64.059941, -139.43417364°3’36” N 139°26’3” W
Enroute to Dawson City
June 13, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
We travelled to Dawson City today. Enroute we stopped to enjoy the view of the Tintina Trench. The trench runs from Alaska in a South Easterly direction across the centre of the Yukon. We were also lucky enough to come across these swans and basking butterfliesRead more
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Day 27
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 9:10 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 286 m
Canada Yukon River 64.061657, -139.43844264°3’42” N 139°26’18” W
Dawson
June 13, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Arrived in Dawson City mid-afternoon. We found a great site at the government campground just across the river. We did a little sightseeing and then back to camp where we met a group of film makers and writers who live in Dawson and camped beside us. We chatted the night away and before going to bed at 2 am we were invited to a screening of local films. By the way, in one of the pictures below, you can see a scar on the mountain above the city. This landslide is named Moosehide Slide. It is a prehistoric slide but the ground continues to move averaging approx 4.5 cm a year. In this way it is more like an earth glacier than a true landslide. The sagging buildings are a result of building on premafrost and expecting to heat said building.Read more
What is the story about your uncle, and the cairn in the picture from when he was with the RCMP?
6/16/18Reply
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Day 30
Saturday, June 16, 2018
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 719 m
Canada Eagle Plains 66.372268, -136.71574766°22’20” N 136°42’57” W
Eagle Plains, Here we Come
June 16, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Our day began with the sound of rain lightly hitting the canvas of our tent and then get more serious about trying to get us wet. Fortunately we had prepared for this eventuality the night before so we were able to get on the road in very quick order. The Dempster Highway is only paved for a very short distance at the junction with the Klondike Highway. We were warned to ensure we had GOOD tires and GOOD spares. The highway is 736km long and the first gas station is at Eagle Plains (at 369 km along the highway). The first ANYTHING is at Eagle Plains. This may not seem like a long distance until you realize you are driving through the mountains on gravel roads. At the beginning of the highway a warning is posted that there are no emergency medical services on the highway. Take that as you will. We were lucky in that while scanning the mountains around us (during one of our many stops), we got to watch some Dahl Sheep and their babies. I was surprised to see as much snow as we did almost right away after turning onto the highway.Read more
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Day 30
Saturday, June 16, 2018
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 719 m
Canada Eagle Plains 66.372268, -136.71574766°22’20” N 136°42’57” W
Eagle Plains Here we Come 2
June 16, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
There is a stretch of mountains that are primarily made of softer rocks such as limestone and shales and amongst these rocks are outcrops of Dolomite which is more resistant to erosion. There are also some fantastical formations called tors protruding from the slopes. they are caused by frost fracturing and are only found in unglaciated terrain. At about 256 km along the highway there is a lookout. The views from here, even on a rainy day, were awesome. See for yourself. We finally stopped for the night at Eagle Plains. Tomorrow the Arctic Circle.Read more
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Day 31
Sunday, June 17, 2018 at 4:17 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Canada Inuvik 68.360744, -133.72301868°21’39” N 133°43’23” W
Inuvik
June 17, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
The scenery along this stretch of the Dempster is also very changeable. We were lucky to watch a gang of Sandhill Cranes loitering on the road and Janet spotted a Grizzly.
The ferry at Tsiigehtchic has been the largest ferry we have been on in this journey so far. We were able to get out of the truck and stretch our legs for the sort time it took to get across the Mackenzie River. Last stop of the day InuvikRead more
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Day 31
Sunday, June 17, 2018
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 688 m
Canada 66.565332, -136.30736966°33’55” N 136°18’27” W
Artctic Circle 66.565332N 136.307369W
June 17, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Spend the day travelling up to Inuvik. The day began very foggy and visibility slowly improved as we moved along. Two sections of the highway can be used as emergency airstrips, those sections were rather welcome sights as the road is wider and not as muddy as the long sections in between. At the Arctic Circle we stopped for the obligatory photo – op and took advantage of better visibility to scan the hillsides with the binoculars.Read more
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Day 33
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 at 12:09 AM UTC
⛅ 7 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Canada Tuktoyaktuk Airport 69.445358, -133.03418169°26’43” N 133°2’3” W
Tuktoyaktuk 3
June 19, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 7 °C
On our way back down to Inuvik we chanced upon some Caribou and Ptarmigan. We couldn't get a good picture of the big bulls as they were too far away.
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Day 33
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 UTC
☁️ 11 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Canada Tuktoyaktuk Airport 69.445358, -133.03418169°26’43” N 133°2’3” W
Tuktoyaktuk
June 19, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Tuktoyaktuk (or just Tuk) is a village as far away as you can get. It is not for everyone as we found out listening to other visitors. We loved it. We met wonderful people and snacked on freshly smoked whitefish. What is it like? we will let the pictures speak for us.Read more
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Day 33
Tuesday, June 19, 2018 UTC
☁️ 11 °C
Altitude: 33 m
Canada Tuktoyaktuk Airport 69.445358, -133.03418169°26’43” N 133°2’3” W
1
Tuktoyaktuk 2
June 19, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
More sights.
What an amazing adventure you’re having!
7/6/18Reply
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Day 35
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 12:30 AM
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: 1,218 m
Canada Yukon 64.762678, -138.46889964°45’46” N 138°28’8” W
Back Down the Dempster
June 21, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
We left Inuvik late the 20th of June, expecting to take our time over two days. The sky was clear, the sun never set, we heard rain was in the forecast so we drove through the night. These were some of the sights we saw.Read more
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Day 35
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 2:13 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 1,063 m
Canada Henry Creek 64.760921, -138.37276964°45’39” N 138°22’22” W
Back Down the Dempster 2
June 21, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
We almost made it to Tuk and back without incident but 104km from the end of the highway we got a flat. Janet enjoyed the scenery while Kyle and Colin (our Aussie hitchhiker) changed the tire.
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Day 35
Thursday, June 21, 2018 at 3:37 AM
⛅ 10 °C
Altitude: 984 m
Canada August 17 Creek 64.469506, -138.20660164°28’10” N 138°12’24” W
Back Down the Dempster 3
June 21, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Almost there. After the flat tire, the decision to carry on to Dawson to get it fixed was easy. We will go back up to Tombstone Territorial Park for some hiking later.
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Day 37
Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 4:09 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 1,277 m
Canada Ogilvie Mountains 64.583516, -138.27385564°35’1” N 138°16’26” W
Tombstone
June 23, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
We stayed in Dawson for a day so we could drop off our tire for repair then made our way back up to Tombstone Territorial Park. We had every intention of staying in Tombstone for a few days and get some serious hiking done. We went for a series of short hikes and only got to go on one long hike up a mountain before having to go back to Dawson to pick up the tire. The good people at the Interpretive Centre are very friendly and enthusiastic. They ae more than willing to give you suggestions for places to hike, what to try to see and are very helpful in helping identify the plants and animals you may have seen. Below are some of the pictures from the top of the mountain, the Arctic Ground Squirrel that was hoping to share our lunch and some plants (a type of heather and Labrador Tea) from on our way back down.Read more
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Day 40
Tuesday, June 26, 2018 at 9:21 PM
☁️ 17 °C
Altitude: 265 m
Canada Benson Creek 64.084447, -139.44215664°5’4” N 139°26’32” W
Steamboat Graveyard
June 26, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Next to the government campground across the river from Dawson City are the remains of several steamboats that once made their way up and down the river transporting goods and people. The S.S. Keno by contrast has been restored and sits on the waterfront in Dawson City. On our last day at Tombstone Janet hurt her back so this return trip to Dawson was well timed. However, before heading out again and risking possible further injury, we have decided to stay here until after Canada Day.Read more
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Day 47
Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 6:19 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 635 m
Canada Whitehorse Rapids 60.701155, -135.0461960°42’4” N 135°2’46” W
Whitehorse Encore!
July 3, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
We are back in Whitehorse to buy a few essential things (like towels), see some of the sights we missed the first time around, explore some of the outlying areas and to meet up with some friends. I don’t have pictures because today’s excitement is a shower (hence the towels), but so as not to leave you with absolutely nothing, here is a picture of the Sticky Bun we picked up today (it will feed us for a while) and last night’s campfire (we are camping after all even if the sun isn’t going down at the end of the day).Read more
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Day 48
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at 8:25 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 734 m
Canada Takhini Hotspring 60.871533, -135.33828360°52’18” N 135°20’18” W
Yukon Wildlife Preserve
July 4, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
The Yukon Wildlife Preserve is just outside of Whitehorse and well worth a visit. Within its700 acre site, subdivided into distinct and variable habitats, are many of the large animals that live in the Yukon. They include Wood Bison, Elk, Woodland Caribou, Moose, Mule Deer, Muskoxen, Lynx, Arctic and Red Fox, Mountain Goat and Thin Horned Sheep. The Arctic Ground Squirrels and Snowshoe Hare are allowed to roam free. A 5 km road runs through the preserve and you can walk it or take a guided bus tour. We walked at a leisurely pace, stopping often to view the animals. Three and a half hours later we had managed to see all of the animals except for the foxes. The preserve also takes in injured, sick or orphaned wildlife in order to aid their recovery and return to the wild.Read more
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