Yukon River Expedition
"I've watched the big husky sun wallow
In crimson and gold, and grow dim,
Till the moon set the pearly peaks gleamin,
And the stars tumbled out, neck and crop;
And I've thought that I was surely was dreaming,
With the peace o' the world piled on top."
Robert Service - The Spell of the Yukon
Relive the past in the adventures of the present! The Yukon River is best known for assisting the gold seekers during the exciting Klondike Gold Rush. You will see old relics of several steamships, old settler cabins and gold dredges on the banks along the river. As you paddle down this historic river you will canoe through many famous Yukon landmarks such as Lake Laberge (made famous by poet Robert Service), Thirty Mile River and Hootalinqua, a historic NWMP outpost. The Yukon flows north all the way to the Bering Strait through some of the wildest terrain in the world!
As well as being the site of an abundance of historical sights, the Yukon River flows through vast and beautiful natural area. Starting at Lake Laberge in the beautiful Yukon Plateau region, you will admire the vast wilderness surrounding you, including grizzly bear, wolf, moose, caribou, wolverine, mink, bald eagle, merlin and beaver. A favorite past time after a day of paddling is casting your hook for “the big catch” of the day. The Yukon River Expedition will take you down swift waters from Lake Laberge near Whitehorse to Dawson City. At the end of our journey we will spend two days and one night in historic Dawson City where we will be able to live and play like the gold seekers did 100 years ago! The Yukon River Expedition is a fascinating and pleasurable river adventure for both the beginner and intermediate canoeist.
Trip Specifics
| Duration: | Duration: 17 days / 16 nights (including one night in Dawson City) |
| Distance: | 742 Kilometres (490 Miles) |
| Difficulty: | Suitable for all levels of paddler |
| Tour Dates: | July 9th (Thursday) to July 25th (Saturday), 2009 |
| Price: | $2,280.00 (CAN) per person + 5% GST |
| Additional Cost: | Single room/tent $100.00 per person + 5% GST. |
| Group Size: | Minimum 3 + Guide Maximum 10 + Guide |
| MAPS |
Inclusions:
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Exclusions:
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Day 1:
Arrival in Whitehorse. The Up North Adventures shuttle will greet you at the airport. Meet the other trip participants tonight, when your guide will verify your personal gear and go through any last minute questions. Participants are then invited to explore the City of Whitehorse, enjoy a good meal or take in some historic sights around town on their own. Enjoy your first night in Whitehorse in a hotel (included in price) located in downtown, within walking distance to all attractions and restaurants for your first evening.
Day 2:
Group officially meets at 10:00 am at the Up North base in Whitehorse. After another quick gear review to make sure everybody is properly equipped, we start our adventure right from downtown Whitehorse! The balance of the day will be spent getting acquainted with our gear and boats and paddling to majestic Lake Laberge. Depending on time, a relaxing evening will be spent on the shore of Lake Laberge complete with a roaring campfire reminiscent of Robert Service’s classic poem ‘The Cremation of Sam McGee’.
Day 3 and 4:
Day 3 and 4 we paddle across Lake Laberge and onto the Thirty Mile River section of the Yukon River proper. There are some excellent day hiking opportunities on Lake Laberge. On the Thirty Mile River, we will be introduced to the wonderful world of swift water with an extensive introduction and/or review of swift water techniques and safety. The long daylight hours give us lots of time to enjoy the vast scenery!
Day 5 -14:
The canoe trip down the Yukon River. Highlights include: searching for wildlife with potential sightings of grizzly bear, wolf, moose, caribou, wolverine, mink, bald eagle or martin as well as world-class fishing. Numerous swifts will be encountered as well as beautiful mountain views. Camping in tents and eating by the campfire while under the “midnight sun”, provides the foundation for a truly unique wilderness experience.Other highlights include day hikes, and numerous visits to historical sights including Hootalinqua, an historic NWMP outpost, the ancient First Nations encampment of Big Salmon at the confluence of the Big Salmon and Yukon Rivers, Cyr’s dredge a derelict from the 1898 Yukon Gold Rush, Five Finger Rapids, Fort Selkirk and the legendary Dawson City.
Day 15:
We arrive in the famous Dawson City and the end of our Yukon River adventure. We will be staying in a hotel for the evening (included in price of trip) as we embrace the Gold Rush era. The remainder of the day will be spent taking in the history of beautiful Dawson City. After a casual dinner we will head to Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall for a night set to the 1898 Klondike era.
Day 16:
Today we head back to Whitehorse. After a morning of exploring Dawson City’s many attractions including Jack London’s Cabin and the gold dredges, the Up North shuttle will pick us up around 1:00pm and return us to Whitehorse. Arriving in Whitehorse early evening we say our goodbyes all around after the completion of a grand adventure. Participants will spend their last night at a downtown Whitehorse hotel (included in price).
Day 17:
Departure day. We will bring you back to the airport or you can start your next adventure
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