On to the Yukon Territory

It has been a busy week as we continue to head north on the Alaska Highway. A unique stop was the Liard Hotsprings Provincial Park. This was an actual hot spring bubbling up up out of the ground forming a river of hot water. 

The provincial park build a really nice  changing area  and stairs right on the river providing easy access.

After driving a couple days straight it felt very good to soak in the hot water of the spring.

The next stop along the route was Watson Lake which represented our official arrival into the Yukon Territory. While driving through this rugged area my thoughts go to the books and short stories written by Jack

London and how cool it is to actually be here. 

Known for its world famous Watson Lake Sign Post Forest Historic Site it is just a small outpost along the Alaskan Highway. The signpost forest was started in 1942 by a Carl Lindley a homesick soldier form Danville Illinois. While working on the Alaskan highway he added his hometown sign with the mileage to a military post. 

 

The tradition has grown from there  with people from all over the world posting signs. The latest count estimated by the visitors center is @ 80,000 signs

We posted our own sign representing our travel group.

Breaking camp driving most of the day then setting up again can be a  little tedious. Driving four straight days 

arriving in Whitehorse YT we would get a day off and some time to explore. 

Our free day started with a morning bus tour of the city. Included were the Visitors center, Miles Canyon on Yukon River, SS Klondike and the world's longest wooden fish later. The tour covered much of the history including the 1898 gold rush and the building of the Alaskan Highway in 1942. 

Cargo Hold

The best part of the morning was the guided tour led by Audrey. She really knew her stuff and presented it in a way that kept your attention.

Cargo going up river

Sun Deck

        

On our final day in Whitehorse we visited the MukTuk Sled Dog Kennel 

was very different than our dog sled 2013 visit in Alaska (Jeff King, Iditarod Sled Winner).  

This location really is a dog kennel where the huskies have been rescued and well taken care of, the cost paid for as tourist come in to see and play at sled dogging, summer canoeing camps and more. 

The Taste of Yucan lunch was the nicest presented with the best tasting yet maple sugar salmon bacon & bison cranberry sausage appetizers, Bison hamburgers and hot caramel ice cream brownies. 

On Saturday 8/3 we traveled to Dawson City which was the main focus during the Gold Rush of 1898. More to come.