Leaf Borers and a Bald Eagle

Sunday, June 28, 2009 – Day 59

We slept in late today as we really hadn’t planned to do a lot.   After breakfast we went for a hike along Miles Canyon.  We had hiked in Miles Canyon when we were here in mid-May.  What a difference.  The deciduous trees are now in full leaf although the poplars seem to be affected by a leaf borer, which creates a zigzag pattern in the leaves and causes them to reflect the light so that they look a greyish green.  The wild crocuses that were in bloom when we were here have been replaced by many other wildflowers and the water in the canyon seems to have cleared from a browny colour to a more, typical glacial blue-green.  

When we had completed the hike we went to the Yukon Energy hydro electric dam.  To aid the Chinook/King salmon on their migration up the Yukon River, they have built a wooden fish ladder next to the dam.  This is reportedly the longest, wooden fish ladder in the world and features a glass viewing area where you can see the fish as they make their way up the ladder. Too bad it is closed on Saturday and Sunday. We’ll have to try to catch it tomorrow.

 

 

We had been told that Fish Lake Road was a scenic drive just west of Whitehorse.  What northerners call a road I would call a dirt track.  There is some gravel sections and it was very badly potholed.  My guess is the grader operator felt that this could wait till next year….three years ago.  After several miles of this driving we finally arrived at Fish Lake.  I guess you have to see it in a different light.  The scenery going back down IS amazing.  (Funny thing when you’re trying to avoid the biggest pot holes you don’t look in your rear-view mirrors.) From different places along the route you can see Whitehorse in the Yukon River Valley and it is really breathtaking.

The rain had stopped when we got into Whitehorse so we decided to walk around some of the stores.  We picked up the local newspaper the Yukon News,  not so much for the content as we have been following world events on the internet, but more for the local flavour.  We try to do this in any city that publishes a newspaper.

On our way back to the trailer we stopped by a roadside information kiosk, at which we had stopped on our previous visit.  An eagle has nested in a nesting box very near this kiosk.  We were able to get some really good pictures of her.