The Yukon River and Whitehorse

Thursday, May 14, 2009 – Day 14

We were off this morning to see some of the sites in and around Whitehorse.  One of the suggested stops in the Milepost is a visit to Miles Canyon, a few miles south of Whitehorse and only about a half mile from where we are camped.  The canyon was formed by a lava flow which caused the Yukon River to cut almost vertically downward through the basalt.  This resulted in the creation of a major roadblock to transportation on the Yukon River, the Whitehorse Rapids.

During the Klondike Gold Rush, some enterprising locals  built a tramway above the rapids and charged the prospectors a substantial fee to circumvent the rapids and move downstream towards the Klondike gold fields.  The rapids were permanently tamed when a hydro dam was built in 1958, creating Lake Schwatka where the rapids once rolled.  The hillsides and canyon walls are covered with junipers and spruce trees and dotted with thousands of wild crocuses. It was really a beautiful place for a walk.

 

Whitehorse is a really nice little city.  It is located in the Yukon River Valley and like so many cities it expanded outward from the river toward the hillside.  There are still many original or reconstructed buildings.  The city really caters to the many visitors passing through Whitehorse to or from Alaska along the Alaska Hwy.  They have established large parking areas for RV’s that are close to downtown.  They have a well marked route for large RV’s to follow to the Visitors Centre and along First Avenue.  Every Yukoner that we have met seems to be really anxious to help us anyway they can.

In the afternoon we visited the MacBride museum The museum traces the history of the Yukon.  For any one who can remember back to elementary school you may remember the poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee” by Robert Service.  Sam McGee was a real person who lived in the Yukon and was a friend of Robert Service, who just liked the “ring” of the name.  Anyway, Sam McGee’s cottage has been relocated to the grounds of the museum.  It was a very interesting history lesson. 

Tomorrow, a day off!

Friday, May 15, 2009 – Day 15

We have been away from home for two weeks and it seems like months.  We have put 3330 Miles on the truck, since we left Winnipeg.  (This includes little side trips and excursions and the miles that we put on while in Kelowna.)

Today was just like an ordinary day at home.  Janet baked some banana muffins and while she was occupied with that Jerry got to do the laundry.  (The first time since 1977, when I shrank/shrunk her Shetland wool sweater, that her parents had purchased for her when they went to Europe.  When I was finished with it, it could fit a Barbie doll quite nicely.  Who knew wool would shrink that much!?!?)  No disasters this time. We cleaned and tidied the trailer. and then went shopping for some groceries.

We just relaxed for the rest of the day.  Tomorrow, the the SS Klondike, which opens for the season.