We really enjoyed the show Gertie and her can can girls
put off in Dawson City on our final night!
We really enjoyed our time in Dawson City but it was soon time to move on. Heading north again, we decided to take the Top of The World Highway! This remote highway connects Klondike Loop from Dawson City to the Taylor and Alaska Highways. It is an extremely scenic route that narrowly winds its way for about 126 kilometers. You literally feel that you are on top of the world, however, more than 100km of the route is gravel and unpaved with few guardrails or shoulders which meant slow going and the risk that we could lose a windshield from flying rocks. This highway, and Border Services, also closes around mid September when the
weather worsens so we could not waste anymore time thinking about it. We decided that this was something that could not be missed and onward we went, first crossing the Yukon River on the George Black Ferry after leaving Dawson City.
Dash Cam Video from our travels on the Top of The World Highway
Yep! We really were on top of the world!
After crossing the border, we came to a little town called Chicken.....yes,
Chicken! Population 7, a town founded on gold mining, it is one of the few surviving gold rush towns.... and what a neat, cool little place to visit!
After leaving Chicken, we motored on to Tok, Alaska, having officially completed the Top of The World/Taylor Highway! Time to stop and spend the night! We were tired and dusty inside out...nothing a good cleaning couldn't fix!
So for the last three days we have stepped back in time!! It has been absolutely amazing to have experienced the place where thousands were drawn to in search of wealth during the Klondike Gold Rush; a place where many men and women still come in hopes of striking it rich!
With the discovery of gold on a Klondike River tributary in 1896, Dawson City
became the destination for the thousands of stampeders who came to stake their claim during the great gold rush the following year. Many young inexperienced men, the cheechakos as they were known locally, sacrificed everything in hopes of striking it rich only to discover that the sourdoughs (or oldtimers) were already in the North before the
Birthplace of the Klondike Gold Rush
big strike with all the claims staked. Some men moved on, however, many stayed and worked for the companies that eventually industrialized the gold mining process using equipment.
Today this small town of about 1200 people is a
Looking for gold in Bonanza Creek
working town where only families in the community have claims. It is a town that has retained its historical charm with gravel roads, restored buildings and boardwalks. For the many tourists that come here in the summer months, there is wonderful entertainment and places to eat. We thoroughly enjoyed our time, browsing the hundred year old streets, reading the placards and taking in all of the entertainment we could.
A 4.5 oz gold nugget found last year at Claim 33 We HAD to give it back!
We had lots of fun at Dawson! Steve made his acting debut at the Grand Palace Theatre and on our last night we visited Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall and took in a couple of great shows!
Dawson City is a must stop for anyone travelling to the North!! especially when you get to take in the beauty of the Yukon River from atop "the Dome"!
Time to head North to Dawson City! From Whitehorse, this is about a 6 hour drive but what a drive it was! From the very beginning of our journey to when we arrived in Dawson City (which ended up taking us 8 hours, by the way!) was a feast for our eyes! The fall colors and the tranquil lakes were amazing and the opportunities along the way to stop into some interesting little places was fun as well!
One of the first places we passed was Lake Laberge, made famous
Lake LaBerge
by the poem "The Cremation of Sam McGee"! Many of us remember the lines from our High School English days; "The Northern Lights have seen queer sights. But the queerest they ever did see, was that night on the marge of Lake Laberge I cremated Sam McGee." Well, this is the actual lake that the poet Robert Service was talking about.
Our next stop was at Braeburn Lodge for, you guessed it, another cinnamon bun!! Not sure what the fascination is with cinnamon buns in the Yukon but that's okay we'll take it. At this particular stop, however, we will take just ONE of these cinnamon buns as one will feed about four people!! No kidding! In any event we really enjoyed stopping by and chatting with the owner, Steve.....from politics to motorcycles! A great guy with big buns!!!
Steve Braeburn Lodge, YT
Our next stop was at the Montague Roadhouse Historic Site. This was a typical early day roadhouse, that offered lodging and meals to travelers on the stagecoach route
between Whitehorse and Dawson City. In 1901, there were 52 of these types of roadstops on this route. It really brought us back in time! Our travels took us on through Carmacks and Pelly
Moose Creek Lodge
Crossing to another interesting little place called the Moose Creek Lodge. Though the historic log building has a restaurant we only stopped to grab a drink and take in the really unique sights this place offered up.
Before we knew it, we were finally in Dawson City!!! We can't wait to start exploring this exciting place!
After arriving in Whitehorse we decided to set up camp for 3 nights to explore the area. Our first day we spent on our bikes, riding from the Pioneer RV Park in to the city of Whitehorse. We were super
Where are we going??
surprised to see all of the amenities this city had...everything from Walmart and Canadian Tire right to Tim Hortons, Boston Pizza and a lovely trail for walking and riding that went around the entire perimeter of the city. There were many First Nations buildings as well as many historic sites throughout the town that
Miles Canyon, Whitehorse
we had a chance to visit. It was a very busy little spot, still bustling with tourism as well.
National Historic Site - old stern-wheeler The Klondike, Whitehorse, YT
The second day we decided to explore the South Klondike Highway which extends from Whitehorse to Fraser, British Columbia and down to Skagway, Alaska, USA. We had signed up to do the White Pass Summit Scenic Railroad excursion but discovered that there had been two rock slides and our train couldn't run. Instead we first visited a little place called Carcross and then went on down and had a wonderful afternoon in Skagway.
Just strolling along the Klondike Highway
Carcross, originally known as Caribou Crossing because of the large numbers of Caribou that traversed the narrows between the lakes, was historically a stopping place for gold stampeders on their way to the Klondike goldfields. The town has retained much of its original character and also has many buildings representative of the First Nations people in the
Carcross
area.
I guess they mean business in the Yukon! Yikes!
A short stop at Customs, and then we were on to Skagway, Alaska, the oldest incorporated city in Alaska with just over 1000 permanent residents. Skagway owes its birth to the Klondike Gold Rush
when in July 1897 thousands of stampeders bombarded this little inlet to follow the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails to the Yukon
Skagway, Ak
goldfields. Today the original buildings, saloons, stores and gambling houses are still standing and now operating mostly as tourist destinations for the thousands of cruise ship visitors that stop in port.
Four cruise ships in the Skagway port today
Though we didn't get to travel the historical railway we really enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of Whitehorse and the South Klondike Highway. Tomorrow we travel on the North Klondike HIghway as we head to Dawson City! Until the next time.....
Leaving La Crete, we headed South (then North) to begin our great adventure to Alaska. We had no idea where we were going but were super excited to be starting this leg of the journey.
Sunset over La Crete
Crossing the Peace River
Construction of the Alaska Highway (sometimes known as the Alcan- Alaska Canada Military Highway) - began on March 9, 1942 and ended on October 25, 1942. Originally built as a military necessity in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the Japanese threat to Alaska and Pacific shipping lanes, it is considered one of the great achievements of the 20th century. It opened to the public in 1948. Many Alaskan businesses still use their “Historical Mile”to identify their location. As we travel the vast wilderness of this pioneer road, we also use kilometre mileposts to identify where we have been, where we are, and where we are going.
Hope you enjoy our 3 days on the Alaska Highway!
Day 1 - Kilometre 0 - Dawson Creek
We arrived at Dawson Creek at the very end of our driving day. We were pretty tired and decided to head right for the campground.
Kilometre 27.8 - Kiskatinaw River Bridge - This 162 meter structure is the only original timber bridge built along the Alaska Highway that is still in use today.
Somewhere around Kilometre 233.4 - After breezing through Fort St. John, we pulled off at a roadside rest area for lunch!!
Kilometre 454.3 - Fort Nelson - Time to stop for the night! We pull in to the Triple G Hideaway Campground for the night. The driving has been wonderful, long easy stretches of road with few cars. We have seen lots and lots of black bears and have pulled over many times to sightsee but 5 hours is certainly enough. Time to call it quits!
Day 2 Kilometre 456.4 - Nothing like a fruit and yogurt smoothie to start the day! Up and at ‘em! We are hitting the road!
Kilometre 551.4 - Testa River Campground - According to our Milepost book this was a must stop! Operated by third generation family-run hosts, they are
supposed to have world famous cinnamon buns! We stopped by to find out and, yep, they were delicious!!!! The coffee was good too!
Somewhere around Kilometre 597 - A caribou herd just hanging out!
Kilometre 668.2 - We just had to pull over and marvel at the beauty of the mountains and the valleys below.
Kilometre 675 - Our Milepost book warned us to watch for moose in boggy areas alongside the road. Sure enough…there she was!!! I was disappointed that I didn’t have my zoom lens handy. She took off into the woods with her little calf right behind her.
Kilometre 712.2 - Muncho Lake - The beautiful deep green and blue color and the enormity of this lake was stunning! Equally impressive was the winding drive alongside it!
Somewhere around Kilometre 756 - Wood Bison everywhere!!!! For the next 100 kilometres we saw bison feasting on grass on the side of the road.
Kilometre 764.7 - Liard River Hotsprings - A short walk along the boardwalk and we were at a natural hot spring where water temperatures vary from 36 to 52 degrees Celsius! It was absolutely glorious and just what we needed at this time of day!
Kilometre 905 - Welcome to the Yukon!
Kilometre 974.3 - As we approach Watson Lake, Yukon our tachometer rolls to 10 000km! Wow! Time to pull off the road for the night! Another big day tomorrow!
Day 3 - Kilometre 980 - The Signpost Forest - Designated a Yukon Historic Site in 2013, the Signpost Forest was started by US Army soldier Carl Lindley while he was working on the construction of the Alaska Highway in 1942. Travellers are still adding signs today, which numbers more than 85 000. We stopped and added ours too!
Kilometre 1242 - As we approach Teslin, we pull off for a view of Nisutlin Bay Bridge.
Kilometre 1425.3 - We arrive at Whitehorse!! A quick trip to Walmart and then we head right to the campground. There is so much to see and do! Time to rest!
