Welcome to the Yukon - Sign Post Forest and Tlingit Community

Watson and Teslin Lake, Yukon (62 degrees, blue sky)

L to R (John, Jimmy, Barry, Jann, Bob, and Patsy)

We have made it to the Yukon Territory!.It is vast wilderness area along the Alaska Highway. The roads are still very good, however, the area along the roads are not as clear as British Columbia. Gas is still really expensive at $1.57 CAD/liter. Towns are few and far between. Our weather has been really amazing and we have seen quite a few black bears, Wood Bison and the occasional rabbit.  Life is good!

A very bog Wood Bison

Our first stop was Watson Lake where the very famous Sign Post Forest is located. I had heard a lot about it but I wasn't prepared for how many signs were actually posted here. It all started by a lonely Army GI who posted a sign with mileage to his home town in 1947. Soon others began to post their signs as well and as of 2016 according to the Visitor Center over 83.00) signs have been posted and counting. Many of our friends have signs here.

The Visitor Center staff are very friendly and accommodating. They provides all pens and paint to make your sign and all the the equipment you need to attach it. Nearby a local shop will even sell you a board to mount. 

Did you ever wonder how many miles it was to the planets. Well, you can find out this information across the street at the Northern Lights Space and Centre Museum which also has a great movie about the "electric sky" and the aurora borealis. 

Our sign

It only seemed fitting to post a sign of our own. Jann made one from a South Dakota license plate with our names and date on it. So now we are a part of the forest too!

Near our campground was a really nice easy trail around the First Wye Lake. There is even a Second Wye Lake. :) It had some interesting signs about the locals plants and their medicinal purposes.  We liked ti so much we did it twice. 

Red-necked Grebe on her nest

First Wye Lake

Common Loon

Robert Johnson and his extended family

Our next stop was Teslin Lake, a small mostly Tlingit First Nation Community. We stopped at the George Johnson Museum and it was such an interesting place. It told of life here for the people prior to the arrival of the Alaska Highway or roads of any kind. George did well selling his furs and eventually bought a Chevrolet. The locals thought he was crazy since there were not any roads at the time. However, eventually with the help of others built a small road and offered taxi service across the frozen lake in the winter. He also used the car for hunting and photography. He took lots of pictures of  everyday life of the Tlingit and developed the photos himself.  He was quite the entrepreneur. 

Robert Johnson Museum

George's Chevrolet

Campground Reviews

Watson Lake:  Downtown RV Park, 2 stars, dusty, parking lot kind of place with full hook up. WYFI did not work. Great location near the Visitor Center and Sign Post Forest. $48 CAD/night

Teslin Lake::  Teslin Lake Yukon Government Park, 4 stars, pretty campground, with large private sites near lake, no hook ups, boil order for water, hand pump for water, no dump. Free firewood, $12 CAD/night

Our next stop will be Alaska!!!!