EXPLORING THE OUTER REACHES

  June 27  2018

Today we left Whitehorse to meander our way south.  We are taking the Stewart-Cassier Highway and although its not the best for travelling with an RV we have enjoyed the thought of going somewhere we have not been before.  The first part of the highway is just ok with some rough spots and then some VERY rough spots.  A bit of rock & roll  LOL   The second part of the highway is pretty good for a secondary highway.
Came across this very old original Alaska Hwy bridge in Otter Creek

This is one of the better parts of the Stewart Cassiar Hwy

We then arrived at Jade City which has its own TV show which shows them mining Jade

 This picture of the jade boulders does not show the real color but it was pretty incredible and they had these rocks everywhere

Our first night was spent in Iskut, which is a very very small village but the place we stopped at for the night was a totally unexpected jewel in the middle of nowhere called Mountain Shadow which is a very appropriate name. Its on the edge of Iskut Lake and in the shadow of the mountains and was an incredibly well maintained RV park with amazing views and a quiet, relaxing place to be.

June 29 & 30
Next stop for the night was Mezadin Lake Provincial Park which is really pretty and the only downside was there were a lot of mosquitoes  This is the most bugs we have encountered on the trip.  I don't mind too much cause as a rule mosquitoes don't like me much and if I'm near Brian I don't have to worry cause they love him.

For a day trip we drove into Stewart, B.C. and to Hyder, Alaska (they are neighbors) and the scenery on the drive was incredible - tons of waterfalls and beautiful mountains and even a glacier or 2 or 3.

This is Bear Glacier which is right on the side of the highway on the way to Steward B.C. & Hyder Alaska

Stewart, B.C. is a very small town on the coast at the end of the longest fjiord in B C  One main street and they were getting ready to celebrate Canada day

Both these cars were parked on main street and are 1957 Chevy's but the one below is special because my mom & dad 1st car was a 1957 chevy station wagon just like this except ours if I remember correctly was yellow and was a 4 door

  

 This building was built in 1908 by a German financier as a base for Canadian northeastern Railway in Stewart and was named The Empress Hotel  Initial cost for the hotel was $100,000 and now is for sale  Anyone interested??????

Hyder  Alaska is a interesting little ramshackle town with interesting residents.  Population 60 and only spent a very short time cause not much to see but had to go there as it borders Stewart B.C  No U S customs going in but Canadian customs coming out as one road in and same road out

MIDNIGHT IN THE YUKON

June  23  2018

Yukon really is the land of the midnight sun and we found it hard to get used to and very hard to fall asleep ---although it was beautiful  ---  These pictures really are at midnight on Kluane Lake taken out the back window of the RV  It does look a little dark in the pictures but trust me it was like daylight almost the whole night.  We had one night in particular that neither of us could sleep as it seemed like it was the middle of the day

THE BEAUTY OF KLUANE

June 22  23  24   2018

Today we headed to Kluane National Park  What a spectacular drive through the park.  The mountains are so beautiful with their snow capped peaks and lots of pull-outs to stop and enjoy the scenery and take pictures  There was so much to look at and enjoy  What a totally beautiful area of the Yukon

Kluane Lake is spectacular and when we came upon it we were totally taken by surprise at the size of the lake and how beautiful it is.

On Kluane Lake since the glacier is receding the river that flowed into the lake from the glacier melt changed course and now flows into another river valley thus creating a broad sand plain where the river once was and the prevailing winds blow the sand.  We could see the dust blowing from miles away but did not know where it originated until we saw the lake.  The owner of the campsite said the lake will eventually find its own level based on the outlet river   You can see the blowing sand in the pic below

   Brian's cousin had recommended a RV park on Kluane Lake and it was absolutely one of the best RV parks we have ever been to.  We backed onto the amazing Kluane Lake with mountains behind.

Our Campsite was amazing

Oh and look what was right behind our RV  Lovin the BEACH

Took a drive one day to Haines Junction and a very pretty Kathleen Lake.  Went to a very small town called Burwash Landing which is home to the Yukon Natural Museum.  We were pleasantly surprised by the size and scope of the museum - they had all the wildlife (taxidermy) from the whole Yukon on display  It was larger than we expected and very well done.

 Kathleen Lake   If there is a beach anywhere I will find it.  Really did not think there were so many beautiful beaches in the Yukon

On our way back we encountered a momma Grizzly and 2 cubs on the side of the road munching on the grass.  Stopped for a bit and watched from the safety of the truck.  Brian is happy now what an unforgettable experience and was one of the highlights for Brian as he really wanted to see a grizzly

Kluane National Park and Kluane Lake are absolutely beautiful and we spent 3 days there and it was really hard to leave  Wish we could have stayed longer

ON THE ROAD TO SKAGWAY

So Hi everyone  Just wanted to let everyone know that the we have not posted much on the blog in the last few weeks because we have been in Northern B.C and the Yukon and there is not a lot of cell service and the wifi is satellite and unrealiable and slow.  I could type on the blog but not download any pictures so I chose to wait till I had good wifi to catch up  Enjoy our journey because we certainly have


June 20 2018


Today we got an early start and drove to Skagway, Alaska   1st stop Emerald Lake which the pictures do not do it  justice.    It is absolutely beautiful and the name says it all

2nd stop was  the Carcross Desert.  I know - who would have thought there was a desert in the Yukon- but check out the pictures.  We had seen a story on tv on Planet Earth about the Carcross Desert so it was a must see.

The drive was not quite what we had expected - it was so much more.  The scenery was AMAZING AND SPECTACULAR   There were waterfalls on the side of the road and lakes everywhere and the most interesting was being in the high alpine with the summit about 3200 ft
Cannot describe how it looks but it was amazing.  check out the pictures below.  We were both blown away by the beauty we were lucky enough to enjoy.  The day could not have been more perfect as temp was around 29c with a slight breeze
Spent a few hours in Skagway but found it to be a typical cruise ship destination so we left early so we could enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way back to Whitehorse.  And enjoy we did.

WHITEHORSE & BEYOND WHO NEW

June 18  2018

Today we spent exploring the town of Whitehorse.  It is a great town with lots of history and is a very clean town in a beautiful setting with the backdrop of mountains and the river.  One thing that is really hard to get used to is the daylight on for almost the entire night.  We will be doing something and look at the clock and realize its like 10:30 but the sun is still shinning and you feel like its 7 pm
Wake up in the middle of the night and its still light or dusk  At this time of year it does not get really dark at all just kind of dusk and dawn around 3am  It is strange

We took a tour around the SS Klondike which is a National Historic Site and is situated as you drive into town right bedside the Yukon River  The Klondike was originally built in Whitehorse in 1929 as a ore hauler  It sank in 1936 and was rebuilt and re-launched in 1937  It is quite the ship and is 240ft long which includes the paddlewheel and could carry 300 tons of cargo with 23 crew and up to 75 passengers.

Drove to Miles Canyon which is approx 1km from downtown  Beautiful

June 19  2018

Today we spent the afternoon at Brian's cousin Edith and all the Whitehorse cousins (total of all of us 7) lakeside cabin on Lake Laberge which is approx 40 min north of Whitehorse. and we had a great visit and a fantastic dinner and got to enjoy a beautiful view of the lake

EXPLORING THE LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN

June  14  2018

Today we were welcomed to Whitehorse by Brian's cousin Jim and his wife Pat and their dog Mattie and one of his other cousins Edith.  Jim & Pat live in a really cool lakefront home on beautiful Marsh Lake which is approx 40 min south of the town of Whitehorse.

 The view from their home is amazing. 

Oh and they have their own beautiful sandy beach. Yahoooo.

On our second day camping at Jim & Pat's Brian & Jim went on a "hike" (Brian rode an ATV and Jim did all the hiking)  up to Judas Mountain.  Incredible views.  Plus Jim is Brian's older cousin and Brian on the ATV couldn't keep up with him  Jim is in incredible shape and is extremely active as a skier and hiker.  And the view 

We had a lot of fun and a great couple of days at Jim & Pat's   Thanks to them for their incredible hospitality.

June 16  2018

We are camping in a really nice RV site very close to downtown Whitehorse.  We plan to spend 6 nights here exploring the area and the town of Whitehorse


June 17  2018

Today is Father's day so we took a trip to Carcross which is approx 56 K south of Whitehorse.  We met up with Brian's cousins Edith, Diane and of course Jim & Pat.

Carcross is a unique village dating back to the gold rush days with lots of original buildings and some new buildings that house some local artisans.

Had a great Father's Day dinner with the cousins at the only restaurant in Carcross and the food was amazing.  Local and house made food (Brian had a Bison Burger) and all of the food superb.

And only I could find so many beaches in the Yukon   This beautiful one was right in Carcross

YUKON FINALLY !!!!!!

June  13  2018

WE MADE IT !!!!!!!

  Not much traffic and beautiful scenery  What more could you ask for on your drive.

We spent the night in a  little town called Teslin and on Teslin Lake which boasts the longest Bridge in the Yukon at over 500 meters  The lake itself is huge and is approx 125 K Long  We got a campsite right on the lake and enjoyed our evening (except for doing laundry)

June 14  2018

Before we left Teslin we stopped at the Tlingit 1st Nation Heritage Centre  That was an awesome experience  They have build a beautiful building with different displays of Tlingit artists from the last century.  Also with these displays they have a audio which explains the history of the people.  Really well done displays of their culture.