"The spell of the Yukon!" Whitehorse by Darby2


Whitehorse Travel Guide: 140 reviews and 201 photos

Lapie lakes on the Canol Road

Aah, the spell of the Yukon.... Northern lights, gold, cold (-63 C), endless forests, vast areas of tundra, the Highest mountains in Canada (Mount Logan, 19,524'), the midnight sun. I have visited this territory 4 times since 1975.
Largest city is Whitehorse, the capital which is on the Alaska Highway. The other major city is Dawson City, in the middle of the Yukon goldfields. At one time (1898) Dawson was one of the largest cities in northern Canada in the middle of the Klondike gold rush.

Dawson is near the southern terminus of the Dempster Highway which winds its way 730 km over the Ogilvie and Richardson Mountains all the way to Inuvik, NWT the most northerly point you can drive to in North America.

One of my favorite spots in the Yukon is off the beaten path- The Lapie Lakes on the Canol Road between Ross River and Johnson Crossing in the Pelly Mountains. Lapie Lakes is a pristine subalpine area of small lakes filled with the most beautiful Arctic Grayling fish. My fondest memory is fishing at 1AM in the morning under the midnight sun on the Lapie River.
As you drive along this backroad towards Ross River you will notice what appears to be a covering of white snow on the ground, especially where ther is little vegetation--but don't be alarmed, its the deposit of fine white volcanic ash that was left after the eruption of Mount Katmai ,a volcano in the Aleutian Penninsula in Alaska in June 1912. It covers a large area of Alaska and Yukon, in some places it was more than 6 feet thick! (See the pic in the off the beaten track section)

The Mad Trapper of Rat river

Read about the legendary Albert Johnson who eluded the Mounties in the middle of winter!

The Mad Trapper of Rat River

A mile-by-mile travelog of the Klondike Highway between Skagway and the Alaska Highway

  • Last visit to Whitehorse: Jun 1997
  • Intro Updated Mar 15, 2008
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Reviews (11)

Comments (36)

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  • hunterV's Profile Photo
    hunterV Nov 5, 2008 at 5:19 AM Report Abuse

    Hi, Dave! It must be an exciting tour over there...

  • XenoHumph's Profile Photo
    XenoHumph Jul 19, 2004 at 1:32 PM Report Abuse

    Great pictures of a beautiful region!

  • EricaD's Profile Photo
    EricaD May 14, 2004 at 6:54 PM Report Abuse

    what a fascinating place, lovely photographs too!

  • Dumpymotel's Profile Photo
    Dumpymotel Jan 31, 2004 at 6:08 PM Report Abuse

    I don't want to pitch a tent... give me a 3 star hotel atleast..... I like nice things...

  • salinhopt's Profile Photo
    salinhopt Nov 9, 2003 at 4:41 PM Report Abuse

    Fantastic landscapes and photography! Well done! Greetings from Madeira Island's!

  • BerniShand's Profile Photo
    BerniShand Nov 5, 2003 at 11:05 PM Report Abuse

    the color of Spirit Lake in your photograph is amazing, I really enjoyed these tips

  • jide08's Profile Photo
    jide08 May 9, 2003 at 7:51 AM Report Abuse

    It looks like such a beautiful region. I regret I missed it. Thanks for sharing. Your photos are really good but your tips good do with a bit more text and details.

  • TropicGirl77's Profile Photo
    TropicGirl77 Mar 6, 2003 at 5:40 PM Report Abuse

    This is really a neat page! Your photographs are super.

  • kenHuocj's Profile Photo
    kenHuocj Dec 7, 2002 at 6:30 AM Report Abuse

    a few brief articles and coments I've read, but your photos and comments enlighten me ;-)))

  • rachel_sun's Profile Photo
    rachel_sun Oct 21, 2002 at 4:06 PM Report Abuse

    -63,a good excuse to cuddle up ;-)This looks like a real paradise.What scenery,i must see this too one day

Darby2

“"Stay Calm, Be Brave, and Watch for the Signs"”

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