The weather didn’t look like it was going to cooperate much so Chris arranged a very nice start to the trip by reserving cabins at the Moose Creek Lodge that was supposed to be closed for the season, but wasn’t really quite yet. We arrived there at 10 pm after the four hour drive from Whitehorse on Thursday evening. It was raining and not especially warm. Nice to know we could get up in the morning after a comfortable sleep and have a hot breakfast cooked by the proprietor. Our tents would still be dry too!

After breakfast, Chris and Lawrie took the take out vehicle to McQueston bridge about 15 minutes further north, then returned to pick up Sarah and I, the gear and the Os. Then we were off to Mayo to pick up Loralee who had kindly consented to do our shuttle for us. We arrived at the put-in about 2 in the afternoon. There had been rain on the gravel road so both canoes had a serious coat of mud. After cleaning them up we loaded in the gear and started down the river. The early part of the river is a bit narrow with lots of tight corners. Chris and Sarah were a bit nervous, but did a grand job of maneuvering and succeeded in avoiding taking a swim.

So for the best part of a week we paddled, set up and took down camp, fought cold extremities, called moose, took photos, kept the Os quiet while more moose calling went on, saw a pack of wolves, a lynx,northern lights, two cow moose and one calf, and called moose, cooked and ate a pretty substantial amount of food, and called some more moose. Here are a few of those photos!

Bright and early, maybe about 10 am, we are on the road to Skagway. Of course we have to stop at Emerald Lake, Carcross, and a couple other pretty places.

Skagway doesn’t change its essence much. It is always fun to visit though. Interesting to see how many cruise ships are in and what the Americans are wearing this year. Okay, that is more gag me, than fun. It was a beautiful warm day and we did enjoy ourselves.

We stopped at the world smallest desert just out of Carcross on the way home. Lawrie and I haven’t ever stopped here, so now is the opportunity. The sand was warm and nice to walk on with bare feet.

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!

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!

There are more photos … click here.

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.

Sunday, July 8th, Ruth arrived from Vancouver early afternoon and I returned home from Olds and Calgary at about 11 pm. Lawrie did a grand job of showing Ruth around Whitehorse prior to my flight arriving. We spent the week working and I must say that was fun and very useful as I currently have way too much work!

Our first weekend we spent with Sarah, Chris, Sarah’s mom, Chris’s Mom and Dad, and four dogs. We walked, fished, looked at mushrooms, played games, sat around a campfire, visited, and generally had a very nice time.

The beavers have been extremely busy and so you can see from my pictures that ‘popping’ the loaded canoe over the beaver dams wasn’t exactly easy!

Friday was a mostly rain day, so we set up the Mantis tarp and played games and knit (well, I knit while Lawrie snoozed upright in his chair!). Then Saturday, Sunday and half of Monday was spent cruising around the lake in pursuit of fish, good pictures, firewood, exploring other campsite possibilities and just enjoying the windless weekend. Not a breath of wind, no bugs, no bears, and almost no other campers. Very quiet and very beautiful … what more could a person ask for in the way of a relaxing weekend?