Today I left Teslin around 6:30am in search of wildlife. Only thing I saw was an eagle flying overhead.
I made it to Whitehorse at 8:40am right to the SS Klondike Stern Wheeler.
While I was walking a gentleman asked if I was a tourist and I indicated I was. We chatted for a little while and he explained that he planned to come up to Whitehorse for 6 months in 1951, but ended up staying there. It is a very nice town. Toured around the outside of the SS Klondike and took pics, as the tourist information place was not yet opened.
I fuelled up the truck and then went to WalMart to load up on a few items I needed. I then stopped at a gas station and got a block of ice.
I drove out of Whitehorse and saw a sign that indicated a wildlife refuge and good for photography. I drove the 7km down the road and went into the parking lot. I couldn’t let myself go in to take photo’s as I really wanted to remain true to myself in capturing the wildlife that was wild and free. I left and headed back to the main road.
Just outside of Whitehorse, was Lake Laberge. This lake is part of Robert Service’s poem "The Cremation of Sam MacGee"
There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.
and truly a beautiful spot.
I started up the road to Dawson City and made a stop just before Carmacks at an old ruins log building. This was called the Montague Roadhouse, a stopping point for many of the prospectors going to and from Dawson City.
I then drove into Carmacks and took photo’s of the old homesteads from the 1800’s and some of the grave markers in their graveyard.
I drove to Five Fingers Rapids and took a few photo’s. There were four different channels that the propectors could choose to go down. For those new to the area then, if chose the wrong channels, your boat would be overturned and either your stuff would sink or float down the river. Many of the new prospectors heading to Dawson City had too much weight on their boats or rafts and they would lose a great deal of their supplies. A sternwheeler that went through these waters on its way to Whitehorse would have to winch itself over a 30 to 60cm drop in the channel. What engineering challenges back in those days and how they overcame them. Amazing!
I drove to Tatchun Lake down a 7km gravel road and did not care much for the campgrounds. So, I drove back to Tatchun Creek and found a nice site here. Besides it was on 2km from Five Fingers Rapids and after supper I went back to the Five Fingers Rapids parking lot and did the 2km return hike in to a closer platform.
It was a lovely hike in especially after eating such a fine feast. LOL
Off to bed as I am up early to get to Dawson City … plan on being there for around a week. Good night!