Day 18: Travel to Whitehorse, Yukon

Travel  Day from Watson Lake to Whitehorse,Yukon. I went past the Sign Post Forest on the way out.

Sign Post Forest

The day did not start well as it rained while most of us hitched-up and got ready to leave for Whitehorse although it did stop about 9 and made the drive even better seeing we didn’t have to contend with the dust from the road repair.

 So here we are on the road again

Driving on a rainy day

The picture is a little hazy from the mist and clouds but got better as the morning progressed.

The first stop of interest was Rancheria Falls. Very nice 10 minute walk on a boardwalk into the bush.

Rancheria Falls

Rancheria Falls

This was my day for wildlife. I saw a total of 7 bears today. I was really beginning to wonder if they were just making up that there was bears here or not but a picture is worth a 1000 words.

1st bear

2nd bear

The scenery from the continental divide over to Teslin was spectacular, the mountains here are high enough to still have snow on some of them.

Driving over the Continental Divide

Beautiful Senery

Nisutlin River Bridge was another interesting stop with a history of the Chinook salmon displayed on information boards.

Nisutlin River Bridge

Johnson Crossing was another stop, thought I’d have lunch but several of our group was there before me and about the only thing left was the cinnamon buns. In my opinion the sticky buns at Testa River Lodge  were much better, a lot more brown sugar and cinnamon. If I had been making them they would also have had chopped marichino cherries and walnuts along with some raisins too.

Getting closer to Whitehorse the rain started again so it was really a non exciting last few miles. For those who haven’t already Googled to see how Whitehorse got its name here is an explaination.

Origin of Name Whitehorse: Whitehorse gets its name from the White Horse Rapids on the Yukon River, which were a major obstacle on the Trail of '98 for prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. The frothing rapids were said to resemble the manes of white, charging horses. With the construction of the Whitehorse hydro-electric dam in 1958, the rapids were covered by the Schwatka Lake reservoir.

The day ended with our Staff making us dinner and several staying to play double Hearts.

Submitted by Rig # 19

Garry