Alaska Highway – Yukon

We were going to post a blog every Friday, but, as it turns out, we’re either busy exploring the Great North or parked in a place with no internet. Which turns out to be a great way to introduce this blog….

We’re finally there. Yep, we’re in the far north – Whitehorse, Yukon. Wilderness! 60 degrees north latitude! Well, maybe not in the pure definition of wilderness. After all, this is being posted to the internet and there isn’t much internet in the wilderness. We have our own definition of wilderness and it looks like this:

1. When you leave the Alaska Highway you see nothing but trees, lakes, and streams. Not just for miles, but for hundreds of miles.
2. No cell phone service and no internet until you reach a settlement substantial enough to have that infrastructure.
3. There is wildlife and lots of it. These are the few sightings we’ve had:
   1. Elk: Six to ten including cows with calves.
   2. Deer: Three gorgeous bucks with big racks in velvet.
   3. Moose: Just one of the elusive animals.
   4. Caribou: Just one!
   5. Black bear: Almost too many to count, at least 16, several with cubs.
      

      Wood Bison

   6. Grizzly bear: Three, a sow with two cubs.
   7. Wood bison: Too many to count. At least four herds.
   8. Stone sheep: A small flock of four.
   9. Bald eagle: Just two so far.
   10. Raven: Hundreds, they seem to follow us everywhere.
   11. Small critters: Scores! Saw a ground squirrel blanket the other day…
4. Mosquitoes and other biting bugs abound. No kidding huh? Not sure how to explain this one. They haven’t been too bad, yet… However, we’ve been on the tundra before and know what to expect. Maybe it’s the garlic.
5. The road is rough. In reality, the road’s been pretty good. Sure, there are a few rough patches, but we’ve traveled over 1,750 miles without a problem.
6. Settlements or services are few and far between. We’ve been keeping an eye on the fuel gauge. If you broke down, you might have to wait overnight to get assistance and longer for parts.
7. Sourdoughs. We’ve spotted a couple…

We may have arrived, but it’s still a little too civilized; especially here where hordes of tourists arrive daily by train or bus from Skagway. We’ll be moving on in a couple days, further north, still seeking the wilderness.

Click here to see our photos of the journey from Dawson Creek, BC to Whitehorse, AB.