If you watched last time you'll know we're off-grid in the Yukon,
staying in a log cabin by the River Wheaton about an hour outside Whitehorse.
This time we're going to Carcross to learn more about the gold rush
and check out this picturesque first nation town.
It takes about 55 minutes to get from Whitehorse to Carcross along the Alaska Highway that was
built after world war II. prior to that sternwheelers would run the river Yukon
between Carcross and Dawson City, possibly stopping in Whitehorse on the way. In 1955
the highway took over and travelling on the Yukon to get to the goldfields was a thing of the past.
Carcross was previously called Caribou Crossing as large herds would migrate through the area.
In winter it's a sleepy quiet township with just
300 or so first nation residents who have been self-governed since 2006.
In summer, a hub of activity as people come for the world-famous mountain biking
on the nearby Montana mountain or to learn about the gold rush history and first nation traditions.
This cute building is the local post office,
you might see lots of places boarded up as we walk around that's not because they've gone out
of business it's just protection from the elements in the winter months when premises are closed.
The Whitepass on Yukon route railway terminates here.
If you watched our last episode you'll have seen that up until 1982 it continued on to
Whitehorse. Construction started in May 1898 and amazingly in 26 months, it had linked up
Alaska to the Yukon. Prior to this, prospectors took a perilous route across the mountains.
Tourists mostly arrive on cruise liners docked at Skagway Alaska
and enjoy scenic railway journeys into Canada arriving across this metal bridge into town.
The first nation descendants proudly share their heritage and culture
with totem poles and colourful artwork. Much of this disappeared after the gold rush and
now they're bringing it back for new generations to learn about. In summer you see demonstrations,
live carvings and learn the meaning of the artwork, animals and colours important to them.
It was skookum Jim Mason, from Carcross, a member of the Tagish first nation who along with
Tagish Dawson Charlie and George Carmack, an American prospector, first picked up gold in
1896 whilst travelling through bonanza creek near Dawson City. This led to the klondike gold rush.
The building we are approaching on the right, in blue is known as Caribou Hotel not currently
operating as a hotel. It has an interesting past having been built in Bennett in 1899,
then called the Yukon Hotel. It was located near Frederick Trump's
New Arctic Restaurant and hotel. Former President Donald Trump's grandfather! During the gold rush,
it was floated down to Carcross and positioned here called the Anderson hotel after its owner.
Rich from the gold rush Dawson Charlie bought the hotel in 1903 and renamed it the Caribou Hotel.
When he died in 1908 Bessie Gideon rented it from his estate but the whole place burnt down and had
to be rebuilt in 1910. Following her death in 1933 stories of creaking floors and slamming
doors indicated that Bessie hadn't quite left the building, still moving around on the third floor.
This is all that's left of the SS Tushi, built here in Carcross in 1917, it was the same type of
sternwheeler we saw in Whitehorse. Sadly in 1991, it was set alight and very little could be saved,
in fact, only two still exist now, the SS Klondike and the SS Keno in Dawson City.
I imagine this place is probably pretty busy in summer,
lots of people here taking the train and doing treks into the mountains I suppose
but at this time of year, only us nutters from England are here.
Oh, look at this completely iced, so somebody's put the, done the stones.
Completely iced over now.
Before we walked around Carcross we knew very little about its past, the role it played in
the gold rush, Tagish Dawson Charlie or the first nation people. It just goes to show
no matter where you are or how remote, there are stories out there just waiting to be retold.
Something we wanted to do forever was experience a ride with huskies,
so that's where we're heading right now.
We visited Alayuk adventures run by Marcelle, she's been raising
sledge dogs for the last 40 years and has taken part in a number of competitions.
Given extra warm winter clothes, we headed out to greet the dogs.
So here we are, we're going to do some husky sledging,
very nervous it's very cold what about minus 15. and you're gonna actually drive it, aren't you?
Maybe! I'm not planning on driving it but we're going about to meet the dogs now so join us.
hello, hello. All the dogs are very friendly, yes
ah very sweet, there some dogs are very shy. Yeah,
leave them alone if they stay far. yeah and be careful with your pockets and the gloves and
those trying to bite them want to bite on them, yeah they want to play. Yeah they are excited
of course they're going for a for a run which is what they want isn't it huh yeah.
These athletic dogs have been bred over the centuries to endure the cold
arctic conditions and live outside all year round.
The barking is from excitement as a number of them know they're going to get out for a run.
This could be the weirdest and most amazing thing we've ever done!
Alaskan huskies were of great importance during the gold rush,
a valuable asset to have. Horses and mules couldn't deal with the cold and heavy snow.
The dogs could drag large quantities of goods and men across the harsh terrain
to and from the goldfields. They were even used for day-to-day tasks like delivering the mail.
Interestingly the sport of dog mushing really came into being through the gambling of the gold
rush prospectors. They would bet on anything, so the dogs would be raced for the miners.
Today a world-famous dog mush takes place in Alaska each March
called the Iditarod, and some of Marcelle's dogs have taken part in that competition.
This is incredible!
After an incredible hour covering 10 miles, we were back at camp. This was just a short
stroll for the dogs as they can cover up to 90 miles in a day for a competition.
We really enjoyed our experience.
Thank you
That's great
Next time join us in Alberta, as we take in the most spectacular scenery in and around Banff.
We'll be hiking down in canyons full of mesmerizing frozen waterfalls
and walkways hanging off the rock face, exploring the trails in Lake Minnewanka
and getting up into the clouds when we hike to the summit of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular views.
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