Roll Call Alaska 2016
I have been planning this trip for 4+ years. It is now time to update my estimates and make my reservations. Estimate Wash/BC border about 5 May 2016, north on route 97/1/2 to Tok, south to Valdez...
Forum Discussion
The population mentioned by Bob is a big part of problems the government of the Yukon faces trying to provide services to the people of the territory. Last figures I saw showed that the federal government in Ottawa, subsidized the Yukon at a rate per capital of just about double of what they send to BC and AB Provinces. Looked upon somewhat in Ottawa by the MPs from the rest of Canada as a welfare entity. There is just no way that with such a small population, can the citizens support the government operations we all desire, such as schools, roads, health care, public safety groups, etc. So before we all complain about how rough the road is from Haines Junction to the Border, remember the money to do the work is just not there. As the main users of that part of the Alaska Hwy, the US for many years contributed dollars to help maintain the highway but has since stopped doing so. This was the SHAWak (sp) agreement you may see mentioned from time to time.
Every time I am approaching Whitehorse, I try to convince myself I am only going to stop long enough to refuel and restock on groceries, nothing more. But every time, when I get there something in me changes and we end up spending three or four days both directions of passing through. So much history in that town.
The first day I like to go downtown on a walking tour, spend a few hours in Mac's Bookstore, which has the best selection of northern subject books available anywhere that I have found. Perhaps Powells in Portland or Tattered Cover in Denver, might have more but not the atmosphere to go with the location. Some trips we like to take the river boat cruise and see part of the route the early day stampeders used coming into Whitehorse, after their hike from Skagway, during the gold rush days.
The restored steam boat, run by Parks Canada is a great half day activity. The Yukon is so clear and all that after living on the Yukon for many years in Alaska, where it looks like the muddy Mississippi River, it is fun to see. I like to take my iPad, with the Kindle reader app on it with me and have a picnic on the banks of the Yukon reading the poetry of Robert Service. Fun to try and take my mind back to the days when Service himself was probably in the same location getting his inspiration to write such classic works. My wife is not as big a fan of Service's work as am I, so she will walk the shops or visit some of her favorite places in town.
When we were first married, 1973 in Anchorage, and lived west of Fairbanks, often times we would fly our plane over to Whitehorse for a long weekend or part of a holiday. It really was the "bright lights" after living in the Alaska bush. Lucky for us, I owned a Piper Super Cub, a two seater with limited storage space, Lucky I say because that limited what she could buy and what we had to get back home. LOL In those days there was either a Hudson's Bay store or a Northern Commercial store in town. They had everything from canoes to the latest fashions in ladies dresses.
Then when we bought our first RV, 1974, we would stay at the in town campground, where believe the Family Laundry now stands. Everything in town was within walking distance fro that CG.
A person can spend a couple of days just visiting the museums in Whitehorse. The Follies show at the West Mark Hotel is excellent IMHO and well worth getting tickets to attend. (tickets are usually available at the local private campgrounds) We try to stay at the Hi Country CG or the Pioneer CG, in that order. The King family has run the Hi Country for many years and does a very nice job with it. Everything usually works, is clean, staff is very pleasant and prices are reasonable for the location, IMHO.
Also a great place to take day (or two) trips out of, to Atlin, to Carcross, and to Skagway. Before I start sounding too much like the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, I should quit. But I do love the town and after all, it is the birth place of Sue T.
Every time I am approaching Whitehorse, I try to convince myself I am only going to stop long enough to refuel and restock on groceries, nothing more. But every time, when I get there something in me changes and we end up spending three or four days both directions of passing through. So much history in that town.
The first day I like to go downtown on a walking tour, spend a few hours in Mac's Bookstore, which has the best selection of northern subject books available anywhere that I have found. Perhaps Powells in Portland or Tattered Cover in Denver, might have more but not the atmosphere to go with the location. Some trips we like to take the river boat cruise and see part of the route the early day stampeders used coming into Whitehorse, after their hike from Skagway, during the gold rush days.
The restored steam boat, run by Parks Canada is a great half day activity. The Yukon is so clear and all that after living on the Yukon for many years in Alaska, where it looks like the muddy Mississippi River, it is fun to see. I like to take my iPad, with the Kindle reader app on it with me and have a picnic on the banks of the Yukon reading the poetry of Robert Service. Fun to try and take my mind back to the days when Service himself was probably in the same location getting his inspiration to write such classic works. My wife is not as big a fan of Service's work as am I, so she will walk the shops or visit some of her favorite places in town.
When we were first married, 1973 in Anchorage, and lived west of Fairbanks, often times we would fly our plane over to Whitehorse for a long weekend or part of a holiday. It really was the "bright lights" after living in the Alaska bush. Lucky for us, I owned a Piper Super Cub, a two seater with limited storage space, Lucky I say because that limited what she could buy and what we had to get back home. LOL In those days there was either a Hudson's Bay store or a Northern Commercial store in town. They had everything from canoes to the latest fashions in ladies dresses.
Then when we bought our first RV, 1974, we would stay at the in town campground, where believe the Family Laundry now stands. Everything in town was within walking distance fro that CG.
A person can spend a couple of days just visiting the museums in Whitehorse. The Follies show at the West Mark Hotel is excellent IMHO and well worth getting tickets to attend. (tickets are usually available at the local private campgrounds) We try to stay at the Hi Country CG or the Pioneer CG, in that order. The King family has run the Hi Country for many years and does a very nice job with it. Everything usually works, is clean, staff is very pleasant and prices are reasonable for the location, IMHO.
Also a great place to take day (or two) trips out of, to Atlin, to Carcross, and to Skagway. Before I start sounding too much like the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce, I should quit. But I do love the town and after all, it is the birth place of Sue T.
