We departed Skagway after 6 pm on Friday June 30, with a destination of Whitehorse Yukon Territory, about 120 miles north. We climbed up and over the White Pass at an EL2864' on the Klondike Highway. As we rose in elevation the fog became very thick.
We crossed into British Columbia CA at
Fraser. Our border crossing was simple, quick and easy
Shortly we crossed into the Yukon Territory
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| It was a narrow and twisty road |
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| It was also a very scenic road |
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| Another view along the Klondike Highway |
Bennett Lake straddles the British Columbia and Yukon Territory border. It was a destination for the Stampeders after they crossed over the White Pass or made it up the Chillkoot Trail. From here they could paddle to the Yukon River and to the gold fields on the Klondike River
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Bennett Lake
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We saw a brown bear on the side of the road. There was no traffic, so I just stopped in the middle of the road while Dorcas snapped a few photos.
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| We saw this guy on the side of the road, and he watched us and posed for a moment |
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| After a few minutes he wandered off into the woods |
We crossed a very unique single-support suspension bridge, which was apparently very new. My love and fascination with bridges is a primary reason I chose to study civil engineering.
We spent the night at the Walmart in Whitehorse. This Walmart particularly caters to RVers and has a specific area designated for overnight parking.
When we arrived we found the Walmart RV parking area was packed to the brim. We had to separate the coach from the Honda in order to find a place to park. I counted over 75 RVs there this night.
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| The Walmart parking lot was packed!!! |
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| Our home for two nights in Whitehorse |
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| It looks like the Heffalump can go anywhere |
We crossed paths with the Heffalump several times after leaving Whitehorse
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| It looks like the Heffalump HAS gone everywhere! |
One reason for the plethora of RVs at the Walmart may have been because the next day was Canada Day, and the 150th anniversary of Canada's independence from Britain. We made it a point to be in Canada for Canada Day.
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| Walmart celebrates Canada Day |
So we watched the parade in Whitehorse.
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| The Yukon Midnight Sun Pipe Band |
Click
here to view a video of the Yukon Midnight Sun Pipe Band.
Whitehorse, as well as many other Canadian cities has a diverse ethnic population
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| Cookies! That's what I'm talking' about! |
We didn't visit the Yukon Brewing Company, but we'll be back this way later next month. I expect we'll drop in then.
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| The Mounties have come a long way, but I don't think they are quite there yet |
Canadians apparently like to dress up their dogs on holidays.
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| I don't know the significance of the Rotary Club duck, but we shared a high-five as he went by |
We spent a second night in Whitehorse, but didn't stay to see the sights. We want to be in the US for our own Independence Day celebration. Besides, we will pass through Whitehorse again on our way back from Alaska, and we can spend more time there then.
An update from the continuing saga of getting medication in the world of few medical care facilities and the obstacles of international health care. Faithful readers will remember that I was unable to get antibiotics in Skagway, but had the US prescription sent to Whitehorse. The Walmart pharmacy received the prescription for the amoxicillin from Juneau and referred me to River Valley Medical Clinic so that the prescription could be reissued by a Canadian licensed physician. Unfortunately, the clinic was closed for the holiday and would not open until Tuesday, two days later. My only other option was to go to the emergency room at the local hospital and pay $650 for a visit, that would likely not be covered by my health insurance. I elected to continue on. Our next major town, as it were, would be Tok AK, which had no pharmacy. The next pharmacy on our route was in Glennallen AK, two more nights away. The saga still continues.
As we continued westward on the Alaskan Highway Dorcas elected to drive for a while, mainly because she didn't appreciate the way I was negotiating the frost heaves on the highway. She is a more patient driver that I am, and does not mind blocking a lot of faster moving vehicles. She drove much of the day, and I appreciated the break.
We came across some more roadside grizzly bears, a sow and two cubs. They were very photogenic and in no hurry to leave the area. A number of cars had pulled over to look at them, but they seemed not to notice. I got a little carried away with the pictures; it was hard not to. Enjoy the show!
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| Downtown Haines Junction |
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| Historic MP on the Alaska Highway |
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| Our Lady of the Way Catholic Church |
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| The most photographed church in the Yukon |
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| Sheep Mountain Kluane National Park |
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| Kluane Lake |
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| The Kluane River |
This guy almost drove this rental unit into the lake. He was making a u-turn in a small parking area and claimed his left foot was under the brake pedal when he tried to press the pedal with his right foot. RV just kept a-going. He had just picked up the unit in Whitehorse that same day. Luckily there was a guy there with a big dually pick-up that pulled him out.
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| A good reason never to buy a used rental RV |
We stopped for the night at a roadside pull-off near the Donjeck River bridge. Another beautiful free camp site.
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| Our camp near the Donjek River in the boonies of the Yukon Territory |
Tomorrow we will re-enter Alaska.
