After another four days of work, or did we only work for three and take an extra day off? Whatever. We pack up the night before and take off along the Alaska Highway going north or north-west or maybe even more west. Whatever the direction, we are going to Haines Junction and then leaving the Alaska Highway for the Haines, Alaska highway now travelling pretty much south. If this was confusing, just wait, it could get worse.

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Now that we are months later I can’t remember too many details. Where exactly you stop on the highway to access the trail to Samuel Glacier I can’t say. It is someplace not too far from the border, on the right side, and there is an outhouse and very large parking area. My former colleague Richard had done this trip and his pictures were amazing. My photos aren’t near so interesting, but I think we arrived when the flowers were in bloom, whereas they were either finished or Richard isn’t into flower photos! Check his photos out here to see what I mean!
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The hike to Samuel Glacier is about 8 kms long and follows an old Cat trail most of the way. There is at least one fairly large stream that you cross, so don’t forget to bring some footwear to do the crossing with. Unless you can walk on water?

It took us the better part of the morning, but we stopped a few hundred times to take flower pictures. Beautiful day … lovely evening … but it was very grey in the morning so our thought to hike to the top of the nearest mountain was dampened by low clouds. We enjoyed the morning, but decided to pack up and attempt to be out before it really rained on us. We almost made it!

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There are more photos … have a look in the Photo albums!

After working four days, we dashed up the North Klondike Highway to Dawson City (where Lawrie & I, Jon and Chris lived from 1990 to 1994). This trip will likely be my last to this community and I was happy to be seeing it again. This is the Dawson City Music Festival weekend and we have tickets! We meet up with friends from Australia during the weekend and also do a vehicle shuttle from Minto Landing for some Whitehorse friends that are paddling to Dawson.

Besides taking in the Music Festival I take Ruth to the Gold Dredge #4 out on Bonanza Creek, wander the Museum, visit the Visitor’s Centre, go up the Top of the World Highway, and also up the Dome (the hill behind Dawson). We camp at the Klondike River Campground about 1/2 hour south of Dawson. It is quiet there and we didn’t actually have a choice as the closer campground is full several hours before we arrive Thursday night. We end up thinking it a blessing in many ways. The weather was hot and dry and we enjoyed every minute. Here are a sample of the photos taken … click here to see more!

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