After an early morning of laundry, web surfing and blogging it was time to see some sites in Whitehorse.
Taking our friends George and Jeannie's advise we headed a mile or so down the road to "Mile Canyon" (Petro and Carl out on the rock that caused the death of may of the stampeders trying to get through the canyon on home made boats) First we had breakfast at Lil's 50's Diner. Great place with 50's music playing, large murals of 50's idols on the walls, checkered floor, the whole shebang. Even our waitress was dressed in poodle skirt and hair net with hot pink scarf and lip stick, cook had T shirt with sleeves rolled up. and on and on. Great way to begin a day. Almost 50's prices too if you had the special. Which we did. Just sorry I didn't take any pictures. Oh well!!!
Yep, George and Jeannie were right, definitely a place to spend some time. Again, lots of history and views. At the MacBride museum we watched a video and viewed many exhibits telling of those harrowing days and events. ALL IN THE NAME OF GOLD.
view from look out of canyon with 50' high walls and narrow channel. We read that many would be miners lost their lives on this section of the Yukon.
Carl walking across the Yukon River on the wooded bridge.
These two photos (1902 below and 2010 on right) show the water was 30' lower than today witch added to the danger on the rapids. A dam and hydro-electric plant built in 1959 eliminated the rapids.
Man and dog having a stroll along the Yukon River at Miles Canyon.
Had a great time visiting the MacBride Museum, http://www.macbridemuseum.com/
allow at minium of two hours. You can try your hand at gold mining, videos of stern-wheelers, history of dance hall girls, gold rush, wild life, First Nations and so much more. Saw what they said was the actural Sam McGee's cabin. If you don't know the poem "The cremation of Sam McGee" here is a link. Really cute and strictly Yukon humor. http://www.wordinfo.info/words/index/info/view_unit/2640/?letter=C&spage=26
here is another link with details of the real Sam McGee and Author. Very good.
http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/The_Cremation_of_Sam_McGee
Just a few more things I have enjoyed about this trip. Takes all kinds of people and all kinds of places to make up this wide wide world.
Staff talked to us about the area and sites to see on our way north to Dawson and Reminded us to get some bear spray before we hike around the Dempster Highway. Carl found it at Canadian Tire (which is more like a giant TSC in the states). A little pricey at $44, but all the locals told us to get it if we plan to hike or camp. So we did. Hummmm
We checked out the "Old Log Church Museum" and "Yukon Transportation Museum" where we saw the worlds largest weather vane
Yes, this airplane is actually weather vane and we saw it rotating with the wind while we were there. Unbelievable.
So much information. Wonderful exhibits ranging from dog sleds and dogs, snowmobiles, military vehicles, snow shoes, firetrucks, snow sleds and buggies, and so much more. Not to mention the trains & planes and how they all helped to form this area.
I was struck with this display of the abandoned equipment littering the area where the Canol pipeline was built. Canol, short for Canadian Oil, was a pipeline system intended to provide fuel for the Alaska Highway and the Northwest Staging Route. Concerns about Japanese attacks on shipping lanes in the Pacific Ocean triggered the need for a source of fuel that was domestic and inland, protected from enemy threats. Very interesting read if you want to go this link. http://www.alaskahighwayarchives.ca/en/chap5/index.php
Anyway, it was a particularly striking display at the museum for me. Also viewed a video of the White Pass tourist railroad that runs up to Skagway. Almost the exact route we drove on Wednesday. Made us happy we decided to drive it instead of paying the steep price to ride the train. http://www.wpyr.com/
We went to the Fish Ladder http://www.yukonfga.ca/fishway/ which is the worlds longest wooden fish ladder in the world. The link above has another link to the live fish cam which I know all the fisherman viewing this blog will love. It was very interesting
"This fishway was built in 1959 to help the salmon move past the dam on thier way to spawning grounds upstream. 1,182 feet, the longest in the world. Built in a series of steps that span a rise of 60ft. Each step has a baffle that the fish can jump over, or they can swim through a submerged opening. About half way along the ladder the fish enter a holding area so staff can record their size, sex, origin (wild or hatchery). Lake and rainbow trout, white fish, arctic grayling and northern pike have also been seen in the holding area.
These salmon come all the way from the Bering Sea starting in early summer the 2,000 mile journey up the Yukon River to the exact location they were originally spawned several years earlier. They don't eat during the 3 months it takes to swim from the Pacific Ocean to Whitehorse, relying on stored body fats for energy. A perilous journey most of these salmon become victims of predation, starvation and fishing. only a small portion of the originals survive to pass through the Fishway. From Whitehorse they continue on the Upper Yukon River tributaries where they spawn and die, completing the cycle of life."
From the fish ladder we drove 3 miles to "Canyon City" which was once a bustling townsite along the route to the Klondike goldfields. http://www.tc.gov.yk.ca/991.html
It was a short hike down the slope of the mountain to what is now an archaeological site providing a glimpse of the 1898 gold rush. It was pretty interesting to see the map of what used to be and signs of the past.
Visited the "North End Gallery" a great art display of Canadian artisans works and the historic SS Klondike stern-wheeler ship on display alongside the Yukon River.
I think I remembered everything we did and saw during our 4 day stay in Whitehorse. We are feeling rejuvinated and ready to hit the road again tomorrow. We will probably take another 3 or 4 days up the Klondike Hwy before we land in Chicken or Tok Alaska. Until than, thanks for viewing our blog and catch up with you again later in the GREAT LAST FRONTIER
Oh, almost forgot, there is a Walmart here in town and it must be the hot cheap place to camp as we saw lots of RVs, with steps, slides, and awnings out so I don't think they were just shopping. We personally appreciated our facilites (electric, internet, water and sewer) but than I guess if you like dry camping on the cheap in a busy parking lot that is your choice. Maybe we should try it sometime. Might be a new social adventure!!!!
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