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!!!!

We Made It To Alaska!!!

Alaska/Yukon Border near Skagway 62 degrees, blue skies)

L to R John, me, Patsy, Bob, John, Barry and in front Jimmy)

Be Sure To Stop For A Soak - Liard Hot Springs BC

Liard Hot Springs, BC (62 degrees, sunny most of the time)

Advice From A Hot Spring

"Let your talents spring forth

Keep new ideas bubbling

Be warm and welcoming

Tree Swallow

Have deep reservoirs

Let off a little steam"
Yourtruenature.com

Fun photo of John, Jann, and Barry

We spent four relaxing days at Liard Hot Spring Provincial Park. Numerous people had recommended the stop and it's just an amazing place. There is a board walk leading from the campground to the hot springs which is delightful all by itself. It's about a 15 minute walk to the natural hot springs  Changing rooms and bathrooms are available. Be sure to drink plenty of water. The left side is cooler and the right side can be quite hot since this area is fed directly from the spring.

In early times the Kaska First Nations people lived here. Trappers and prospectors discovered them in 1835 and this  park was created in 1957.

We enjoyed a few hikes in the area and some pretty waterfalls. The camp hosts were so helpful. One day we got a nice long look at a black bear. He was busy eating lots of Wild Roses and he was as curious about us and we were about him.

It's also the first time we have seen Wood Bison. They are much larger and darker than the ones we are familiar at in the Grand Tetons.

Wood Bison

Solitary Sandpiper

Campground: Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park. 

It's a gem (5 Star) and so well maintained by the friendly camp hosts. It's a no hook up kind of place. Water is available for fill up but there is not a dump. Sites are huge and wooded. A few might be cleared enough for satellite. There is no cell phone signal with Verizon or T-Mobile.  Closest cell phone signal is a couple hours north in Watson Lake. Reservations are highly recommended. There is a parking lot for overflow across from the street from the entrance and a full hook up campground available nearby. 

It was an enjoyable visit and one we will always remember. Now it's on to the Yukon Territory.

Exploring A Remote Waterfall - Kinuseo Falls

Chetwynd, BC 52 degrees, blue sky and rain showers later)

"I believe it is in our nature to explore,

to reach out into the unknown.

The only true failure

would be not to explore at all"

Ernest Shakleton

Sometimes the best adventures are the ones off the beaten path. This was one of those. We were staying in Chetwynd BC and were there for a few days during the Chainsaw Festival. Barry and Jann had told us about this beautiful remote waterfall and we all decided it was worth the effort to go see it. From Chetwynd it's an hour and a half to a pretty town with a pretty name called Tumbler Ridge. We stopped at the Visitor Center for advice and were quickly back on the road. From here there is an additional 11 miles on paved road and another 30 miles on gravel to get to the Monkman Provincial Park where this beautiful waterfall is located. For a short time we even had a blue sky and the long drive was worth it.

There is a short walk out to where the waterfall drops off and a nice overlook. It's a powerful one to see and higher than Niagara Falls. The roar of the rushing water is intense. A rainbow was even seen halfway down. 

It certainly was a great spot for a group shot.

L to R (Me, John, Becky, Bob, Patsy, Bob, Jann, Barry)

Our dear friends Bob and Patsy have now joined our group. They are from West Virginia and John and I have volunteered with them several times at J.N. Ding Darling in Sanibel Florida and Grand Teton Association in Jackson Wyoming. We are so glad they are joining us.

As you trace back to the parking lot there is another trail which is a more rugged. It worth the effort, however, to see the full waterfall and wildflowers. Jann helped me identify the wildflowers.

The first documentation of the falls was written in 1906, however, First Nation settlements have been found here dating back over 10,000 years ago. 

There are other waterfalls and trails to explore along the way from Tumbler Ridge, however, we did not have enough time to see much more.  

It was a great day to explore made more special by sharing it with our friends.