Yukon Gold

The drive from the Alaskan border to Haines Junction involves some of the most beautiful scenery combined with some of the most horrific road conditions. A long day and a half in the Yukon, but still totally worth it.

A trumpeter swan in a pond just over the Canadian border. Apparently, swans like the cold, because there are five species common to this area.

Burwash Landing is located along the shores of Kluane Lake, which is absolutely beautiful. The area was developed because of the Yukon gold rush, as you can see by the "world's largest" gold pan sign. We may not have struck it rich in gold, but if eye-popping scenic views could be traded for case, I would not be working anymore!

Kluane Lake. It is so beautiful along here that you just want to sit and enjoy the view forever.

Kluane Lake is located in Canada's Kluane National Park & Reserve. This area, along with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in the US, are home to many of North America's highest peaks, including Mt. Logan, which straddles the US-Canadian border; the area is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. I've seen several of those in my travels now, and if you're near one, stop and check it out. It's always worth it.

The mountains overlooking Kluane Lake. I think these are called the Pelly Range. Or maybe the Ruby Range, but basically they are an extension of the northern Cascades.

Miles Canyon, where the Yukon River narrows just upstream from Whitehorse. Again it's amazing how clean and beautiful the water looks.

The suspension bridge over Miles Canyon. It was pretty scary and wobbly, but I'm proud to report that I made it across. Almost makes me want to go back and try the Hell's Gate bridge again. Almost.

The views on the other side of the bridge were so worth walking over it. We went on a (short) hike until the sun started to sink in the sky. Which of course was a beautiful sight itself.

There's just something about pine trees that makes my heart happy. Not that I don't like other kinds of trees, but that northern, scrubby pine, clear water, crisp air landscape is so peaceful. We liked Miles Canyon so much that we decided to stay in Whitehorse for the night. We did so at Robert Service Campground, a tent-only campground that was one of the best we stayed in. Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures.

After we pitched our tent, we went exploring around Whitehorse a bit, taking in the sunset over the Yukon. And making a much-needed Wal-Mart stot, where we were surprised to find pretty good prices for the middle of nowhere Canada.

The next morning we continued down the Alaska Highway, stopping briefly in Teslin to check out the Teslin Tlingit Native Heritage Center, which was a "must-stop" for me. Of all the native art and culture I experienced (which actually wasn't much, although it wasn't nothing, either), I think the Tlingit culture is my favorite, so I was excited to see how the inland groups lived compared to their coastal cousins. (Although I still haven't been to Sitka and some of the other coastal regions where the Tlingit live).

These are some Tlingit totems. I love the colors and the style of the animal representations.

Well, that concludes our brief time in the Yukon. The Yukon Visitor's Center in Whitehorse has an amazing video about other places to go, and someday I'd like to see Dawson City and drive the Dempster Highway to Inuviak.

Up next will be our exploits in British Columbia, including driving through an active wildfire, seeing dozens of black bears, driving to the top of a glacier, and enjoying Vancouver's Stanley Park.