Monday 16th June Whitehorse to Dawson Up at 8am and departed at 8.45am. Driving along, Les put on the famous "The Cremation of Sam McGee" by poet Robert Service. It concerns the cremation of a prospector who freezes to death near Lake Laberge, Yukon as told by the man who cremates him. Morning tea stop at Braeburn Lodge which is famous for its large Cinnamon Buns. The airstrip is called Cinnamon Bun and is covered with Prairie Dogs. This place is also an official checkpoint or the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race.
Next stop was lunch at the Coalmines Campgrounds in Carmacks on the Yukon River which was once an important supply station for gold seekers on their way to the Klondike . Pete and I had packed picnic lunch and we found a lovely spot on the river to enjoy the surrounds. Carmacks was named after George Washington Carmack, who found coal near Tantalus Butte (locally called Coal Mine Hill) in 1893. Carmack built a trading post and traded with locals near the present site of Carmacks and also started a coal mine on the south bank of the Yukon River. Carmack soon discovered gold in the Dawson region with Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie a few years later, starting the Klondike Gold Rush. Cormack made a common law marriage to Kate in 1887 a Tagish First Nation and she became the first woman on the goldfields. At 1pm the owner of the Campgrounds gave us a talk on how the Coalmine in the distance is still burning inside and how coal was supplied to the paddlewheelers during the Gold Stampede from Braeside to Five Finger Rapids. Another interesting point here were the distinctive Morel Mushrooms that appear honeycomb-like in that the upper portion is composed of a network of ridges with pits between them. Morels grow abundantly in forests which have been burned by a forest fire and appears to be related to both the death of trees and the removal of organic material on the forest floor. Once picked they are sent away to be dried. Cost $185-00 per pound. After lunch we continued our journey to Dawson passing the five Finger Rapids on the Yukon, named by early miners for the 5 channels or fingers, formed by the rock pillars that are a serious navigational hazard and major obstacle to the hordes of fortune seekers that passed this way. The safest passage is through the nearest, or east passage. We had a break at Pelly Crossing which was established as a ferry crossing and construction camp at the Pelly River. Back on the road again we passed by Moose Creek - there were no moose to be seen though. Les our Driver challenged Frank to the Sour Toe Cocktail when we arrive at Dawson. Our last stop of the day was the Midnight Dome Lookout which is a metamorphic rock standing 887 metres. From here we had the most magnificent views of Dawson, the Yukon River, Klondike Valley, Bonanza Creek, Top of the World Highway and the Ogilvie Mountains. It is called the Midnight Dome because for decades people have gathered on the top of the hill to watch the midnight sun and the changing colors of the night sky. In the middle of the loop paved road is a large rock mound (it is the highest point on the hill). On the peak of the rock mound is a large, carved wooden bench. From the the bench there are 360 degree views of the region. And, as an added touch, there are words carved into the bench, " Life is the World" . Claudia had packed a surprise for us, reindeer sausage, crackers with a hot chilli dip!! We finally reached Dawson City, the centre of excitement after the first gold strike in the Klondike in 1896, which led to the world's largest gold rush. Our accommodation was at the Downtown Hotel. Karen, the owner, had a meet and greet with drinks, cheese and crackers which we all welcomed after a long day on the road. We all met in the hotel foyer at 7.45pm and made our way to the high flying entertainment of Diamond Tooth Gerties Saloon, featuring ragtime music, can-can girls, and an old-fashioned casino. Pete and I had the best fresh Turkey Sandwich here filled with home made cranberry sauce. The show was fun, energetic and the female singer was amazing. From here we made our way to the Downtown Hotel for the Sourtoe Cocktail challenge. Frank didn't arrive?? This creepy cocktail -- a shot of any type of hard alcohol served in a glass with a dehydrated human toe, mummified in salt -- is the stuff of legend. As the story goes, a man known as Capt. d*** Stevenson started this tradition in 1973. He is said to have discovered the original toe in a cabin that he purchased, which had previously belonged to a trapper who had lost his big toe to frostbite and put it in a jar. According to the rules, the nasty toe must touch the lips during the drink's consumption for the drinker to earn the distinction of being a true "Sourtoer". Five members of our tour group stood up to the challenge including Pete..........He received a certificate and was so proud of himself.
Back to our hotel for a nightcap with Deb, Tony and Lee.