This Blog was written over a week ago, but did not post. I am resending it. We are now back in Dawson City and I will update as soon as I can get dependable internet.

Dawson City, Yukon Territory:  For those of you who do not have a map, our return to Canada may seem strange. We left British Columbia at Prince Rupert and were in Alaska all the way up the Inland Passage to Haines (and Skagway). This is called Southeast Alaska and it is a long way from Anchorage and other Alaskan locations. The history of how this coast line became the USA instead of Canada is fascinating but I won’t go into it now. Suffice it to say that when you leave Haines (or Skagway) you must go back into British Columbia and then the Yukon Territory as you proceed to Alaska.

We spent three nights in Whitehorse, enjoying the good weather and getting ourselves ready for continuing our trek into the Yukon. The best part was a visit to Miles Canyon where the mighty Yukon River narrows to flow through a tight canyon flanked by a palisade of basalt columns. This is the site of the former rapids for which Whitehorse is named. River boats coming “downriver” on the Yukon (which flows north) had to portage these rapids. Later a diversion dam was built mid-way across the river which wiped out the rapids but the dramatic canyon walls and fast water are still exciting to see.

We left Whitehorse on Monday morning in a drizzling rain which did nothing to obscure the loveliness of the Klondike Highway leading toward Dawson City.  This 333 mile road passes mostly through river valleys; beside rivers, creeks, and lovely lakes, and often has distant mountain views. The wildflowers are beyond belief! The overcast day seemed to accent the depth of color and the immense variety of the flowers. Since this area has suffered a series of huge wildfires, the Fireweed was incredible. It lined the roadsides and spread up and over every “bald” spot. Next were the Arctic lupines; they ranged from pale lavender to deep purple and there are fields of them, mile after mile. Mixed with these showy plants are 15 to 20 varieties of yellow daises, snow-parsley, cow-parsnip, etc. etc. etc. Every time we stopped I saw something new. Can you tell I loved the flowers?

Since most of the RV’s stop at the same places, we  met some of our fellow travelers and when we stopped at Moose Creek YT Govt. CG for the night, we met again. The government campgrounds (like State Parks in the US), do not have facilities other than “vault” toilets and picnic tables, but they are beautifully laid out and are spacious, level, and provide free firewood. We built our first campfire of the trip and had some of our new friends over to share it.

This morning we drove in to Dawson City and are parked at the Gold Rush RV Park.  We were here for almost a week three years ago and enjoyed it very much. This time, we just wanted to get up-to-date information from the Northwest Territories Visitor’s Center, get gas, fill up with potable water, and check all our mechanicals.  It looks as if all systems are on GO and in the morning we plan to start our drive on the Dempster Highway to lnuvik, NWT and back. 

The Dempster is one of only two highways in North America that goes beyond the Arctic Circle (the other is the Dalton Hwy in Alaska). It is not paved and it is over 800 miles, round trip. There is gas available at the half-way point and at Inuvik.  We waited in Dawson City for a week in 2013 for this road to be reopened after a flood washed it out. It didn’t happen so we continued south. We plan to try again this time. If it is too challenging, we will come back but we have high hopes.

(Sorry, not sure I can send any photos with this Blog. We are using a restricted internet..)