The Yukon

The sign as you enter the Yukon says, “Larger than Life”. It’s hard to disagree.

Anyone whose first taste of Canada and its rugged wilderness was a Jack London novel, got a taste of Larger than Life before they ever set foot in this Territory named after the Yukon River. The name Yukon comes from a First Nation word meaning “Great River”. Whilst your adventures won’t be as savage as ‘Buck’ in the ‘Call of the Wild’, I’m sure they’ll be as much if not more fruitful than the gold rush which made the Yukon famous.

Previously the Yukon was part of the North Western Territory, but now stands on its own. If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, this area does indeed stand on its own. Activities range across a broad gamut and include: snow shoeing and skiing, dogsledding, ice climbing, mountain climbing, hiking, wildlife watching, hunting and fishing, kayaking and snowmobiling. The Yukon is also home to Mount Logan which, at nearly 6,000 metres, is the highest mountain in Canada and second highest in North America after Mt McKinley in Alaska.

Also, this area is home to the well-known but small towns of Dawson and Whitehorse. Whitehorse hosts the annual Yukon International Storytelling Festival in summer (founded in 1988). This brilliant tribute to a uniquely human activity is occasioned by people from all over the world with a particular focus on First Nation stories. Whitehorse is the capital and the prime spot if you’re planning on getting outfitted for the outdoor challenges presented by this land on the way to Alaska. You should notice the effect of being so far north with summer days stretching to a very lengthy 20 hours. Head on over then to Dawson City. The town’s population is just over 1300 but in summer this will blossom (explode?) to 50,000.

The landscape of the Yukon is a wild composite of forest, rivers and mountains, but its most spectacular highlight is the Kluane National Park home of the world’s largest non-polar icefield.

The Yukon is a great place for animal spotting. Head out in pursuit of great shots of Moose, Beaver, Sheep and Goats, Porcupine, Coyote and Wolves, Bear and the most elusive of Canada’s wildlife, the Caribou. The herds of Caribou are in fact prodigious, with the inhabitants of one particular town listening out for the distinctive ‘click’ of the Caribou’s disjointed knees as it signals a herd of such immense size that it will cut off the highway access for at least three days!

For more tips on how to brave the Yukon wilderness contact the Canada Experts as Imagine Travel on  02 4296 9822