YUKON
Northern Exposure
This Alberta couple took a month-long RV trip through the Yukon and discovered the region's history, beauty and people
In the spring of 2005, RVers Paul Adams and his wife, Marilyn Adams, decided to pack up their 25-foot travel trailer and head north for an exciting wilderness adventure.
SAVOUR THE FLAVOUR: "Take at least a month to see the sights and learn the history of the gold rush—it will make you appreciate your journey so much more," said Paul Adams—photos courtesy Paul Adams
The couple left from their home city of Lethbridge, Alberta, and travelled through Edmonton to Dawson Creek, B.C., then on to the Alaska Highway until they reached Dawson City, Yukon.
“On our first day on the Alaska Highway we saw eight or nine moose,” said Paul, who had last visited the Yukon in 1972. “The road was a billion times better than it was in those days—very beautiful in a lot of places with quite a bit of wildlife.”
Planning their activities day by day and relying on friendly locals to point them to the best attractions, the Adamses spent an entire month exploring scenic campgrounds, learning the history of the territory and taking in the culture of the region’s people.
Places to remember
“One of my favourite places we discovered on the journey was the Klondike Rib and Salmon BBQ restaurant in Whitehorse,” said Paul. “I had fish and chips, but it wasn’t any ordinary fish and chips—it was fresh haddock caught off the coast near Skagway and shipped in; it was absolutely phenomenal.” The Klondike Rib and Salmon BBQ restaurant also features wild game meat such as bison and caribou, and is located in one of the oldest operating buildings in Whitehorse.
All aboard
Another memorable excursion for the adventurous RVers was their trip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, which is an international civil engineering landmark with a remarkable history.
“We got on a bus at a Whitehorse campground and were brought near the U.S. border, where we transferred to the train and rode it to Skagway,” said Paul. “That day there were three cruise ships in Skagway full with people travelling along the Alaska coastline, so there was lots of action—and the scenery we saw from the train was mind-blowing.”
Dawson City also proved to be an exciting Yukon destination, as Paul said this is where he and Marilyn met some of the most colourful characters that they came across during their entire trip. The funny part was, it was not at a popular attraction or tourist spot that the couple hooked up with these people, but rather at a local downtown pub linked to a hotel.
“We met up with some locals and had a really good time,” said Paul, chuckling from the memories. “Everybody was different, with different occupations and backgrounds, but we sat together, drank some beer and told a few lies that had us all laughing.”
When asked what advice he had for people planning a trip up to the Yukon, Paul recommended: “Take at least a month to see the sights and learn the history of the gold rush—it will make you appreciate your journey so much more and give you a whole new understanding of the trials and tribulations the people of the area faced in the early years and the remarkable progress they made.
“Also, talk to the locals—and even more importantly, listen.”
When the Adamses are not living it up in their leisure time, Paul works as a farmer and feed lot operator and Marilyn is a bookkeeper.