Yukon/NWT vacation - Page 2 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Ruttiger · 02-01-2016, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

We are planning on flying to Whitehorse and renting a camper there, then drive to Dawson, then Inuvik.

If you're flying to Whitehorse it's a shame you'll miss the Liard Hot Springs - a must-stop on the drive up:

http://www.canadianbucketlist.com/ex...ardhotsprings/

Bonded · 02-01-2016, 11:56 AM

How safe would the drive from Calgary up to Dawson be in the summer months?

CliffFletcher · 02-01-2016, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonded

How safe would the drive from Calgary up to Dawson be in the summer months?

We didn't have any problems in a late-80s vintage Ford Econoline van, aside from running out of gas at one point. Bring a couple extra jerrycans and you should be good.

Harju · 02-01-2016, 12:33 PM

Here is an excellent personal blog for the Yukon

http://yukonsights.ca/

Winnie · 02-02-2016, 10:44 AM

We did the Calgary - Yukon road trip last summer. Awesome trip.

Like Ruttiger said, Liard Hot Springs was definitely a highlight. Stopped in there on the way up and coming home again. A bear was causing a bit of stir while we were there, but the boys liked being guarded by the park wardens with their shotguns.

Dawson City was also great - a very unique place. I'm a history buff so loved all of the historical sights. Drop into the info centre as Parks Canada does some good tours around town. Take the ferry across the river and check out the paddlewheeler graveyard. Seemed to be some good nightlife as well (considering the town's size), but with a 5 & 9 year old in tow, getting liquored up wasn't really in the cards.

Can't wait to get back up there. Enjoy your trip.

Ruttiger · 02-02-2016, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnie

Dawson City was also great - a very unique place. I'm a history buff so loved all of the historical sights. Drop into the info centre as Parks Canada does some good tours around town. Take the ferry across the river and check out the paddlewheeler graveyard. Seemed to be some good nightlife as well (considering the town's size), but with a 5 & 9 year old in tow, getting liquored up wasn't really in the cards.

Diamond Tooth Gertie's left me with a big black hole in my memories from the night we spent there. Judging by where I woke up I assume it was a good night.

I'll second the comment about history. Pierre Berton's home, the Robert Service cabin, the Discovery Claim on Bonanza Creek.....the Klondike Gold Rush was such a rich and important piece of our nation's history and it seems all too under represented in our school curriculum. The same friend and I went back up 2 years later and backpacked the Chilkoot Trail. Again, wonderful scenery, history, and experience. They talk about 'The Spell of the Yukon', and I was definitely bitten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvG1bIp7WP8

Winnie · 02-02-2016, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruttiger

The same friend and I went back up 2 years later and backpacked the Chilkoot Trail. Again, wonderful scenery, history, and experience. They talk about 'The Spell of the Yukon', and I was definitely bitten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvG1bIp7WP8

Hiking that trail is definitely on my bucket list. We took the drive out to Skagway - not like hiking the trail, but a great scenic drive. As you probably know, Skagway is a massive tourist trap, but the museums are very well done. We went out to check out the old Dyea townsite, which I could have spent all day at. Loved heading off the main trails and stumbling onto old gold rush 'artifacts'. You could really feel the history - I'm guessing hiking the trail brought it home even more.

Ruttiger · 02-02-2016, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winnie

Hiking that trail is definitely on my bucket list. We took the drive out to Skagway - not like hiking the trail, but a great scenic drive. As you probably know, Skagway is a massive tourist trap, but the museums are very well done. We went out to check out the old Dyea townsite, which I could have spent all day at. Loved heading off the main trails and stumbling onto old gold rush 'artifacts'. You could really feel the history - I'm guessing hiking the trail brought it home even more.

It was pretty fantastic. Lots of visible evidence and artifacts along the trail leftover from the gold rush. That and the historic significance of this route made it akin to backpacking through a museum. Climbing the golden stairs and staying the last night at Bare Loon lake were probably the high points for me.

pseudoreality · 02-02-2016, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

We are thinking tail end of June into July, so hopefully the weather will be OK, and the black flies won't be to bad. I think my biggest concern is the amount of driving, but I've done plenty of long trips before. Is the gravel road north Dawson in pretty good shape? If my wife can do some of the driving on it that would help.

I don't think its that bad. Gravel roads are what I'm used to and I still think of pavement as being a luxury. Just slow down when you pass another vehicle and keep in mind there can be large dust clouds that blind you for a few seconds after a large truck goes by. One good, full sized, spare should be enough. Just get your tire fixed if you need to use the spare.

Fuzz · 02-22-2016, 02:21 PM

Got our cute little motorhome booked for June 27-July 9th! They didn't have any vans up there, and the truck/camper combo seamed more awkward than this.

They also do mountain bike rentals, which I am considering. I was wondering how many of the hiking trails would be ride-able? Around here you can't bike on a lot of the parks ones, not sure if it would be the same. My wife is only confident on fairly easy trails, so I'm not sure if there would be much or not. Anyone have input on that?

Fuzz · 03-29-2016, 11:29 AM

So we are just trying to plan out our route a bit. I was wondering if it is worth spending any time between Whitehorse and Dawson City, or if we should just do the drive in a day and spend more time around tombstone, and farther north? We will probably come back around through Alaska and down highway 1, so will spend the last few days in the Destruction bay area. So, anything worth spending time for between Whitehorse and Dawson City?

TomLeeMC · 03-29-2016, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So we are just trying to plan out our route a bit. I was wondering if it is worth spending any time between Whitehorse and Dawson City, or if we should just do the drive in a day and spend more time around tombstone, and farther north? We will probably come back around through Alaska and down highway 1, so will spend the last few days in the Destruction bay area. So, anything worth spending time for between Whitehorse and Dawson City?

Wrong Dawson......

Fuzz · 03-29-2016, 12:50 PM

Ya...that's south of Whitehorse in BC. Won't have time to make it there.

TomLeeMC · 03-29-2016, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ya...that's south of Whitehorse in BC. Won't have time to make it there.

Whoops, seen Dawson, was thinking BC......

FFR · 03-29-2016, 01:07 PM

First off, I really enjoyed Dawson City - yes it's super touristy but it has a nice charm about it and the scenery is beautiful. The Eldorado Hotel has great food.

I think there are stops worth making - old silver mining towns are a little ways off the main highway (Mayo and Keno). If you need to stop for food, the Moose Creek Lodge is great. Five Finger Rapids is a nice place to get out for a stretch but there are a lot of stairs - so consider that before you start heading down.

When we did it, I really enjoyed just taking our time and pulling off when something looked interesting - we made the drive part of the adventure rather than just pushing through it.

Fuzz · 03-29-2016, 01:17 PM

Right, that's what I was wondering. I think we need to plan our schedule a bit to see if we have time. I don't want to cut into time farther north, but if there are must-see stops, I'm not going to blow past them. We should be able to leave Whitehorse by 10:00am so it gives us enough time to do it in a day if we want, I'm just not sure that's the best choice yet.

CliffFletcher · 03-29-2016, 04:41 PM

It's been a long time, but I remember Haines Junction as a cute little town. Hippy/artsy vibe, and the gateway to Kluane Park. You'll be passing through it on Highway 1. Might be worth timing lunch there.

Fuzz · 04-03-2016, 08:53 AM

How busy are the campgrounds? Do we need to pre-book?

CliffFletcher · 04-03-2016, 12:11 PM

The campgrounds in Kluane were nowhere near to being full. Make sure to wear bear bells and other noise-makers, owing to how few people are on the trails. However, the big campground across the river in Dawson City was near capacity because that's where a lot of the staff working seasonally in town live. Keep in mind my experience is from 20 years ago.

Fuzz · 06-15-2016, 07:17 PM

Just wondering what grocery store prices are like in Whitehorse and Dawson City. You here about sky high food prices in the north, but I was wondering if that is limited to the fly in communities. We will be bringing some of our own food, I'm just wondering at what point I go overboard and could buy it for not to much more up there...

EDIT: Well, uhm...hrmmm
http://www.redflagdeals.com/flyers/s...6-2016-68140/#
Those prices look lower than here! Maybe it is just the stuff on sale, but ti sure doesn't look to costly.