Yukon Territory, Canada - May, 2004 (Re-run)

 Our stop in Whitehorse, the capital of Yukon Territory and largest city in northern Canada, was a short one, although we liked it very much.  We actually spent much more time there on our return trip.  That said, we did take time to check out the Yukon River which runs through the town, and the old paddle wheel steamboat that navigated the Yukon back in the day.  The White Pass & Yukon train depot was quite active back in the days of the Klondike gold rush around 1898.

Not far beyond Whitehorse, we left the Alaska Highway to take the Klondike Highway that leads to Dawson City.  This town, also situated on the Yukon River, was the epicenter of the Klondike gold rush.   During that time, the population soared to more than 40,000, but after the gold played out fell to less than 1000 and isn't much more than that today.  One quilt was made that pretty much sums up the history of Dawson City.

There was enough gold left for successful operation of dredges, which left huge piles of waste that can still be seen.   

 

These days, the main source of revenue in Dawson City is the tourist business.  With its Victorian buildings as a draw, the town offers the kind of entertainment that might have been available during the gold rush.  Well, not everything.                                                                 

Many of the miners' cabins are still there and some are actually lived in.

I believe Jack London lived in this cabin while writing "Call Of The Wild".  Talk about immersing oneself into the story.

The Klondike Highway ends right here at the banks of the Yukon River.  Apparently, the government has decided it is more cost effective to operate a free ferry to cross the river than build a bridge that would only be used a few months each year.  It was a little daunting to pull our 40 foot motor home and a vehicle towed behind onto such a small ferry, but it worked out as expected.   We drove up the dirt ramp and onto the ferry, taking up one entire side.  Three pick-up trucks occupied the other side.

Once across the river, we drove the "Top Of The World Highway" toward Alaska.  The road isn't as high as the name implies, but it is the highest thing for many miles around.  I think the name is really due to its northerly location.  The scenery was pretty good, but not as good as we had been led to believe.  The road is about 80 miles long, about half of it unpaved and rough, and crosses the U.S./Canada border.  Along the way, the road passes the small "town" of Chicken, a must stop for anyone traveling this way.  We crossed the border on June 1.