Midnight Sun Challenge

• Day tripping in and around Whitehorse

We arrived in Whitehorse late Saturday and spent the next five days taking a number of day trips in the area. The original plan was to leave the following Saturday; however, the forecast was for unsettled weather that day so we left on Friday, one day early.

Click on any of the thumbnails to start the slide show

Adrian (CMQ), Tom (CMQ), Fred (GZZ), Gordon Harvey & Johan Groenewegen (who both live in Whitehorse) & Paul (GZZ) A busy ramp at Whitehorse with all the Midnight Sun Challenge participants. Meeting up with some of the other Midnight Sun Challenge participants on our first night in Whitehorse. Johan & Tom Fred & Gord Midnight in the land of the midnight sun The Midnight Sun Challenge organizers arranged a tour of the Yukon Transportation Museum. Johan arranged for a private tour ahead of the main group's arrival as he has a close connection with Casey McLaughlin, the museum's curator. John Lovelace addressing the Midnight Sun Challenge participants. This DC3 is a working wind sock at the Whitehorse airport. Apparently it only takes 3 knots of wind to move it. Tom... ... and Fred hamming it up. The next day Johan lent us a canoe... ...so that we could paddle down the Yukon River. Tom our coxswain. Gee Paul, lighten up will yeah. Loading up after our river adventure... ..another friend of Johan's, Kyle, happens along... ...and offers to take us on a flight in his float plane which he keeps on the Yukon River. Is it just me or do float pilots not like altitude? Whitehorse & the Yukon River Whitehorse Airport sits just above the city. Another day trip saw us fly to Dawson City, home of the Klondike Gold Rush. Lake Laberge, made famous in Robert Service's poem, The Cremation of Sam McGee.

Lake Laberge, made famous in Robert Service's poem, The Cremation of Sam McGee.

Dawson City's airport is conveniently located at the narrowest part of the valley. Over 20 MSC planes flew up to Dawson City. Downtown Hotel, Dawson City, home of the Sourtoe Cocktail. Do these two ever give it a rest? Tom runs into an old friend in Dawson City. Readying for departure from Dawson City in light rain. Lake Laberge, on the homeward trip, makes for an excellent landmark. Arriving back at Whitehorse. What better way to end the day? Except Whitehorse wouldn't be Whitehorse... ...without dancing girls. We remind Tom that this ain't Las Vegas. You can tell him - but not much. It seems like everybody knows somebody in Whitehorse as Adrian runs into friends at one of the local watering holes. We spent another day travelling on the Yukon & White Pass rail.Bennett Lake which we flew over on our aerial tour of Mt Harvey.

Bennett Lake which we flew over on our aerial tour of Mt Harvey.

The story of how the Klondike Gold Rush began. Fred & Tom with one of the train's interpreters The train ride included a stop at Bennett Lake for lunch.The Chilkoot Trail, which starts near Skagway Alaska, ends at Bennett Lake.

The Chilkoot Trail, which starts near Skagway Alaska, ends at Bennett Lake.

Paul debates heading for Alaska by foot or back to Whitehorse by train. A last night out with a bunch of the new friends that we met while in Whitehorse.