JOURNEY
My Canadian
Pioneering Spirit.. T
he mighty Yukon still echoes with the pioneer spirit of its Klondike gold
rush heyday and while these days access is quick and easy, via Calgary or Vancouver, I felt like a real adventurer as I headed north. Home to 14 First Nations, the landscapes
KAREN HALLETT Tailor Made Travel
of this region are diverse, from thick pine forest to barren tundra, whilst the lakes and mountains of the Kluane National Park rival those of Lake Louise and The Rockies. My visit started at the Gold Rush Inn in
Whitehorse, a hotel built in traditional Western style with an old phone booth, large moose head and Mountie mannequin, in addition to its Western-look frontage. Whitehorse resembles a relatively quiet
town and at times it was hard to believe it is Yukon’s capital. I watched as the hunters headed off early in 4x4s and floatplanes, and it occurred to me that in Whitehorse, with its cultural diversity, fantastic restaurants and active arts scene, you are only ever around 10 minutes from the wilderness. The Yukon is all about the Great Canadian Outdoors. In Miles Canyon I rode a mountain bike during a guided tour down into the canyon before joining a walking tour to the hidden lakes to experience the flora and fauna of the forests. Marsh Lake provides ample opportunity
to get out on the water in beach cruisers, kayaks, canoes or paddleboats with organised fishing trips, mountain tours and dog sledding excursions also on offer. I loved the cosy yet luxurious Inn on the
Lake boutique lodge. It overlooks Marsh Lake and just 20 minutes from Whitehorse, From here I took a 4x4 tour following an old mining road to the top of a mountain where we had fantastic 360 degree views. The highlight however was my stay at Sky
High Wilderness Ranch, an eco ranch where for a real Yukon experience you can take four-day horse treks in the summer and go dog sledding in the winter. The lodge is very rustic, but cosy and warm and serving delicious hearty food. My three-hour horse ride took me
around the lake and along a windy forest track up the mountain for breathtaking views. Later I met all 150 of the sled dogs, and eight10-week-old puppies. The Takhini Hot Springs is another
unmissable experience. We visited the Takhini River Lodge where the owner also runs cookery courses. The mineral-rich Hot Springs, open year-
round, are a real treat during winter when surrounded by snow. We headed into Kluane National Park via a pretty town called Haines Junction. Inhabited by just 800 people it is a great location from which to
Karen Hallett of Tailor Made Travel takes to land, air and water on an outdoor adventure exploring exhilarating Yukon…
access the national park or stop-off before heading up to Alaska. We took a light aircraft flight over the
national park, which is half the size of Switzerland, where the mountains appeared infinite with endless peaks. The Yukon boasts the largest non-polar glacier fields in the world and as we flew over the Kaskawulsh glacier we were awestruck. The park offers many walking trails and
we walked around Kathleen Lake with a guide who tailor makes his walks to suit his clients. He pointed out evidence of recent bear activity showing us their scat (faeces) and marks they made on the trees. This stunning park is perfect for those seeking open space and incredible scenery without the crowds.
SAMPLE PACKAGE
Tailor Made Travel SELF-DRIVE package from £769 for five days includes accommodation and car hire travelling from Whitehorse, through Kluane National Park and onto the Pacific coastline. Airfare not included.
SELLING CANADA • SPRING 2012 9
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