Pelly Crossing

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Whitehorse Supply Run

I left Dawson in pouring rain at 8 this morning. There was a lot of construction between Pelly Crossing and Whitehorse, which stretched the trip to a nearly interminable 6.5 hour journey.

My first item of business was to have the toad’s tires examined. Thankfully there’s a Kal Tire in Whitehorse! The news was acceptable; I need two new front tires and an alignment. They should be able to do the work first thing tomorrow, so I should still be able to do some touristy stuff.

I’m staying at Hi Country RV Park… In a tent! 🙂 It’s pricey, $18 + tax, but I got a locals discount and showers are included. There is also wi-fi, which I’m accessing with my iPod Touch! The campground is nice, but I resent being sold a ‘tenting’ spot where the only place to set up the tent without being on rocks is on a slope. Our tent spots might be on gravel, but at least they are flat!

Tonight, I will do my non-perishable shopping, which includes things for my friends. I’d better get cracking!

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Into the Klondike

I was glad for the long stop (and hard hike) at Five Finger Rapids because after, there were few places to stop. Pelly Crossing marked the halfway mark, mileage-wise, and I had been on the road for four hours already. I stopped shortly after there for lunch, then swung north at Stewart Crossing.

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The side of the highway featured hundreds of beaver-dam-like structures. I suspect the wood was cut for fire suppression purposes:

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Gravel Lake was a lovely spot to rest for a bit:

Gravel Lake

Gravel Lake

The views of the Tintina Trench were legendary:

view from the Tintina Trench pull out

view from the Tintina Trench pull out

Shortly thereafter, after a lifetime of yearning, I reached the Klondike:

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the Klondike River

the Klondike River

I paused shortly thereafter to take my first steps onto the Dempster Highway, the road that leads to Inuvik, NWT, the furthest point you can drive north year round in Canada:

first steps on the Dempster

first steps on the Dempster

I really hope to scrape together the funds to make it up to Inuvik, but just being there at the road’s beginning was more than than I ever expected I’d get to do.

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Twenty kilometres from the Dempster/Klondike Junction was my stop for the night, the YTC (Yukon Territory Campground) at Klondike River.