Yukon and BC 2025

Vancouver, Canada

Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 17: Drive to Vancouver and Fly Home We awoke to a cool 11C sunny Whistler morning. We set off by 8:30 for the drive to Vancouver airport as clouds rolled in from the south. Soon the mountain tops were in clouds. We stopped on the Sea to Sky Highway (Hwy 99) twice on the drive to Vancouver. We stopped briefly at Tantalous viewpoint to learn about the Squamish first nation who resided here for thousands of years. Through the mountains we caught a glimpse of Squamish below. Past Squamish we stopped at Shannon Falls Provincial Park. This popular stop is near the highway and features a waterfall coming down the side of the mountain. Being the Sunday of a long weekend the parking lot was full and we had to wait for a parking spot. After a short hike we came to a viewing platform to see the magnificent falls. Returning to the parking lot we saw that the line of cars looking for spots was very long. Our timing was impeccable as the traffic coming from the south increased dramatically after leaving. The drive into and through downtown Vancouver saw no problems and we arrived to drop the rental car 30 minutes before our deadline. I fixed the problem about getting the car with an empty tank with the counter agent and we set off for check-in. Marilyn always seems to be the one who needs more attention from security. I breezed through but both her suitcase and personal affects required more inspection so she had to wait for an agent. Luckily we had plenty of time so there was no stress. We had a nice hot lunch (lamb stew and basmati rice) a drink followed by dessert and coffee at the same Plaza Premium Lounge we visited on the first day of our trip. After our 2 hour time limit in the lounger we joined the other passengers at the gate for the tedious process of boarding. Since I was full and rested the long 5 hour flight to Toronto didn’t worry me at all. I had some downloaded movies on my iPad to watch and while the time away. This trip had only one day of rain and one problem (forest fire). Overall I return to my life rested and reflecting on many great memories.

View of Squamish from Tantalous Viewpoint

Shannon Falls

Pemberton, Canada

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 16: Exploring Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains Our last day in Whistler is one of excitement for me and worry for Marilyn. Mountains draw me in whilst Marilyn has to be careful after an altitude sickness event in Hawaii. The Whistler Blackcomb Alpine Experience allows nature enthusiasts and mountain lovers an opportunity to ride the 3 gondolas, Peak Express chairlift and explore the Skybridge and Raven’s Nest on Whistler Peak. However, this opportunity does not come cheap. Seniors have the discounted price of $95 per person! Based on advice we got from the Visitor Information the gondola to Blackcomb mountain is less busy so we chose that way to go up. The walk to the gondola takes about 10 minutes. I was like an excited puppy wanting to go quickly. Altitude brings shortness of breath for Marilyn so she was winded by the time we got to the base. After confirming that once she got to the summit there would be no long treks or uphill climbs she agreed to go. I appreciate the sacrifce she made for me. The gondola to Blackcomb has cars that will hold 6-8 people. We rode up with a couple from Philadelphia and a shy young woman who did not say a word. The peaks of both mountains are about 7500 feet high and the temperature is cooler. Connecting the 2 mountains is a gondola called the Peak 2 Peak. The gap between the 2 mountains makes this the world’s highest lift (1427 feet above the valley) and the longest span between towers (over 3 km). Cars leave about once per minute and each car can hold up to 25 people and the journey takes 11 minutes to cross. A small number of cars have a glass bottom so that lineup was long. We chose a regular car and had it to ourselves. The views were amazing and since the only thing below are trees and the occasional trail or creek the glass bottom added little value. Arriving on Whistler mountain we explored the amenities. Since this mountain was developed first there are more things to see and do. The lodge at the top is called the Roundhouse. It offers meals and has patios with glass railings to enjoy the views in all directions. There is even a circular bar called the Umbrella Bar with a roof that opens and closes like an umbrella. We chose a coffee for me and a deluxe hot chocolate for Marilyn. To get to the outdoor amenities requires you to go to the peak which is about 1000 feet higher. Marilyn obviously settled into the Roundhouse Lounge with a book. I set off to the peak by hiking about a kilometer down a trail to get to the base of the Peak Express chairlift. This conventional chairlift had only a horizontal bar protecting you. On the sides of each chair were brackets for mountain bikes so intrepid daredevils could ride the steep trails from the peak! Arriving at the peak provides a marvellous experience. For me it is spiritual to breathe fresh mountain air with little sound other than the wind. The temperature was about 12C (10-12C cooler than the base) so you needed a sweater. Following a trail brings you to the Cloudraker Skybridge, a suspension bridge that sways in the wind and bobs slightly when you walk across. It was exhilarating! Another short distance away is the Raven’s nest which is a triangular walkway that is suspended over a cliff. Awesome views gave you the impression of being in flight. Satisfying my desire for heights I began the descent to the Roundhouse Lodge to tell Marilyn about my experience. I posted 3 selfies from the peak to the WhatsApp family group. Since I got little engagement from them it apears they do not share my thrill for mountains. Exiting the chairlift I had to hike back to the Roundhouse Lodge. This time the km walk was uphill at altitude. My heartrate was elevated and I met my exercise and movement goals all before 1:00PM. Finding Marilyn I devoured my sandwich for lunch and relectantly agreed to return to the village via the Whistler Gondola. Once again we had the car to ourselves. I reflected on the experience and enjoyed the views. My new Merrell shoes I bought for this trip are now quite dusty and broken in. Returning to the Pinnacle Hotel we swam in the pool and soaked in the hot tub and then showered to be ready for our final dinner of the trip. Whistler has first rate hotels and restaurants so finding a place that was nice but didn’t break the bank was a challenge. We settled on the Alta Bistro in our hotel. On the patio we enjoyed a 3 course prix fixe meal. Marilyn has a burrata (cheese) appetizer and I had a gaspacho (cold soup). Marilyn’s entree was a Mussells Risotto and I enjoyed Pork Belly with Corn Meal, Beets and Greens. For dessert Marilyn had Gooseberry Panna Cotta and I had a Chocolate Financier (cake) with Peaches. All three courses were a visual and gastronomic delight. I’m writing this blog entry on the balcony as evening settles in watching shadows creep up Blackcomb mountain. I realize how much I have enjoyed this vacation. I had the opportunity to visit the Yukon, see beautiful countryside in BC and see family. I feel blessed.

Here we go…

Views on the way up

Views from Blackcomb peak

Peak 2 Peak Gondola!

Peak 2 Peak statistics

Leaving Blackcomb

Valley between the mountains 1400 feet below

Arriving at Whistler mountain

Roundhouse Lodge entrance

Umbrella bar

Heading off to the peak!

Arriving on the peak

Getting ready for the Skybridge

Raven’s Nest view

Whistler Inukshuk

Tired feet in dusty shoes

The ride down on Whistler gondola

Dwight’s Gaspacho

Marilyn’s Burrata

Dwight’s Pork Belly

Marilyn’s Mussell Rissotto

Dwight’s Chocolate Financier

Marilyn’s Gooseberry Panna Cotta

Pemberton, Canada

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 15: Exploring Whistler Village Since we had to move from the Summit Lodge to the Pinnacle Whistler we took advantage of the superior room and had quiet morning before checking out at 11:00. The Summit Lodge allowed us to keep the car in their garage until we checked in later. We set off to explore Whistler Village on foot. First up was a chat with a friendly knowledgeable person at the Visitor Center. He gave us some valuable tips for using our ticket to explore the 2 peaks tomorrow. For the rest of the morning and afternoon we wandered, and got lost, around the Village. Marilyn enjoyed a coffee from Moguls Coffee. The shop used uncooked liguine as stir stciks. Smart and environmentally friendly. We finshed our souvenir shopping and Marilyn enjoyed a BeaverTail for Lunch and I had a hot dog from Zogs Dogs. Shortly after 3:00PM we were able to check in at the Pinnacle Whistler. This hotel is not as luxurious at the Summit Lodge but has a better view of Blackcomb mountain. The room although smaller still has a kitchenette and a balcony with 2 chairs. We rested watched the Blue Jays game and set off to buy groceries to last the final 2 days. For our last dinner out we went to the Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub. I enjoyed a Steak and Guiness pie with mashed potatoes washed down with a Victoria ale. Marilyn enjoyed a Cottage Pie (Shepherds Pie) with a Clam Chowder. Her drink choices were a Manhattan (sadly without cherries) and a Car Bomb later. On Friday they have live entertaiment featuring a band that played hits from the 70’s to the 90’s. Walking back we enjoyed the lively spirit of the village and discussed where our last dinnerout tomorrow will be.

Whistler Village views

Mountain bike racing and stunts atthe base of Whistler mountain

Sculpture outside Aaudain Indigenous Art Gallery

Dwight strikes a pose at Olympic Plaza

Sculpture titled “Endless Circle”

Marilyn plays Peekaboo

Blackcomb Summit from our balcony

Pemberton, Canada

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Merritt, Canada

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 13: Journey to Kelowna and Amended Itinieary Today the plan is to drive to my cousin Linda’s in Kelowna. As all plans do, this one was on track until Mother Nature derailed it. After breakfast with Jane and the girls we packed and set off. The TransCanada from Coquitlam until Abbotsford is being widened so only 2 lanes were open in each direction. Even though we left after the morning rush the traffic was slow for about 20km. After Abbotsford it picked up we headed toward the mountains. The sky was murky and had horizontal streaks from a fire in the area. It ruined the views but did not affect the flow of traffic. Little did we know that fires would become a major problem. After an hour we arrived at Hope and exited the TransCanada for the Yellowhead Highway (5) to go north to Merritt. This highway is newer and you could travel at 100-110 km/h which was the posted limits. The climbs and decents were gradual and the sceney was beautiful since we left behind the haze of fires. Arriving in Merritt we stopped for lunch at Valley Graze Box. If had good coffee and sandwiches made with homemade bread. My roast beef sandwich had lots of thick sliced beef! Since there are no towns between Merritt and Kelowna we visited BC liquors and bought a bottle of Forty Creek Butter Tart Liquer as a gift and set off. Merritt is in Nicola Vallley and is extrememly hot (34C) and dry (19% humidity) with brown covered bare hills everywhere. As you head east on the Okanagan Connector (97C) you climb into a high plateau and the temperature dropped 8C and the landscape had some green. The road is well made with 2 or 3 lanes in each direction with a limit of 110 km/h. As we started the long 10 km descent to Kelowna we began to see smoke and noticed planes and helicopters flying near the smoke. When we got to the visitor center for Kelowna which is only 4 km from Kelowna we learned that a truck had caught fire on the steep descent and started a fire in the hot dry hill beside it. When the traffic stopped I called my cousin who told me that the fire had started only 10 minutes earlier. After another km of stop and go we learned the RCMP closed the highwat and they turned everyone back. In mountainous areas such as this there are no alternate routes to take. The only alternative available was to travel back to Merritt, north to Kamloops and then south to Kelowna which would have taken 4 hours! On the trip back to Merritt there is poor cell phone reception so Marilyn frantically searched for a Merritt hotel as we neared Merritt. In fact she booked the Travelodge as we pulled into the driveway. We decided to skip seeing my cousin and proceed to Whistler tomorrow and extend out stay from 2 to 3 days. We hoped to have the same hotel but settled for another Whister hotel that is near the hotel we previously booked. After a trip to the local Save-On Foods for some food and the BC liquor store (again) for a beer we settled into our room for a meal and rest after a crazy day. I confirmed that tomorrow’s route to Whistler has no fires anywhere near it. Fingers crossed that Mother Nature cooperates.

Services are meagre on Okanagan Connector

Mother Nature ruined our plans today

Chilliwack, Canada

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 12: Harrison Hot Springs Melissa arranged for an excursion for the adults today to Harrison Hot Springs. Ian drove the group along the scenic Lougheed Highway while Melissa provided information on passing sights. We passed through Maple Ridge, Mission, Deroche before arriving in Harrison Hot Springs. Harrison Hot Springs is at the south end of Harrison Lake. The lake is a long but narrow glacier fed lake that is about 80 km long. The lake varies in depth from 14ft at the south end to 1000 ft near the north end. At the north end is a glacier that causes the lake level to rise by as much as 20 feet in the spring. Most cottages are accessible only by boat. Melissa arranged a 2 hour cruise around the south end of the lake. The weather was sunny and warm. We sat on the top deck and and enjoyed drinks and a BBQ lunch. After the cruise we checked out the natural hot springs. They were mucky and sulphery so no one used them. Marilyn was the only person brave enough to swim in the cold of Harrison lake. Returning to Port Coquitlam we watched the Blue Jays game and then headed to Patinas Brewery and BBQ for dinner. I enjoyed a flight of their beers with Memphis style ribs and smoked chicken. It was accompanied with corn bread and coleslaw. We spent the evening chatting with Melissa, Ian and the girls. We enjoyed immensely their hospitality.

Harrison Lake Tour Boat

Enjoying the beautiful scenery

The tour group

Echo Bay

The Sasquath

Harrison Hot Spring

Patina flight of beers

Mr Wilson is astounded by Mavie’s glamour

Jane with her granddaughters and Mr Wilson of course.

Port Coquitlam, Canada

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 11: Port Coquitlam After packing up and picking up the car rental we left Vancouver to drive to Port Coquitlam to stay with my neice Melissa, her husband Ian and their children Mavie and Roija. My sister Jane, Melissa’s mom, joined us from Vancouver Island. We enjoyed getting caught up on children and grand-children and dined on salmon and halibut that Jane caught together with new potatoes, cucumber salad and fresh corn. After dinner we walked to get some Rocky Point ice cream.

Roija shows me the Terry Fox display

Enjoying some Rocky Point Ice Cream

Vancouver, Canada

Sun, 27 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Vancouver, Canada

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 9: Exploring Vancouver The Saturday morning began with sunshine and mild temperatures. We set off to explore downtown Vancouver on foot just before 10:00 AM. Wandering north on Granville Street we left the sleepy bar area for a shopping district around Robson Street that gave way to historical buildings as we neared Canada Place. There were 2 cruise ships docked at Canada Place and since it was Saturday morning there were hordes of suitcase wheeling people leaving the terminal as hordes of other suitcase wheeling people arrived to board their cruise. After some souvenir shopping and lunch at a food court we headed east and south to explore Mainland Street on our way back. Hamilton and Mainland streets were once home to factories and warehouses that have be gentrified into trendy restaurants in the Yaletown neighbourhood. We people watched from a sidewalk boulangerie over a coffee and palmier pastry. After meeting our daily fitness goal of 10,000 steps we returned to the unit for a rest. Refreshed we set out for the tourist haven of Granville Island. A short walk and an Aquabus ride across False Creek brought us there. We waded through crowds as we visited the Granville Public Market. This market is as busy every day as the St Lawrence Market the Saturday before Christmas. Marilyn bought some tea for a neighbour who is watching the house and watering plants for us, and we both bought some food for our lunch on the go tomorrow. After some shopping for some crafts we had dinner at the Tap and Barrel Bridges restaurant. This restaurant is in a converted warehouse with lovely outdoor patios overlooking False Creek and the Burrard Bridge. Bathed in the glow of a setting sun we watched the boats, ferries, and watercraft of all sizes pass under Burrard Bridge on their way into or from English Bay. My neice Melissa recommended this place and we had a fabulous meal of Prawn and Scallop Spaghettini for me and Mediterranean Bowl for Marilyn. We even splurged on a shared Sticky Toffee Pudding dessert to extend the magical evening. We returned to the unit to retreive a sweater to ward off the cool as we set out to watch the final fireworks display of the Festival of Lights. We decided to walk onto the Granville Bridge to provide a vantage point to watch the fireworks over English Bay. As our step counters approached 20,000 steps we returned to the unit both tired and satisfied after a great day.

The Marine Building. The oldest skyscraper in Vancouver.

Art Deco entrance to Marine Building

Victory Park with lights that resemble helmets.

Canada Place cruise ship

View of North Vancouver with Seaplanes.

Interesting billboard in Yaletown

Mainland Street

Aquabus on False Creek with Granville Brideg behind.

Tap and Barrel Bridges Restaurant

Our view from the patio

A nearby table had 3 guys dressed as pirates. People are different on the west coast.

Prawn and Scallop Spaghettini for me

Mediterranean Bowl with Falafels for Marilyn

Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert!

You can even resnt a floating BBQ boat!

Sunset from the Granville Bridge

Festival of lights fireworks

Vancouver, Canada

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 8: Travel to Vancouver We awoke to a light rain in Whitehorse. We had breakfast at The Java Connection which was a short walk away. They had better coffee than Baked Cafe but their scone was not nearly as good. At 10:00 we took a short cab ride to the airport. Flying Air North is a pleasant experience in that there is no charge for checked bags. Each person can have up to 2 checked bags. Marilyn’s original plan was to take her suitcase onto the plane as carryon but the over zealous security check found her with too many under 100ml items. After she checked both her bags we were off. Air North has differentiated itself from the big airlines by focusing on customer service and perks. Besides the free checked bags you get free non-alcoholic drinks and a freshly made sandwich for your lunch. The ham and cheese was on foccacia bread with a generous amount of ham. Near the end of the 2 hour flight to Vancouver they bring each passenger a warm chocolate cookie. Decadence! Arriving in Vanccouver and collecting our bags we took an Uber to our AirBnB unit for the 3 nights we will be in Vancouver. We arrived just after the 3:00 check-in time to find the cleaners still finishing the unit cleaning. The glass topped dining table was broken so it had to be replaced. Marilyn found his annoying but I spent some time on the balcony drinking in the buzz of downtown Vancouver. After unpacking we set off to get some groceries. The Fresh Street Market was a short walk away. We needed Google maps to guide us the short distance since our unit is near the bridge that goes over Granville Island and we needed to be under that bridge. The market was similar to Whole Foods and had a nice selection of fresh foods. We chose a frozen lasagna and salad for dinner. The challenge of staying at an AirBnB is figuring out the appliances and quirks of the unit. It took some time, and a bruised head for Marilyn, how to operte the apartment washer dryer. Marilyn struggled to reach the tall kitchen cabinets and how to turn on the vent fan. Eventually she figured them all out and we had a nice dinner and restful evening. We look forward to rediscovering downtown Vancouver tomorrow since it has been over 25 years since we’ve been here. (Sorry no pictures today)

Whitehorse, Canada

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Dawson, Canada

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 6: Rainy Day in Dawson City We awoke to a rainy day in Dawson City so our plan is to visit the Dawson City Museum and the Danajo Zho Cultural Center and try to stay dry and not get muddy. Rainy days and a city with only one paved road is a recipe for muddy streets and puddles. The Dawson City Museum is a short walk south on 5th Avenue. Its not really that grand but the boardwalk keeps you dry and out of the mud. The Museum is in what used to be the Yukon Legislative Administrative Building and Regional Court. In fact, the second floor has the courthouse that is used a few times per year. Next to the Museum is a Rail Museum that was about to close for the day so we started our tour there. The rail museum had 4 locomotives from the Klondike Mining Company Railway. These locomotives were made in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in the early 20th century and were abandoned when most companies exhausted the gold in the 1920’s. When the Dawson Museum was established in the 1960’s they decided to bring the locomotives from the mine location downstream 10 km and on the other side to Dawson. With no railway bridge they dragged them up the river ice in winter and to the museum. Returning to the museum we did a self guided tour to learn more about the history of Dawson City. The indigenous people who lived for thousands of years at the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers caught salmon in nets that moved up the Yukon river. They used a rock called a hammer stone to drive sticks in the riverbed and strung nets to caught the spawning salmon. These stones called “Tr’o” drove sticks in the river called “ndek” by the local people “Hwech’in” earning the name “Tr’ondek Hwech’in” meaning “the people who used hammer stones in the river”. When fur traders and later miners arrived in the early 1800’s they mispronounced this name as “Klondike People” and the term was born. Starting in 1898 the Klondike Gold Rush lasted only a few years but made Dawson CIty the largest city north of Seattle and west of Winnipeg. At its height 30,000 people from all over the world mined for gold with onlly a small fraction being successful. The Pierre Berton 1972 Documentary “City of Gold” nicely captures this chapter of Dawson City’s history. You can watch the 22 minute documentary by Googling “NFB City of Gold”. We took a guided tour of the museum by a local volunteer who shared anecdotes to make some the exhibits come alive. Marilyn asked about Harry Oakes who made his fortune in Dawson City. The guide submitted a request to the researh department and they will let Marilyn know. After a coffee and sandwich lunch to rest and write blogs, we next drove to the Danajo Zho Cultural Center to learn more about the indigenous history of the area. The museum describes how Northwestern Indigenous groups gathered for potlatches (feasts) to celebrate weddings, harvests and deaths. Potlach means “to give” so invited members were showered with gifts to demonstrate the host’s wealth. The center also told the impact that settlers had on the local people. After the gold rush the Indian Act had the same impact here. Beginning in 1911 children were sent to a Residential School in Carcross and Potlaches were banned which led to an erosion of local language and culture. In 1973 the Indigeneous groups in Yukon made a report to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau seeking self-government, the first indigenous group to do so. This act led to programs to promote the Han language in schools and promoting the culture and heritage culminating with self-government in 1998. After some shopping for supplies for the long drive back to Whitehorse tomorrow, we returned to the room to watch the Jays Yankees game, have dinner and pack for leaving Dawson City. Even though It is a long drive to get here it was worth it.

Marilyn admires the locomotives

Marilyn holds court

Display of how Salmon was processed at the Cultural Center. The Yukon River is in the background.

Display describing the impact Chief Issac had during the Gold Rush.

Display of how they used branches and moose hides for shelter.

Dawson, Canada

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 5: Explore Dawson City, Bonanza Creek and Midnight Dome After a long day in the car yesterday, we had a leisurely breakfast in the room on the mammoth cinnamon bun and a coffee. At 9:00AM we set out to explore Dawson City on foot. The mornings are cool (15C) but I insist on wearing shorts and short sleeves. Many others that are in long pants and sweaters will regret their choice around noon when the temperature goes past 20C. Starting at the Visitor Center we took the self-guided walking tour using the material we got yesterday. At each site we read the history of the wood frame buildings that date back to the goldrush of 1898. Since there is permafrost here there are no concrete footings or basements. Buildings are build on wood cribs that are on the surface. Consequently buildings are never more than 2 or maybe 3 stores high. You can often see how building have settled and are not level. Finishing the tour near noon we opted for a coffee and an excellent roast pork sandwich at Cheechakos Bakeshop. The sandwich featured a topping sweetened with Birch Syrup which is green. The focus shifted now to shopping with Marilyn looking for a sweatshirt. After several failed attempts we walked along the Yukon river where you could see the mixing of the muddy water from the Yukon mixing with the clear waters from the Klondike River. After returning to the room for a rest we set out to explore the panning for gold history on Bonanza Creek and a drive to the top of Midnight Dome. Dredge #4 operated from the 1912 until 1959. This massive dredge moved up Bonanza Creek scooping up millions of tons of stones looking for gold. First the ground had to stripped of trees and soil and using water the permafrost was melted in preperation for the dredge. Over the years the dredge mined 300,000 ounces of gold. Driving back into Dawson City we next drove up the twisty and steep road to the top of Midnight Dome. The views were worth the climb. After some time to watch the Jays Yankees game we had nachos and a drink at Sourdough Joe’s Saloon. We watched people take the sour toe cocktail challenge which is drinking a drink that has a pickled human toe in it. After dinner we had an ice cream cone before catching the 10:00 show at Diamond Tooth Gertie’s. A great day in Dawson City.

Dawson City is only 300 km south of the Arctic circle with dawn at 5:00 AM and sunset at Midnight in July

Quaint wooden buildings with painted signs or banners. No neon or electric signs allowed. Streets are dirt with wooden boardwalks.

SS Keno Paddlewheel Steamboat moored as a museum.

Diamond Tooth Gertie’s originally the Arctic Brotherhood Hall

Map of the Yukon River watershed. It is the third longest river in North America beginning south of Whitehorse and flowing north nd west in the Bering Sea in Western Alaska.

Delfiniums growing in front of Government House.

Life sized model of a wooly mammoth. Relax they have been extinct in the Yukon for 10000 years.

The muddy Yukon mixes with the clear Klondike River at Dawson City.

The dredging part of Dredge #4

The dredge buckets are huge

Midnight Dome History

Yukon River looking upstream towards Whitehorse

Yukon River looking downstream towards Alaska

Dawson City below

Dawson, Canada

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Day 4: Klondike Highway to Dawson City When we planned this trip we read blogs that recommended driving the Klondike Highway from Whitehorse to Dawson City. The road maps says it is 522 km and Google Maps says the trip would take 6 hours and 5 minutes. Obviously Google Maps does not consider the road conditions and construction found on Yukon511.ca. Leaving Whitehorse at 8:30AM after a freshly baked pastry and coffee from Baked cafe we were fresh and full of ideas of things to explore on the trip. The first 2 hours see smooth roads where you can travel at or above the 90 km/h limit. Our first stop was Braeburn Lodge for their famous, and huge, cinnamon buns. The reason it was huge because it costs $20! We splurged, had a small part for a snack and forged on. Approaching Carmacks which is about one third the way we encountered the first construction delay. Cars must wait about 15 minutes for a pilot vehicle and they are led at 20 km/h for 10 km through a massive constrcution section which either full of choking dust or driving through mud. Consequently, our rental is quite dirty now. We stopped at Carmacks for a gas top off and some surprisingly good samosas and veggie spring rolls and headed for Pelly’s Crossing. The middle portions of the Klondike have been patched many times leading to reductions in speed to 60 km/h. We arrived at the halfway point of Pelly’s Crossing at 1:30PM. The general store run by the local Selkirk First Nation had good takeout coffee and we found some Mackintosh toffee to enjoy on the next leg. The leg to Stewart’s crossing had no construction but had many rough patches. When they put up a “Bump” sign drivers need to take it seriously and slow down. On the final 3 hour leg to Dawson City we hit a much bigger construction section when the road was quite soft and rutted. We were thankful for the high clearance of the Ford Bronco. At 5:30 we arrived safely, but very tired after 9 total hours of travel. After check-in at the Holland-America Dawson City Inn we walked to the Visior Center to get some ideas. We decided to visit Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Saloon for the 8:30 show. This meant quickly buying some provisions at the General Store and a quick pizza at a beer from Pan of gold Pub. The show exceeded my expectations but the $20 season pass entry peeved me. I guess we’ll go to the other shows on the 2 nights. We look forward to 2 days to enjoy Dawson City. The city is small enough to walk the unpaved streets and boardwalks.

Today’s Marathon trip

Pan of Gold Pub

Giant Cinnamon Bun from Braeburn Lodge

Wood stove at Braeburn Lodge was made at Findlay Foundry in Carleton Place Ontario where I was born.

Twin lake was as smooth as glass.

Five Finger Rapids on the Yukon River

Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Revue

Whitehorse, Canada

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 09:50:00 -0700

Whitehorse, Canada

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 09:20:00 -0700

Whitehorse

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:20:00 -0700