Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 13 - Whitehorse to Carmacks

Drive From Whitehorse to Carmacks, Yukon

Yukon Visitor Information Center

Leaving Whitehorse we drove into town to visit the Tourist Information.

We hoped they would have some more information about Inuvik. But all she said, phone Dawson City to make sure Northwest Territories tourism office was open there.

So off we went after we picked up coffees and sandwiches from the "Baked" Coffee shop.

"Baked" is located kitty-corner from Starbucks, 4 doors down on Main Street. Great food and coffees. It was packed.

Keeping a good eye on the road.

Canada Day tomorrow

Liz in front of the Carmacks Hotel

Five Finger Rapids

View from the road

Zoomed in. The channel closest is the one the stern-wheeler used.

Panorama of the Five Finger Rapids

Liz at the lower view point. It is worth the hike.

I would not want to navigate one of those tubs through here

Shoes are covered in volcanic ash

Once on Highway #2, the Klondike Highway, the road became narrow and often full of potholes.

This route was first used by Natives, later by trappers, prospectors, and gold rush stampeders if they did not take the stern-wheeler boats. Some of the bridges were ferries at first.

Just outside Whitehorse there is some farm land. Later over the "Miners Range" it is just wilderness, forest, mountains, lakes and rivers.

Along the road we noted a layer of white volcanic ash just under the top layer of top soil.


More research shows that 1,250 years ago a violent eruption from a volcano in Eastern Alaska covered 323,000 sq km with a layer of ash.


The volcano is now under the Klutlan Glacier which is a 64 km long glacier in the state of Alaska.


It is located southwest of Mount Nazirean and flows east across the border with Canada, then north to form the headwaters of the Klutlan River.

We drove all the way to Carmacks and settled down in the RV Park behind the hotel.


It is really a parking lot with hook ups. They have full hook-ups so we were happy.

We went for a little walk along the Yukon River. Carmacks' history is very connected to the steam ships which brought miners, trappers and gamblers to the goldfields.

Once the rush was over, Carmacks survived, but "just".


Many people around here seems to have a close connection with the beer bottle.

We decided to visit "Five Finger Rapids". It is about 30 km past Carmacks.


Here the Yukon River made navigating the stern-wheelers traitorous with several small islands right in the middle of the rapids.

We hiked down a bunch of stairs and then along the river.


Here we actually walked on some of that ash we were talking about earlier.

Soon we got to the rapids and care must be taken not to fall in. There are no guard rails so keep everyone alert and careful.

It must have been really tough navigating through this rapids with those big tubs.


Only the most easterly channel, closest to the view point is navigable. This is a very interesting hike and it has excellent information panels telling us about the past.

More pictures here.

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Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 12 - Adäka Cultural Festival

Whitehorse Adäka Cultural Festival

Adäka Cultural Festival

Performers at the Adäka Cultural Festival

It is now the 29th of June, and we are camped just outside Whitehorse at Caribou RV Park.

The Adäka Cultural Festival is on in Whitehorse and we want to take it in to get some the local flare. 

The Adäka Cultural Festival is held at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre in Whitehorse. This is a beautiful building.

The festival is held from June 27th to July 3rd this year. There are all kinds of performers and tons of crafts people demonstrating and selling their work. 

My personal favorite was the knife maker George Roberts. George makes some of the most beautiful knifes I have ever seen.

George Roberts and Anders discussing knives.

The blade, is made from surgical steel and is know as the "Bandit Blade". 

Some of his knifes have sold for up to $10,000. I want one!

George has a great sense of humor and is willing to talk and explain things. Here is a great article on George.

The performers at the festival are all local people from families to seasoned artists. 

Make sure to look for the Adäka Cultural Festival and their Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre when visiting Whitehorse and Yukon.

Here are some more pictures.

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Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 11 - Boya Lake, BC to Whitehorse, Yukon

Road trip from Boya Lake BC to Whitehorse Yukon.

Coffee with Johanna and Herman

When we woke up on the 28th of June we had a note on the door from some friends from Victoria. 



Johanna and Herman. We wandered over to their site and had a nice cup of coffee and a morning chat.



They are camped over in site number 17. This is another very nice camp site.

Forest fire went through here

Another Black Bear crosses the road.

Crossing the border in to Yukon

Wonderful Countryside

$173.9 per liter

At Yukon Motel and RV Park

The Yukon River

Soon we were on the road again direction North on the Stewart-Cassiar Highway. The road from Boya Lake to the Alaska Highway is real bumpy and rough.


Our plans were to stay at Nugget City. However we arrived early and decided to continue. 


We stopped at Rancheria for Diesel and a Reuben Sandwich. 


The fuel was expensive at $1.73 per liter, but the sandwich was OK. 


The place does look pretty run down though.

This part of the Alaska Highway  is beautiful to drive, with wide valleys, mountains and lakes. 


We stopped for the famous Cinnamon buns at the Yukon Motel and RV Park at km 1243.5.  If you stop there, the Strawberry-Rhubarb pie is to die for.


Great food here and the RV Park looks really nice. Might just stay here on our way back.


We soon arrived at the Caribou RV Park, 15 minutes east of the town  of Whitehorse.  Martin a Swiss fellow owns it and runs it together with an Australian women.


The sites are a bit tight and only power and water but they have a sani dump. 


The showers, washrooms and laundry are super clean. Showers are free, and washing and drying laundry is $5.00 total.


There is also a car wash on the property which comes in handy.


Right next door is a Swiss Restaurant called the Wolfs Den. 


Fantastic food! Liz had Schnitzel and I had a T Bone steak. Great!


Tomorrow we will visit the city of Whitehorse itself.

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Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 10 - Canoeing on Boya Lake

Boya Lake British Columbia

Hiking the north part of Boya Lake

Liz taking in the sights.

It is the 27th of June and we woke up to a beautiful day.


After a strong cup of coffee and breakfast we made arrangements to rent a canoe for the afternoon. $20.00 for four hours.


Since it was still early in the day we went for another nice hike first.


This time on the north side of the lake. Again very easy hiking and awesome scenery.


After lunch we picked up the canoe and paddled off to explore the lake and all the little islands.


We paddled over to the beaver dam and it is amazing what these animals can accomplish.

On the water.

Amazing beaver dam

No fish this time

Reflections at night

This dam is pretty small but it does raise one half of the lake by about two feet.


The longest beaver dam in the world is in Wood Buffalo National Park in the province of Alberta and in the North West Territories. It is 850 meters long.



Since I some how managed to bring my fishing rod along, it was time to see if anything was to be had.



I had one really good bite, but no fish supper that day.



Liz made a stir-fry for supper instead with some fruit for desert.



We sat out and enjoyed another glorious



evening over the lake, reflecting all the beautiful scenery.

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Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 9 - Dease Lake to Boya Lake

The Drive from Dease Lake to Boya Lake

A moose crosses the road

Last night we fueled the truck (with diesel) up for the morning, $1.59 per liter. Getting ready to leave Dease Lake.


We had a slow morning and packed up. Once packed up I took the truck over to the pressure wash and rinsed half an inch of dust of the back of the unit.


The The road after Dease Lake has a lot of road work on it and it is in need of repair. Many places are narrow and very bumpy.

Panorama of Boya Lake

Saw used to cut Jade with

We stopped in Jade City. A highway stop for tourist.


The jade is mined here in the area and then 80% is shipped to China. Then China sends back the little carved bears and moose... Sold as Canadian souvenirs!


Don't seems right somehow. Some pieces are very nice but they are pricey.


Boya Lake Provincial Park is a very beautiful park in the middle of no-where. If you travel up the Cassiar HWY, this is a must stop.

Life is good a Boya Lake, BC

Our unit fits right in.

Just got to catch some rays...

Liz at the beaver dam.

Signs of Grizzly bears.

Neighbours in the campground over for a glass of wine

The reflections were incredible.

We arrived around lunch time and set up camp in site number 5 and it is one of the best sites in the park.

Number 3, 4 and 17 are also very good. Right on the lake.


Price is $18 per night, no services. Fire wood is available for purchase and you can rent a canoe.

Also a boat launch is available. No Wi-Fi. Again we decided to stay two nights.

The lake is breath taking with its crystal clear aqua marine waters and the mountains reflecting back in to the lake.

In the afternoon we hiked a 5 km trail on the south side of the lake in to a beaver dam.

Incredible constructions these animals can accomplish. This dam separates part of the lake and it is now two feet higher then the other part of the lake.

The trail is not very well maintained and most of the signage is missing.

On the way back we walked through the Aspen and Poplar trees, with signs of beaver, moose and bears.

We had our pepper spray and bells along. Great hike all in all.

That evening we grilled strip loin steaks over the coals on the fire, sooooo good. Gives that extra smokey flavour.

In site three was some people from Switzerland and in site four another nice couple from Victoria, BC.

We invited them over and had an awesome evening with lots of laughs and a bit to much wine.

The next morning we took it easy and had a nice breakfast over looking the lake. Coffee never tasted so good!

We did another hike on the north side of the lake and saw more signs of beavers, moose and bears.

In the afternoon we rented a canoe $20 for four hours and paddle around the lake. The landscape looks different from the water.

I fished for a while, had one bite, but landed nothing :(

That evening Liz cooked up a great stir-fry, we wrote some posts and downloaded pictures.

Here are more pictures from the lake.

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Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 8 - Telegraph Creek, BC

Drive down to Telegraph Creek, BC

Large Brown Bear Cross the Road

We got a fairly early morning start and got to the local gas station and fueled up the truck.

Then we took the Telegraph Creek Road to.... you guessed it to "Telegraph Creek".

It is 112 km drive to Telegraph Creek on a gravel road that can be a bit challenging at times.

We drive along bush on both sides of the road and then all of a sudden we climb and descend into gorges.

A long ways down the hill

The river is swift

Panorama

On the porch at one of the old buildings

The drive goes along ledges that Liz think is a tad scary. My self, I'm in my element.


The abandon town / Hudson Bay Post of Telegraph Creek is now deteriorating rapidly.


All the "artifacts" have been "moved". There was nothing open, the church was even boarded up.


The native village on top is occupied by about 300 Tahlton fishermen.


Since the salmon were not running yet, they just seemed to relax in the sun shooting the breeze.


We then continued the road to the end to the former Glenora, only the sign of one building and out house is left. Here the natives also have a seasonal fishing camp.


The Stikine River is massive all along here. Gold seekers and adventurers came up this river and then continued to the gold fields and mines.


The planed telegraph line never came about.

On the way back to camp we saw two black bears and one large one crossing the road in front of us. For more pictures, click here.

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