Dawson City & Top of the World Hwy

The only way to get to Dawson City is off the Alaskan Highway and onto the Klondike Hwy.  Depending who you asked, we got a variety of stories about how great the roads were or how terribly awful they were.  We had traveled all this way, so we were willing to take a chance and make the drive.  332 miles from Whitehorse to Dawson City..……  Beautiful scenery with forests, streams, rivers, lakes, and mountains. We stopped to check out the famous Baerburn Cinnamon Rolls, worlds largest.  It is also a stop on the Yukon Quest, a sled dog race held every year in the Yukon.  Longer and more difficulty than the Iditarod in Alaska. A few other tiny towns but not a lot to stop for.

We are most definitely in the Terribly camp.  For the supposed paved road, it was paved in small portions.  But mostly washboard gravel, frost heaves (major pot holes), rough pavement patching, and construction.  It would be rough but fine in a normal vehicle.  But a 43 foot motor home, towing a car equaling 65 feet, it was not pretty.  We were so exhausted and everything was so muddy, dusty, and dirty.  WOW, never again but glad we made it in one piece.  Rocks everywhere, even in the kayaks that were on the roof of the SUV.  Disconnected the SUV from the motor home, turned on the ignition and large puffs of dirt came out the vents. **cough, cough**.  The motorcycle never touched the pavement but it looked like it had ridden the entire way - coated in dust and dirt.  The campground in Dawson had 2 power wash hoses for washing vehicles and RVs.  $1 (Loonie) Canadian for 3 minutes.  We washed the SUV for $5 and the RV on our way out for $10.  Muddy mess on the gravel, but off our vehicles.

OK so now we made it to Dawson City - home of the 1898 Gold Rush and the current gold mining operations and TV show Gold Rush.  Wonderful history and things to do and see. Basically 8 blocks wide and about 10 blocks long downtown and other areas for services (gas, repair, housing, heavy equipment sales, and who knows what).  Visitor Information Center is always our first stop in every town.  We jumped in on a city walking tour with Tales of Dawson.  We learned of Cave Man Bill - lives in a cave across the Yukon River from town over 19 years.  He couldn't afford an apartment so someone suggested the cave.  He lives there 365 days a year, has Wi-Fi and now 3 areas for living.  Downtown Hotel and the Sourdough Saloon - Home of the SourToe Cocktail.  A drink that contains a pickled human toe and you must drink the beverage and the toe must touch your lips to be a certified alumni.  Gross and I didn't even want to see it, but a tourist must for those that have the courage and drink.  Robert Service's Cabin, a well known Yukon writer and poet. Jack London's Cabin - wrote The Call of the Wild.
Diamond Tooth Gerties, with 3 nightly Can-Can and singing shows.  Very entertaining and family friendly!  Many original 1898-1900's buildings. Klondike Kate's - great restaurant with many colorful characters. We drove to the top of Midnight Dome to see the city, Yukon and Klondike Rivers below.  On the same date we were up there but in 1903 the town all went to the top for a picnic at midnight.  To see the summer sun and socialize.  It was neat to be in their place but 2 hours early (10pm).  There was a lot of smoke in the sky as the Alaskan forest fires are not under control and the smoke drifts this direction.  Praying for rain so the fires get under control but not for us, for at least 1 day, so we can get through the next leg of our journey on the Top of the World highway.  This known packed gravel highway is not travelable in our big rigs when it rains, too wet, slippery and not safe.  We won't become Sourdoughs on this trip and probably never but we had an adventure and learned about those that took the challenge 117 years ago to seek their fortune in the Yukon.  To be a true Sourdough you must spend and survive the fall frost, winter, and stay through the spring thaw in the Yukon to achieve that status.  Otherwise, the rest of us are just called Cheechako's.  We did see one of Todd Hoffman's miner's from the 316 Mining Company in town, Randy - if you watch Gold Rush you will know what I mean.
I just love the Fireweed all along the highways, beautiful wild flowers.

All throughout Dawson area were tailings, the piles of gold miners work.  They even have a subdivision called Tailing Subdivision.  Not my idea of landscaping.

Early morning rise and a power wash to the RV - we're off to downtown Dawson City and to catch the Ferry across the Yukon River to the Top of the World hwy.  It is the only way to get across the river and the only way to the hwy.  Otherwise, you could drive all the way back to Whitehorse, continue up the Alaskan Hwy and around the other side to drive it, but you would have to turn around at the river and just drive back.  Approx 900 miles the other way.  So we will adventure on the Ferry that operates 24/7 in the summer and has never dumped a passenger!   1-2 RV's and a few cars and the 5 minute trip to the other side.  They know what they are doing and a very smooth ride.  Hook up the SUV and off we go.  It's only 103 miles to the town of Chicken but due to the packed gravel road we have been told it could take 5 hours.  We did it in 4 hours.  Nice, dry day and the road was actually easier then the Klondike hwy from Whitehorse but dustier.  Much less stressful on the driver!!  Due to the Alaskan fire smoke the mountains we drove up/down/around were not as visible but still a stunning view.  I want to make a video of the trip as I took many clips of the different views and pavements of the trip.  Maybe show someone else what to expect as words cannot describe it.  Gator and I went from one side of the RV to the other shooting pictures and videos of the different scenery.  He thought it was a fun game to chase me.  Very little traffic going the opposite direction so we had the road to ourselves and could hog the middle or left side when we saw a rough patch.  A few switchbacks but nothing with the dry gravel.  I can't imagine taking this road in the rain.  

We arrived in Chicken - Population 15 with 7 living year around.  There are actually 4 sections of Chicken.  The town of Chicken (gas station, souvenirs, small café, and antler carving shop.  Chicken Creek - souvenir store and coffee shop.  And Chicken - the true town that is shown on the internet, owned by Sue (whom we met) that has the shop, saloon, and café old buildings.  Oh yah and across the street in the tiny post office that has mail flown in Tues & Fridays.  We had purchased a gold panning - pan in Dawson (just for the history and a souvenir) but there are areas on the river just outside and 16 miles from Chicken that you are allowed to pan for free.  Other areas are owned and mined by specific people and you don't want to go on their land!  So we drove the 16 miles to get our 5 gallon bucket of material to pan.  Brought it back to the RV as it was starting to sprinkle.  We haven't gotten to it yet, as it has been raining for 2 days.  A much needed rain, and praying the wild fires are getting this too.  Thank you Jesus for getting us over the Top of the World hwy before the rain.  We are officially in Alaska!!!

 This was the sky at 2am.  That's about the amount of "night" you get in summer.  Lasts for 1-2 hours and they you start to see the sun again.