Traveling North IV - Whitehorse

Sa May 21st, 2011
It's wonderful to find a place such as Skagway which conquered my heart within a week, but it also makes it harder to leave and to keep going. However, Frank was so kind to give his old VW cabrio to Claire, a good friend of his, and she drove me to Whitehorse. The weather was pretty good so we had great views going up the pass where it was still pretty snowy. Exciting: we saw a black bear on our way up. Always fascinating to see these wonderful animals which look so cuddly and cute, although they're huge and have gigantic ivories. They move so funny, so leisurely, you wouldn't think they are able to run or climb. 

Emerald !! Lake (smaragdsee)

Eventually we arrived in Whitehorse, did some shopping for Frank and had Mexican lunch sitting outside on the sun patio. It was so warm in Whitehorse, one of the warmest days I had since months (well, warm means maybe 23°C in the sun ;)). After overwhelming supermarket-shopping Claire dropped me off at the hostel, the Beez Kneez ;). I was so tired and exhausted, that I just wandered about a little bit, lay down in the sun and slept... Went to the useless Visitor Centre (seriously, they don't know a lot) and watched a nice movie about the Yukon. After an ice-cream (chocolate chips cookie dough!! can someone please bring this ice-cream to Germany) I regained some energy and walked up the sandy cliffs of Whitehorse. Whitehorse was named after rapids which looked like the mane of a white horse, but nowadays a  damn eliminates the rapids and produces energy instead.
Calm evening in the hostel, listening to some conversations and going to bed soon.

Su May 22nd, 2011
Raining :) Perfect for my plan to go to a coffeeshop and get on top of all the things I procrastinated in my time without Internet. Especially plans had to be made because the traveling-depression had packed me. It was nice to sit in the coffeeshop, meeting locals again, talking, getting some helpful tips how to find rides... When the café closed I went for a beer with a guy I met in the shop and afterwards we walked the Millenium Loop Trail along the Yukon river. It's great, most people I meet here I get along so well... ;) just being on the same wavelength. Celebrating birthday at the hostel :).So good that I got myself a quiet day - traveling is quite exhausting. And I felt so lost in Whitehorse after small, compact, and lovely Skagway with the home atmosphere ;) Spoiled *g*.

Mo May 23rd, 2011
Going to the Kluane National Park, one of the largest proteced nature areas of the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The highest peak of Canada is located there (Mt. Logan (5959m). I went there with two guys from the hostel, a Canadian/Indian and Austrian guy. Unfortunately the weather wasn't really good, it started raining, but the views were still stunning. We walked to St. Elias Lake, where it was hardly uncovered by snow and still looked all grey and dead. At least some birds were tweeting and the ice of the lake started to break.

On our way back we had the most amazing experience -  a grizzly bear right next to the street! And it was just eating peacefully, just digging into the earth and being quite satisfied! We watched him for ten minutes or so! And I made great pictures! :) A little later a black bear was running across the street and two moose (a mother and her calf) were standing in the bushes close to the highway. So amazing! What an unexpected wildlife day! :) And we also saw many Dall sheep up on the mountain.

what's up buddys?

Dall sheep

good camouflage...

 In the evening I managed to organize a ride to Dawson City, going up there with three other people. It's pretty expensive to rent a car here, since you have to pay 20 cent for each kilometer and as you know, the Yukon isn't famous for its closeness. Anyways, at midnight the couple dropped out, so no trip to Dawson. The original plan was to head to Dawson City, stay there, take the Top of the World Highway which opened this week going to Fairbanks, then stop in Denali and finally arriving in Anchorage. However, it turned out to be really good that I didn't head off to Dawson:

Tu May 24th, 2011
The original plan for the day to walk around in shops, cafés, and campgrounds to look for people going to Dawson changed as I had long talks with another German guy, Alex, who is going to kayak the whole Yukon River down to the Bering Sea (~ 3 to 4 months). So he asked me, whether I want to join him paddling the first week up to Carmacks. After some considerations I said yes! And I am so excited now! Yesterday we already bought food and I bought some bits and pieces I still needed. Tomorrow we will load the boats and then head off! Eight days outside - I still can't believe it, it is so wonderful! I can't say a dream is going to become true, because I never even had that dream - it seemed so unreachable. It is one of these wonderful unexpected surprises life sometimes offers us - and I am lucky enough to take it! Being outside, being active, going camping in the Yukon! How can it get any better?! It fits perfectly for my travel plans and I am not sad at all that I don't get around that much, because I'll definitely be back anyways and I found it hard to travel such big distances and still experience what I am looking for: the outdoors. So that is just truly perfect!
After a long somehow exhausting day I went for a lovely run along the Yukon to Schwatka Lake. Good to get a clear head :) Oh, and I had such good German bread here - the Alpine Bakery in Whitehorse is the best! :) 

the mighty Yukon

the hidden lakes

Schwatka Lake