the Top of the World Highway may be unpaved, but its bridges are solid
the SS Keno is a sternwheel paddle steamer. She was retired in 1951
these are the autumn playing grounds for the Forty Mile Caribou Herd. For now it's raining
every now and then there is a small outpost
our cozy hotel for the night
this is what thawing and occasionally refreezing permafrost does to your house
this is Main Street, looking towards the ferry terminal
the Flora Dora Hotel must have seen better days
here comes the ferry. It operates only in summer. In winter you can cross the frozen river yourself
the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City
This
mostly unpaved road winds through a very remote area in Northern Canada and sports splendid views.
The highway ends
at the north bank of the mighty Yukon River, opposite Dawson City. In summer there is a ferry, in winter the river freezes over solid
and you do not need a ferry.
Originally a small camp ground for First Nation people, Dawson City rose to world fame and
shame during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890th, when droves of fortune seekers flooded the area.
It was the
epic setting for the book The Call of The Wild by Jack London, one of my favorite books when I was young.
Gold is still mined
in the area, but the town's wild heydays have long past.
We drove Highway 9 to Dawson City in
June 2007. Our car broke down so
we had to fly out to Whitehorse and had no time to fully explore the historic city.
there still may be gold in the creek, but it's all staked out, so gold panning is not allowed
Highway 9 ends at the mighty Yukon River.. Dawson City is on the other side
our rental car broke down so we have to fly back to civilization, in our case that is Whitehorse