...this past 3.5 days in north, I did every day!
Couldn't pass up a $250 direct, return flight, Calgary/Whitehorse, to go and visit Gordon and Kelly. Gordon has lived there for 18 years and while he'd been to Colombia, Ecuador and Calgary to visit us, I'd never been there. For that matter, I had never been north of Fort Saint John, even after 6 years in Chetwynd. The warmer, seemingly exotic south has always called my attention.
After 4 straight days of hard mtn biking, followed by an acscent of Emerald Peak, I was in need of some strong coffee to keep me going. Fortunately the inflight magazine showed the local coffee roasters, roasting up nothing other than.....Colombian coffee :)
Tour guides extraodinaire, Kelly and Gordon's love for the north country (and each other) is readily apparent, talking up the many selling points whenever the opportunity arose...at least once an hour throughout the day!
This is a stroll that starts right across the street from their house and heads straight into thick forest.
The local ornament tree....
...just out of the front door!
Great community recreation centre, with every indoor sport you could ever need during -40C
Mr. Beaver hard at work....
....during a morning stroll along the Yukon River, Miles Canyon. Interesting basaltic columns.
Kelly enjoying a pensive moment.
Next day we headed out for my first real quad trip.
I was worried all the bouncing around would throw my back out, but the 4 wheel independent suspension and the cushy rear seat with side wings, smoothed out most of the bumps.
And so up we went into the mountains back of Annie Lake, 45 mins from Whitehorse. (Ramon really likes this picture)
With so many old mining roads and broad mtn ridges, the possibilities are endless.
And just like that we were on the top of Beeker Peak. No hiking boots, poles or backpack required.
We didn't stick around long with the cold wind blowing. Gordon hadn't been out this late in the year before, so we were lucky to make it up there.
Gordon forgot to gas up as we were yaking away as we left town. Stopped into this place on the way back to see if they had any spare diesel.
....the dogs turned out to be friendly and the owner even friendlier, as he brought out a 5 gallon jug for Gordon.
....apparently the huge mozzies are friendly as well, but fortunately none were around in mid October to greet me :)
Lots of Griz on the side of the hiways....
I didn't want to get to friendly with them and took fotos from the truck.
The next photos are all taken on the last day, including some of the griz pics above. Skagway Alaska is only a 2 hour drive and you end up in a completely different eco zone, down on the wet coast.
Carcross indigenous art (short for Caribou Crossing)
....of the friendly locals? .....that we are but a spec in the vast wilderness....universe....
Tagish lake...as the morning fog gradually clears....
Plenty of goats lazing around.
I had no idea.
Moonscape at the pass, just before dropping down to the ocean.
Photoshopped myself in there to make like I actually went to Alaska😆
No one around....yet all the high tech cameras etc....
The local whorehouse....where they used dolls to represent the working girls. A doll laying down meant....well....you get the idea.
Choppers sit for 7-8 months of the year when there are no cruise ships....no tourists.
Reid falls
Veritable lush green carpet of moss
Can I say I hiked the Chilcoot trail? 500m worth😉
...eagles
....seals
...sublime landscapes
Foxes....
....do you have any cannabis oil, they wanted to know.
....or .....north of ordinary. A long ways from anywhere? or....right were we humans should be...in the middle of such a vast natural, mostly unspoiled environment.
....and back to my rocky mountains. Thanks Kelly and Gordon for the great hospitality and for letting me eat you out of house and home. I just couldn't control myself with the delish carrot cake the first few nights! Not to mention a few other indulgences that I won't name.
