Hanging in Whitehorse with Scott K., Jeni, and the kids, Liam and Sabine

   Had a great trip of mountain biking and kiting with my friend Scott K. and his family in Whitehorse this past weekend. The weather turned out to be fantastic, providing sunshine for our mountain biking, and winds for kiting. Whitehorse has an incredible expanse of outdoor activities available for any outdoor enthusiast. The mountain biking trails are world class with trail construction an ongoing passion with some of the locals. Bennett Lake offers one of the best places anyway in the world hands down to learn to kite surf. If you like beautiful spaces and outdoor fun with basically no crowds, ZERO! then the Yukon is for you! And I couldn't have had better guides to show me around and educate me on this amazing wilderness in Northern Canada.

My buddy Kyle is DOM for this company in Whitehorse.

These Skyvans service the diamond mines predominantly with their unique rear ramp fold down which makes loading and unloading much easier than most aircraft. It has enough room to load a small pickup truck in it.

View from the shores of Atlin, BC.

More Atlin...

Beautiful scenery in this sleepy little BC town.

The town of Atlin.

The ship was once a luxury liner that cruised around the lake in the 1920s, when Atlin was a popular tourist destination. The boat was put out of commission during the Great Depression in 1936.

In July, the town hosts an annual tea party right on the boat. Locals dress up in period clothing to sip tea, eat sandwiches, and socialize with visitors.

Roof top sun deck!

Coming back into the Yukon from BC.

Lazing around eating grass.

Sabine go for a little pre-pack bike ride.

Older brother Liam helping mom with the gardening chores.

Liam and his bug collection.

Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. The WP&YR climbs almost 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. The steel cantilever bridge was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901.

This little engine was the workhorse of the 'miniature' (2-mile) Taku Tram for 20 years. Restored and on permanent display near the WP&YR depot in Carcross, YT.

Conductor on the WP&YR train.

Scotty seeing his family off on their overnight trip to a campground on the Chilkoot Trail. Jeni works as a Park Warden on this trail in the Yukon.

Dad getting his goodbye kisses.

Very authentic old train cars.

The train starts off along the shores of Bennett lake and runs 110 miles to Skagway, Alaska.

Scott catching some wind on Bennett Lake.

Kyle and his float plane JULIET INDIA UNIFORM buzzing Scott and I over Bennett.

Looking for calm water to land.

JIU buzzing the sand dunes of the Carcross Desert.

Scotty kiting with Kyle circling in JIU.

Trying to land and aborting the landing due to rough water. Kyle ended up landing at the Carcross Waterdrome in Grayling Bay on Nares Lake. Scott and I picked him up at the Carcross Airport and we had a BBQ at our campsite.

Kite's inflated. I guess there's nothing holding me back but fear and common sense!!

Wetsuits are essential gear in this glacier fed lake.

Kites laid out in the desert awaiting a launch.

Kimmer walking out to avoid flying the kite over the driftwood laden shoreline.

Kite is powered up, time to ride!

It's going to take a few tries.

Away I go! Woo hoo!!!

Scott hanging with his little girl Sabine.

Trip into the Mountains with Cousin Ian

Ian at the outflow creek of Lake O'Hara

Lake O'Hara lodge cabins. A night here will cost you $860 with a two night minimum!!

The Lake O'Hara Lodge. A little more reasonable at $450/night! Ouch!

Lake O'Hara with the Seven Veil Falls at the back of the lake.

One of the many amazing views of Lake O'Hara. Mount Huber can be seen just left of center and the Huber ledges hike traverses the base.

Opabin Creek flowing into Lake O'Hara.

Trying our luck for some Cutthroat Trout.

Fishing was unsuccessful but it just... didn't.... matter!!

Common Loon

Common Loon showing us how to fish.

Outflow of Seven Veil Falls

White-Crowned Sparrow

Yukness Lake above Seven Veil Falls. The first of 4 lakes along the Lake Oesa trail.



White Mountain-avens. (Dryas octopetala)

Salix Vestita or 'Rock Willow' budding.

 

Rock Willow buds opening up.

 

Rock Willow with leaves fully open.

White Mountain Heather. (Heath Family) This plant can be used as fuel for fire.

A refreshing rest at the outflow of Lake Victoria.

Unnamed Lake from the outflow of Lefroy Lake.

Lefroy Lake

Ian exploring the banks of Lefroy Lake.

Lefroy Lake showing off its stunning colours and backdrop.

Looking back towards Lake O'Hara over Lefroy Lake. The Yukness Ledge Alpine Route travels along the plateau.

White-tailed Ptarmigan.

White-tailed Ptarmigan can live up to 15 years.

They have white feathers on their feet year round.

White-tailed Ptarmigan chick. There were 8 of the little fur balls! Females lay 3-9 eggs typically.

Tourists or scientists? We never did find out. However they hiked this inflatable in for some kind of research.

American Pipit previously known as a Water Pipit.

The flanks of Yukness Mountain above Lake Oesa.

Moss Campion

Ian posing along the Abbot Pass trail. Behind is the col between Glacier Peak (L) and Ringrose Peak (R).

Further along the Abbot Pass trail. Elevation: 2500m (8202ft). Yukness Mountain towers in the background.

Ian, shorts, and rocks for snow picks! Hungabee Mountain towers in the background at 3493m (11,457ft).

What a spot!

View of Hungabee from the outhouse.

The "Death Trap" route up to Abbot Pass from the Lake Louise side. Needless to say from the name this route is seldom used anymore. The Victoria Glacier hangs over the cliffs of Mount Victoria and is the famous backdrop of Lake Louise.

 

Outhouse and the honey-barrel-exchange-shed right behind.

This is the route I took back down to Lake Oesa. The last 500m of this climb/hike is gruelling!

On our way back down with angry feet.

Ian negotiating the rock ledges along the Abbot Pass trail on our way down. 

Alpine Yellow Fleabane (Aster family) amongst the White Mountain-avens.

More Moss Campion

One of many works of art by early stewards of the Lake O'Hara region. The rock pathways through this fragile, delicate ecosystem were placed to minimize the impact of human travel. It is well respected and abided by from its many travelers.

Rockwall staircase built to along safe passage through this cliffed section of the trail.

Our humble aboad in the Lake O'Hara campground.

"Where's my coffe?" Getting going after a rainy, stormy night.



Sulphur Pixie-Cup Lichen (Cladonia carneola) Grows on dead, deciduous trees.

Ian along the outflow of Schaffer Lake on the McArthur Lake trail.

Columbian Ground Squirrel.

"Whutchyoulookin at tourist?!"

"Check out my back..."

Ian above McArthur Lake. Mount Biddle occupies the background.

A still frozen McArthur Lake.

Strawberries on long stems struggling to survive in the harsh alpine environment.

Mr. Hoary Marmot snacking on roots at the base of the Ottertail Valley Trailhead sign.

Hoary Marmot disco move!

Pika or 'Rock Rabbit'

Juvenile Pika

Back to Schaffer Lake

New summer needles on a larch tree.

Pink Mountain Heath or Red Heather (Heath family)

Icmadophila ericetorum or 'Fairy upchuck'

Wiwaxy Peak on the lower left and Mount Huber in the background above Lake O'Hara.

Old man's beard or Witches hair. (Usnea/Alectoria)

Greater Yellowlegs along the shores of Emerald Lake.

Shoreline of Emerald Lake.

Common Selfheal; Healall (Mint family) A refreshing beverage can be made by chopping and boiling the leaves.

Common Pink Wintergreen (Wintergreen family)

Ian...........help!!

Wild Strawberry

Drummond's Mountain-avens (Rose family)

Ian.................I know you've got my back on this one?!

and another..............

One more!........ :)

Fishing Emerald Lake

Wapta Mountain in the background.

My first ever trout!!! A little rainbow.

Caught on a five of diamonds hook. Old faithful!

Jason and Ian at Ross Lake

My second trout; a cutthroat.

Ian's first ever trout! A little 'bic lighter' cutthroat.

Jason was fly fishing and had pretty good luck.

A nice cutthroat catch.

Our breakfast.

Nice sunset in paradise.

Ian filling our cup with water from one of the many, delicious mountain streams.

Chateau Lake Louise.

Wolf Lichen

 

Ian really enjoying the outing!

 

Ian and the Big Beehive. We took an interesting route from the top back down to Lake Agnes.

Mountain Goats