I’ve been spending the last few days in Dawson City, YT and while it’s been so cold [-37 or so] that I’ve been reluctant to head out and take “proper” photos I’ve been snapping away on the ole iPhone every time I’ve left the safety and warmth of the indoors.
Today we took a brief trip over to West Dawson which is across the huge Yukon River and is “off the grid” [no grid electricity, water, sewage etc.]. It’s a beautiful place and a touch more wild than the little town of Dawson City. I’ll be heading back on Boxing Day so I can get some photos with the real camera then, but for now take your fill with these wee iPhone snaps.
Just a note – this time of year the Yukon River is frozen and so there’s an ice bridge which technically isn’t open just yet [meaning it's not been smoothed over and certified safe], but experienced locals will still go for it anyway, and so do we. At any one time you could catch a glimpse of trucks, dog sleds or snowmobiles heading across. While the river is freezing over the West Dawsoners are completely cut off from the main town [and supplies] so it’s a period of time when they make sure they’re well stocked for the few weeks it takes to freeze. It definitely takes something special over on that side of the river but for many the beauty and space is more than worth it.
[The iPhone tends to over-expose everything even when dark, so the true twilight quality of the "daylight" at this time of year is a little lost. Also, there are a few photos in the mix here that are from downtown Dawson, and the order isn't chronological but I'm sure you get the essence of the country up here. It's what I think of as the most Canadian.]
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Oh anyone that wants to check out the history of why such a currently small town [approx 400 population in the winter and 800 in the summer], was once a city, take a look at the wikipedia page, specifically the gold rush days: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson_City
It’s like a dream.
It really is, all over.