08/24/19 Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada

Leaving Dawson City, we stayed at Fox Lake Burn rest area for the night of the 23rd, and moving on to Whitehorse on the 24th.

You can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

It rained most of the way to Whitehorse and quit after we got there.  We were able to park at the visitor center, but it was a tight squeeze. I went inside for information while Curt unhooked the jeep. From there we went to the S.S. Klondike National Historic Site, a couple of blocks away.

Per the above website, "The S.S. Klondike was built in Whitehorse and launched in 1929. With a cargo capacity 50 percent greater than other boats on the river at that time, she was the first sternwheeler on the Yukon River large enough to handle a cargo in excess of 300 tons without having to push a barge.  Built as an ore hauler the Klondike initially operated between Whitehorse and Stewart Landing. On her downstream run she would carry freight bound for the Mayo silver mining district. On her return trip she would carry silver-lead ore from the Mayo District that had been brought down the Stewart River aboard smaller sternwheelers. The effects of the depression soon saw the Klondike moved to the Whitehorse-Dawson City run where she carried both passengers and freight.

In 1936 the Klondike was in an accident and Klondike II was built and was able to run until 1952, after roads were built and riverboat transportation not needed. She was refurbished as a cruise boat but that only lasted a couple of years. "

They do guided tours for $7.80 (adults), or self-guided tours free. Being it was still raining off and on, the top of the deck was closed, so we wouldn't be able to go up there anyway, we decided to do the self-guided tour of the main deck. 

The Whitehorse Fish Ladder and Hatchery is the largest wooden fish ladder in the world. According to Afar.com, "It help migrating Chinook salmon on the final leg of their epic journey. As young smolts, they migrate downstream to the Bering Sea. After 3-5 years, they re-enter the Yukon River and being the 2-month 3200 km swim back to their home waters. The lucky ones, a tiny percentage, will make it to spawn and die there. This 366 meter (1200 ft) chute allows the salmon to skirt the Whitehorse Dam and avoid its turbines." I only saw two salmon in the inside display area.

Going east on Highway 1, toward Watson Lake. We're going through a cold spell now.

We stopped at a large rest area past Jake's Corner for the night. For more pictures, please click here.