Information

Info:
Formed: 1898
Population: 33,342 people
Area: 482,443 sq/ kilometres
Languages Spoken: English, French
Yukon Territory or the Yukon is the westernmost and smallest of Canada’s three federal territories. It was named after the Yukon River. The word Yukon means “Great River” in Gwich’in. The territory’s capital is Whitehorse.

An important area for travellers, arriving in the area for the promise of gold riches, it served as an important link to the USA during the second World War. It offers superb outdoor activities and endless summer sunsets.

Long before the arrival of Europeans, central and northern Yukon escaped glaciation as it was part of Beringia (Bering land bridge). The volcanic eruption of Mount Churchill near the Alaska border blanketed southern Yukon with a layer of ash which can still be seen along the Klondike Highway. Coastal and inland First Nations already had extensive trading networks and European incursions into the area only began early in the 19th century with the fur trade, followed by missionaries and the Western Union Telegraph Expedition.

By the end of the 19th century gold miners were trickling in on rumours of gold, driving a population increase justifying the setting up of a police force, just in time for the start of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. The increased population coming with the gold rush led to the separation of the Yukon district from the Northwest Territories and the formation of the separate Yukon Territory in 1898.

Yukon Government Website

Yukon Attractions Website

Wikipedia Entry

My Experience

I had the opportunity to fly into Whitehorse, Yukon from Cranbrook, BC to ride to Yellowknife, North West Territories. My time in the Yukon was far too short, and I wished that I had planned better to check out some of the areas such as the Top of the World Highway, and the Dempster Highway. I will return to this land of endless trees, beautiful lakes, and fearless bugs before I finish my time.. Here are my statistics.

While I only travelled one  major road, the Alcan Highway I found the conditions to be in good shape, although the riding was very desolate. Riders should expect to ride 100km per day as many of the small towns and stores that once dotted the highway are now vacant. It is easy riding with a few hills and many places to stealth camp for the night. Look out for bears!

Pictures

Journal Entries

The following is a list of journal entries I wrote while traveling through. Click one to read!

2011-05-02 – None of the above
2010-06-07 – Leaving the Yukon with no Gold
2010-06-03 – Awake in the land of the Midnight Sun
2010-05-31 – Riding the White Horse
2010-05-30 – Yukon Ho!

Statistics

Totals:

Total Days: 9	Total Cost: $404.50 ($44.94/day)
Distance: 505.50 km (Most: 2010-06-05 – 124.72 km)	Food Cost: $296.00
Ascended: 4,053 metres (Most: 2010-06-05 – 982 metres)	Drink Cost: $78.60
Energy Consumed: 22,792 calories (Most: 2010-06-05 – 5,954)	Equipment Cost: $0.00
	Transportation Cost: $5.00
	Lodging Cost: $21.40
	Entertainment Cost: $0.00
	Misc Cost: $3.50

Below shows the statistics while traveling through the area. Click on a date for more information!

Date	Location	Distance (km)	Cost	Map
2010-06-06	Watson Lake, YT, CA	23.49	$85.29	Chart
2010-06-05	Watson Lake, YT, CA	124.72	$18.35	Chart
2010-06-04	Rancheria, YT, CA	103.43	$32.00	Chart
2010-06-03	Morely Creek, YT, CA	39.93	$11.85	Chart
2010-06-02	Teslin, YT, CA	73.99	$43.50	Chart
2010-06-01	Squanga Lake, YT, CA	92.66	$25.25	Chart
2010-05-31	Whitehorse, YT, CA	33.64	$9.68	Chart
2010-05-30	Whitehorse, YT, CA	13.64	$122.30	Chart
2010-05-29	Whitehorse, YT, CA	0.00	$56.28	Chart