The Klondike Trail

Saturday May 27 - Wednesday May 31, 2017 Teslin to Dawson City,  The Yukon Territory

Two Brothers - busy eating strawberries?

During the next few days we headed north from Boya Lake, BC on the Cassiar Hwy to the Alaska Hwy where we crossed into the Yukon Territory, stayed one night at Teslin, then joined the Klondike Hwy for the destination of Dawson City. Basically, we followed the Yukon River and its many tributaries north to where the goldminers of the late 1890's sought their fortune.

This is a wild area of the northern continent and only a few towns and "cities" are scattered along these roads. Whitehorse is the biggest city in the area with a population of 23,000. Dawson City is 1300 and Teslin is only 130. This is not a populated area of the country and basic services are few and far between. We are beginning to treasure a well-stocked grocery store, a car wash and reliable internet service! Hot showers are in another category altogether. (Wishful thinking.)

The roads here are beginning to be a bit rough, with numerous pot-holes and frost heaves. Actually, the worst roads are the paved roads that have not yet been repaired for the summer crowds. These offer wonderful adventures in flight avoidance as you come around a sharp corner...Because few tourists are out,  we have been able to spot several black bear and grizzlies, female moose, grouse, and quite a few bunnies - all eating fresh green sprouts on the roadside! Any change in pattern or color indicates a possible animal sighting. We awaken daily to bird song symphonies...wonderful!

The vistas are vast, the scenery spectacular! At times, it surprises us how immense the wild is here.

Ranchiera Falls - a great place for a picnic before Teslin

Teslin humor Eric will appreciate

Before reaching Teslin, we crossed the Continental Divide - rivers west of here flow to the Yukon and the Bering Sea. Rivers East - flow north to the McKenzie River and the Arctic Ocean. At the Yukon Motel and RV, we enjoyed a hearty lunch and a big breakfast the next morning! The RV park is modest; the restaurant provides generous home-cooked meals. Such a great treat after granola and tortilla wraps!

Twin Lakes camping - much dryer here, but a great view!

Relaxing with the birds

Coffee - anyone?

At Dawson City, we rode the ferry across the Yukon River and stayed at the Yukon River Government campground for three nights. Or was it three days and no nights? It never gets dark here and we know Eric would love it, since he would never have to stop working on his many projects!

We rode the ferry each time we went to Dawson City - a free ride

Outstanding Dawson City Info Center!

Boardwalks are common in permafrost country

Yukon River Sternwheeler - used now for the tourists

First Nation Gallery

The first nation people, who inhabited Dawson City several hundred years ago, 
were migratory and lived in temporary shelters of tree branches and furs.

The most impressive display at the First Nation Gallery was a book about the Residential School experiences of the First Nation People. For over 50 years, the church and Canadian government removed the children from their natural parents and placed them in government run Residential Schools to ensure better "education and integration into the white culture." Unfortunately, since their culture was migratory with an oral tradition, the new generations lost knowledge of their culture and this experience was devastating to the families. They are just now recovering and rebuilding their nation.

Dawson City homes

They both fought to the end...

Gold Dredging - the piles of rock are endless around the town

View across the Yukon River from our campground. The Peregrine falcons nest here

In spite of its popularity, the town remains authentic and sincere, with gold mining as its biggest industry, and tourism a close second. We admired the local's flexibility - note Dredge Pond Subdivision - where some build their homes right on top of the rock mining debris. Perhaps that's easier than dealing with the permafrost.

Dredge Pond Subdivision - miles and miles of debris everywhere! 
But cheap property on which to build your new home!

The firewood was free for the asking, but chipped to
prevent you from stealing it...Yukon humor???

Our camp - complete with sticky Poplar blossoms 

The beautiful Poplar trees at our campsite provided a wonderful sticky blossom mess that was impossible to remove from our shoes! We discovered that the first nation people used the sap from these blossoms as a salve to calm coughs and sore throats. It is an effective antibiotic treatment for illnesses. Ernie was reluctant to try it, though...