Watson Lake to Whitehorse - Alaska 2005     
 

Updated: 11/30/08

On the road to Teslin we encountered two bridges being reconstructed. They were very narrow and a challenge to make the HHII fit. They slowed us to 5 mph.

The road in many places reminded us of northern Michigan but the mountains continue to be impressive.

The Milepost book alerted us to watch for rock messages along a small stretch of road. We saw them in many more places and it is probably going to expand along the Alaska Highway. 

Rancheria Falls are a short from the road. Be sure and take mosquito spray - 100% deet is recommended. There were a nice way to stretch our legs. They don't say it  but there are two small falls.

This view of the Nisutlin Bay bridge, the longest water span on the Alaska Highway leads to Teslin. At the overlook we were greeted by an eagle.

Across the bridge we were greeted by a RCMP car. Well, I guess in a town of 402 people a wood replica may work.

George Johnston, a successful trapper, was the first Tlingit Indian to purchase a car. While Teslin had no roads, he drove it on the frozen lake. Later, he built five miles of road for his use which later became part of the Alaska Highway. His 1928 AB Chevy has been restored and is displayed in the George Johnston Museum along with other native displays.

Teslin Lake is about 2 miles wide and 85 miles long. After a great salmon dinner, we took a boat ride on the lake. We had dinner at Mukluk Annie's Salmon Bake. If you ordered from the salmon bake menu, you got a free 'dry' camping spot and a free boat ride. By coincidence, the boat captain was Mukluk Chuck, Annie's husband.

These views show some of what we saw while on the boat. The dinner and the boat ride made for a very nice evening.

In Teslin we saw this neat Honda trike and on the way the next morning, we let this motorcycle and popup pass us.

We are also starting to see a few rental RVs on the road.

The mountains all have such different shapes, your imagination can run away with you ... do you see the shaggy dog face on the rocky mountain? 

WHITEHORSE, YUKON TERRITORY.

Arriving in Whitehorse you know you are in a larger city. It even has a McDonalds, Wal-Mart and a Pizza Hut.

But, you notice one thing . . . airplanes are as common here as boats are in Michigan.

We toured the S. S. Klondike, a steamship with a long history on the Yukon River. While its main function was to carry cargo downstream (yes, downstream) to Dawson City, it carried some passengers. This bunk was for a male second class passenger. 

We also visited Miles Canyon. It is only a two mile drive from Whitehorse. Clear, green water of the Yukon River flows through it.

On our way home from our day trip to Skagway, Alaska, we found a fast food place still open just before 10:00pm. As we passed Wal-Mart, we were surprised at the large number of RVs in their lot for the night. When shopping there about noon Sunday, we saw that many had detached their trailer or towed car and were actually camping in the lot - slideouts and all.

The MacBride Museum in downtown Whitehorse provided information on Yukon mining, wildlife, transportation, Mounties and the area in general. They had many original articles from the city's history displayed inside and outdoors. Admission was $5.00 per person. You could easily spend two hours here.

The museum building had a grass roof like many buildings in the Yukon's past.

Stash house type buildings are still used today to 
store supplies on long hunting and trapping routes. 

The animal display was arranged by the terrain where they lived.

The mining displays and gold panning demonstration were well done.

                        But, all that glitters is not gold.

These mining flatbeds are original from local area mines. Others in the Yukon are replicas. The far one has concave wheels for use on log rails.

Displays showed many modes of transportation - sleds, wagons,  snowmobiles, trucks and trains.

                 
Locally made snowmobile ...           One of first Polaris snowmobiles ...

     
One person rail inspection vehicle ...

There was very little crime in the Yukon for the number of people in the area. However, they had a jail cell in the RCMP cabin if necessary to detain someone. This gun could fire 500 rounds per minute and was used to protect the railroad trestle from the Japanese.

The local grocery store has solved the problem of people leaving the grocery carts all over the parking lot. They have you deposit one-dollar to use the cart. If you don't return your cart to the store, you lose your dollar. 

Our problem - a little girl had to show use how to insert our dollar to release the chain lock. (Note: Canadian dollars are coins.)

Our final activity in Whitehorse was attending the live Frantic Follies stage show. It was a show worth seeing. It is recommended in most books and we concur. They perform in the hotel in town. Admission was $10.00 per person.

We will start off with dancing girls. But, they also performed vaudeville type comedy - standup and skits.

Their musical numbers were great. Musical instruments included saws and antlers.

And, like many live shows, some audience members are enlisted to help.

Tomorrow we leave Whitehorse, Yukon Territory.

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