August 11, 2023

FALL & WINTER 2023

Yukon Recreation Guide

Tracy-AnneMcPhee

Wellness,recreationandstayingactivearekeytohappiness andbuildinghealthycommunities.Astheleaveschange coloursandwemoveintothefallandwinterseasons,IencourageallYukonerstotakepartinthemanycommunity programsavailabletostayactive.

Stayingactivenotonlypromotesdiseasepreventionbutalsoenhancesoverallqualityoflife.Participatinginregular recreationandsportsactivitiescansignific antlycontributetoimprovedmentalhealthandfortifyconnectionwith friends,familyandcommunitythatsupportsourwellbeing.

Aswetransitionintothesecolderanddarkermonthsitbecomesevenmoreimportanttoprioritizeourphysicaland mentalwellbeing.AsYukonersweareluckytohaveaccesstomanyamazingfallandwinteractivitieslikehiking, cross-countryskiing,snowshoeingandicefishingandmanyothers.IencourageYukonerstoparticipateinwhichever activitiesbring themjoyandsupportstheirwellnessthisseason.

Stayactive,stayhealthyandstayhappy!

Sincerely,

Tracy-AnneMcPhee

Chris & Heather’s Dena Cho Trail Travel Journal pg 3 & 4

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Chris & Heather’s Dena Cho Trail Travel Journal

July 2 - 4, 2021

The Dena Cho trail is an up to 67 kilometer traditional First Nations route through the central Yukon. It follows the Tintina Trench along the Pelly River from Faro to Ross River (or vice versa) with spectacular views intermittently along the way. My wife, Heather, and I hiked the route in early July 2021.

The route is mostly double track, but at some points shrinks to a barely but always perceivable trail. The trail closest to either end is in the best condition, with the most distant portion in rougher shape. However, it is always discernable and overall, it is in very good condition. You would not require a GPS to navigate the hike. However, having a GPS with the cabins labelled is an extra reassurance that you are going the right way, as you cannot always see the river. Personally, I prefer enjoying the scenery over staring at a GPS unit trying to figure out which way to go, and this hike allowed for GPS checks periodically but overall, we could see clearly where to go. In addition, there seems to be sporadic trail maintenance to cut deadfall, which made the hike even more pleasant. I created GPX files, and if you want them, they should have them up at the Campbell Region Interpretive Center (CRIC). You could also email me at ccham@dal.ca and I could send them to you.

There are several factors which make hiking in the Yukon somewhat unique.

First, you will likely have the route entirely to yourself. This is fabulous, but the flip side is that you are all alone. We did not see a single person in the three days of hiking. This also means that you must be prepared for anything and everything without assistance. Having said this, you could meet others and you could reach a cabin and find it occupied already, so be prepared to share the cabins with other travellers. We carried a tent with us, but only used when we reached Ross River to overnight before leaving the next day.

There is no cell reception, either. If you require contact with the outside world, you will have to bring a Spot

Tracker, or another means of satellite communication with you.

Be prepared for wildlife – from the smallest of creatures in the bajillions (i.e., mosquitos and black flies) to the largest of forest dwellers (black bears and grizzlies) and everything in between. We saw LOTS of bear activity (scat old and very fresh, grub digs and paw prints in the mud) so we made plenty of noise along the way. As a result, we did not see any bears... though we do wonder how many bears saw us! We carried bear spray, a bear bell, and a compressed air canister. For the insects, we used a mosquito hood, repellant and covered our arms and legs at times even though it was fairly warm. Be ready to walk through water. The trail conditions do change constantly depending on the weather, the season, and wildlife activity. If a bridge is out, then you cross on your sandals or bare feet. If the beavers have been busy doing their beaver thing, then a section of the trail may be flooded. If the

rains have been heavy, then the trail also will be flooded or wet. Much of the trail is partially overgrown with grasses, so in the mornings or after the frequent thundershowers, your shoes will be wet. Hiking poles were also helpful.

The water sources are fairly limited along the route, so be prepared to get from cabin to cabin without refilling water. I will describe this in detail.

There are many ups and downs, but no major mountain peaks. This does make this hike more doable than a gruelling grind up a mountain pass or when ascending a summit. Nevertheless, do not minimize the work it takes to climb up and down short but steep grinders.

Hiking in the Yukon is hard work in every respect, and though distances do not seem overly lengthy, do not underestimate the amount of effort it takes to travel what seems like a short distance. But be assured, the rewards are commensurate with the effort!

We registered our travel

plans with the wonderful staff at the Campbell Region Interpretive Center (CRIC) in Faro. Regardless of the direction you travel the route, I would recommend doing this, as there is nowhere to register in Ross River. We hiked from Faro to Ross River, so my description is in an easterly direction. Be prepared and be flexible.

Most importantly, every cabin has a picnic table and an outhouse! So, you probably don’t need to bring a trowel. But do bring your own toilet paper!

I will describe enough of the trail for travellers to get a sense of what it is like out there, but not too much as to give away all the highlights!

Last but not least, a big thanks to the local volunteers who clearly work hard to keep the trail in very good condition. It was obvious that the deadfall had been cleared away not long before we traveled through on the trail. It certainly made the hiking that much more enjoyable.

Start of Swim Lakes Rd to Cabin 1 (12.9 km)

Originally, we were planning to hike right from the CRIC. The Dena Cho trail is marked right from the centre and looks to be in very good shape right from Faro, but there is no reliable water source from Faro until Cabin 1 (a total distance of about 27 kilometres).

So, we received a drive down the Blind Creek Road to where the Swim Lakes Road begins. The Swim Lakes “Road” is not really a road, but an ATV track, so this is the point where you could either park and start hiking or get dropped off as we did. There is a small sign which marks the spot the start of the Swim Lakes Road.

For the first 2+ km, the trail follows the Swim Lakes Road slowly uphill, then veers right with good signage. You will roll along before descending to what a previous journal aptly describes as a “swampy acres”. Yes, it’s wet, and yes, there are lots and lots of bugs down there. The

stream runs right down the trail. Heather did find a way through the bushes without taking off her hiking boots, but I preferred to put on my sandals and walk through the water, as this stretch was lengthy (it felt great on the feet). At the east end, the water looked clear enough to filter if you needed it. But even if you hiked all the way from Faro, you wouldn’t want to camp at this spot; it’s too boggy and too buggy. You’ll go up a short but steep ascent to crest at the bluffs with the first view for the day. There’s a log bench you can use to put your hiking boots back on (if you did what I did). And if you’re lucky enough to have a breeze, perhaps you’ll get a break from the mosquitos also. The trail then meanders up and down, but nothing too strenuous, with intermittent views and another set of benches at the bluffs. The trail stays in excellent condition all the way to Cabin 1.

Continued on page 4

Chris Cham & Heather Cham Submitted by Town of Faro, Campbell Region Interpretive Centre

One of the four cabins along the Dena Cho Trail. (Submitted/Cole Fischer, Amber Berard-Althouse and Alex Bouchard)

All the cabins are solid and do not appear to have any leaks. The cabins are bug resistant, but not totally mosquito proof. They each have a wood stove for winter use, a table and a few benches. Cabin 1 is on the bluff – a very pretty location but not in direct view of the river as it is a bit “inland” from the Pelly. The nearest water is at Excell Creek, 100 meters down the hill past the cabin.

Cabin 1 to Cabin 2 (6.7 km)

We did not overnight at Cabin 1 but decided to push on to Cabin 2 for the night. Just past the cabin is Excell Creek. There was a log bridge over it, but it looked a bit “seasonal”, held together with what appeared to be new ropes. It’s not a large creek, but enough to get water and to require a change of footwear if the bridge was not there. The pattern started to show itself – a descent, a creek and then boggy wetlands for a stretch. But this did not last too long, and then you walk through a forest fire burn from a few years back. Then the trail opens onto the bluffs with the most spectacular view of the entire journey. We followed the bluffs for a few kilometres before the trail veered northeast along the valley of the Orchay River. The benches and views continued – linger along this stretch if you have extra time. After all, there’s no shortage of daylight in the summer, and though the camp at Cabin 2 is nice, it doesn’t have these views.

As you leave the bluffs, a little sign provided us hope and directions to our day’s destination. It’s an easy downhill final kilometre to Cabin 2. As the sign and name suggests, this cabin is on the Orchay River.

The Orchay River is by far the nicest water source along the trail – great for cleaning up after a sweaty day of hiking, rinsing clothes and dishes and filtering water. The water does have a distinct iron tingeß, but at least it was running fast and clean. I imagine it would be good for fishing also.

Cabin 2 to Cabin 3 (13.4 km)

The bridge over the Orchay River looks rough but it was sturdy and not too tilted. It’s hard to imagine it holding an ATV, so there must be another crossing for machines that we didn’t see. The hard curve in the river right at that cabin has formed a steep bank immediately be- low the

cabin, so the water wasn’t accessible at that spot. So just walk down the trail 100 metres again to the bridge. Each cabin has a little “guest book” in it, and it was fun to read who had passed on the trail and when. It also will provide some updates on trail sightings, conditions and maintenance work by the local volunteers.

Just over the bridge there is – you guessed it – another swampy section. Apparently, the beavers in this area are quite active and love to flood this area. The deadfall is dense, only to be outdone by the density of the mosquitos. Put your sandals on before you leave Cabin 2, as you will likely have to walk through some water pretty much right after the bridge. This is also where Heather spotted the gigantic bear prints in the soft, wet soil. As this is just across the river from Cabin 2, don’t let your guard down as you spend your evening at the cabin and at the river. With the rush of the water, you may not hear them, and they may not hear you immediately. And to confirm our suspicions, there was very fresh bear scat just past the swampy section.

You can put your boots back on until the end of the day, as the majority of the day was grassy (and hence very wet from the thundershower) and puddly but no deep water. There is a steep grade to go up, then down, then slowly up again. The forest is dense and the meadows pretty. But it is prime bear country throughout this stretch – be sure to make lots of noise. You will pass to the north of a small mountain, making it feel as if you are walking up a desolate but beautiful valley. This is the willow muskeg stretch described in the journal notes from 10 years ago. It feels like walking on the tundra – soft and spongy, wet and sluggish. It’s a unique experience for those of us who live down south.

Though unique, this stretch is a little bit of a slog. The bugs were bad, and so we just pushed through, sweating profusely under our protective layers, until the trail opened up again to some colorful little lakes below, and in the imagination, you could picture the Pelly just hiding behind the hills. So, we knew Cabin 3 couldn’t be too far away. We lingered on the bluffs again to soak in the breeze and the view before descending to a stream just large enough to require a removal of footwear again. But ah, the feel of the cool water on the feet! We did not see any log bridge or crossing, though

once again, I imagine these aspects of the trail would change annually.

It’s a relaxing final kilometer of meandering descent through Aspen forests to cabin 3, which sits right on the Pelly. Water is plentiful, but the Pelly has a lot of silt. The bank is loose and steep, but with care, you can descend right to the river. The flow was fast as this year (2021) the thaw was late and the snowpack had been high. Don’t be fooled – if you fell in the river here, you would be in big trouble. We walked downstream on the gravel bank 100 metres to where the small tributary stream met the Pelly. This water is much nicer for cleaning up and filtering, but again, I imagine this stream would be seasonal.

Cabin 3 to Cabin 4 (9.5 km)

Apparently, this part of the trail is similar to how it was described 10 years ago – overgrown but discernible. The walking is quite fast, but after the first few kilometers of flat along the river, the trail starts to ascend and descend. There is one steep climb that goes

on and on, but if you live near the Rockies like we do, in perspective it’s not bad! But always remember that at the top, there’s likely to be a view, and though the trail is just off the bluffs, you can easily see where people have walked out to the bluffs for rests and to take in the views again. There are more rollers, more forest, etc., before ascending to Cabin 4. Once again, the cabin is on the bluff with a view of the valley below. However, the trickle of a creek just past the cabin was not amenable to filtering or drinking. Thus, though the cabin was as nice as the others and the view also pretty, we did not want to stay here due to the lack of water. So, we decided to simply keep walking.

Cabin 4 to Ross River (11.1 km)

I assumed that this last stretch would be more down than up, and in better shape, than the middle section of the trail. So, if you decide to push through to Ross River like we did, you will do well. Cabin 4 is high, and after some rolling over very good trails at the high elevation, the trails drops

sharply for quite some time to the bench below the bluffs. The trails stays in excellent shape overall, but as you get towards Ross River, there are many horse hoof prints in the mud – a sure sign of civilization after three days alone. There seems to be a network of horse trails in this area and they are helpful for getting around a few nasty mudholes. The trail will continue below the bluffs with pretty view both below and above at times. Eventually you will see a fence along the south side of the trail. After so much boundless nature, the fence seems almost offencive

Just before descending to the footbridge, you will see this little sign. Downhill takes you to Ross River, but if you have just a little energy left in you, follow the North Canol trail just a half kilometer or so to reach a monument to the people of the region and one last high overlook of the bridge and the town.

The Town of Faro and the Campbell Regional Interpretive Center would like to thank Chris and Heather

Cham from Red Deer Albert for sharing their Travel Journal.

We hope that future travelers will find their accounts useful when planning their trip along the Dene Cho.

This January marks 25 years since the work on the trail commenced with two crews, One starting in Ross River and one from Faro in January 1999.

Last summer Faro’s Canadian Ranger Patrol did some cabin improvements to the four cabins along the trail, and last fall the town completed some much-needed brushing and bridge replacements thanks to CDF funding.

You can find more information in the Focused on Faro Newsletters from July & August 2022, August 19, 2022 and November 22, 2022 issues. https://faro. ca/p/newsletter

Now would be the perfect time to enjoy the trail with all the recent work.

For more information or to register your trip, contact the Campbell Region Interpretive Centre.

Phone: (867) 994-2288

Winter Phone: 994-2728

cric@faroyukon.ca

The Dena Cho trail last winter from Faro to Ross River, it took them three days. (Submitted/Cole Fischer, Amber Berard-Althouse and Alex Bouchard)

proudlywelcomevisitorstogatherin ourculturalhome.Oursupportivestaff lookforwardtocarefullyplanningand perfectlyexecutingyoureventwithin ourcomprehensivesafetyprotocols.

Sport is a team sport

It’s easy to be active in the Yukon. We live in a beautiful wilderness territory full of trails to hike, mountains to climb and waterways to navigate. Cycling, snowshoeing, skating, running and more are easy activities to engage in because they’re all right in our backyards.

But the Yukon is also home to a vibrant ecosystem of organized sport.

Sport Yukon is made up of nearly 80 not-for-profit member organizations that include sport governing bodies, athletic clubs, outdoor and indoor sports, winter and summer activities, individual and team opportunities and everything in between.

These organizations are the backbone of sport and recreation in our territory, run largely by dedicated volunteer organizers, coaches, officials, and support staff that turn our natural inclination to be active into the multitude of organized sport programs, leagues and tournaments we’re lucky to participate in every year.

Their passion for sport is a gift that helps build our communities, create opportunities for our athletes, and develop the Yukon as a capital of sport in Canada.

The programs and leagues and events provided by our member organizations create

opportunities for young Yukon athletes to train and compete from the recreational level to the heights of elite worldwide competition. Yukon athletes have achieved incredible success on the national and international stage over the past year at the Arctic Winter Games, Canada Games, and the North American Indigenous Games, but also at sport-specific regional and national events. In fact, the Yukon is home to gymnasts, skiers, judokas, hockey players, archers, swimmers, biathletes and many more athletes finding incredible success at home and abroad, including five Canadian Olympians who

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These achievements require an enormous sacrifice of time, focus, energy and expense - not only for the athletes themselves, but for the coaches, trainers and families that support them. Sport Yukon is proud to administer a variety of funds, donated by various foundations and community partners, to help support Yukon athletes, coaches and families by subsidizing the costs of travel, training and competition; directly fostering the success and development of Yukoners across a wide range of disciplines.

Likewise, the Kids Recreation Fund provides assistance to the families who need it most, helping parents register their children for sport and rec programs, purchase necessary equipment and begin a lifelong journey of physical activity.

The upcoming 2026 Arctic Winter Games, to be hosted in Whitehorse, is a terrific encapsulation of the incredible work done by sport organizers in building our community. Yukon athletes have the opportunity to compete and succeed on the world stage, our community comes together in the spirit of celebration and hospitality and the Yukon gets to own its earned position as a leader in sport not just in the North but internationally.

This isn’t new - for years the Yukon has hosted more and more national and international competitions.

From softball to alpine skiing to cycling and beyond, our home has played host to some of the best athletes

in the world, creating new opportunities for our own athletes to learn, train, and be inspired to greatness.

And all of that is only made possible by the invaluable dedication, passion, and vision of sport organizations, volunteers, and supporters.

As Yukoners, it can be easy to think of ourselves as small and isolated, but the depth and variety of our sport community shows that this is anything but true. Yukon sport organizations provide athletic outlets for thousands of Yukoners, in dozens of disciplines and contribute to the incredibly rich coral reef of activity and passion that defines our communities.

Sport exists for the young and the old, the casual and the competitive. There’s truly something for everyone, and any kind of participation - even a few hours of volunteeringcontributes to a stronger, healthier community.

We encourage all Yukoners to get involved with sport organizations however they can - register as participants, sign-up as volunteers, join a board or help as event organizers, consider donating to local sport groups, or come out and cheer as supporters.

Sport itself is a team sport, after all.

Sport Yukon is a not-forprofit organization. For information on sport organizations, upcoming events, funding and donation opportunities and more; visit Sport Yukon on social media, our digital display at 3rd & Main in Whitehorse or online at SportYukon.com

The Yukon is full of sport opportunities for everyone, built by a community of passionate organizers and volunteers

Sport Yukon Submitted

Klondike Road Relay (Courtesy/Weronika Murray)

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Dawson City recreation opportunities abound

Dawson City is known world-wide for our role in the Klondike Gold Rush, a place with notorious events, nightlife, and a community unlike any other. While all those things are true, we also have a number of trending initiatives and activities that make us appealing for residents and visitors alike. Here are a number of things that we are proud to share happening at the City of Dawson Parks and Recreation department and our community in general.

Facilities City of Dawson operates a number of traditional and new facilities, including the following:

Art and Margaret Fry Recreation Centre: This facility is the lifeblood of the community come winter. It features a skating rink and curling club. These feature daily programming, league play and iconic events. Skates are available to borrow and our DJ Glow Skates are oneof-a-kind.

Dawson City Swimming Pool: We operate each year between late May and early September. Our pool staff provide swimming lessons, swim club and

camp, and our pool accommodates lane swims, public swims, and times for parents and tots.

Fitness Centre: We have a fantastic little facility that is open year-round. It features brand new weight and cardio machines overlooking the Yukon River. Day passes, and monthly or annual passes can be purchased upstairs in the Waterfront Building.

Dawson City Skateboard Park: Recently upgraded, thanks to funding from the Community Development Fund. We have a variety of ramps and features that give us the best above ground park in the territory (in our minds). This space is meant to be usable for all wheeled uses.

Come ride the improved space!

Community Garden: Dawson City’s Community Garden has 20 plots available for rent and use for locals and organizations in our community. We provide support, tools and programming to enhance the space. We put on non-traditional events, such as gnome-painting, paint in the park and plan to host a bbq and year-end feast this year. It’s a great space to grow your own or connect with nature yourself.

Playgrounds: City of Dawson operates four playgrounds in our community, one at Minto Park, two at our Community Garden (see below) and one at Centennial Park. In our community, there are an additional four

public playgrounds at Robert Service School, Yukon River Campground, Klondike River Campground and C4 Subdivision.

Outdoor Skating Rink: Last winter, City of Dawson purchased a modular outdoor rink which we install at Minto Park each winter. For many Canadians, skating outside is an iconic experience. At minus 40, it’s a true-Yukon experience!

Crocus Bluff Disc Golf Course:

In 2021 Dawson installed a Disc Golf course at Crocus Bluff Lookout Recreation Site. This is an 18-hole, wilderness and obstacle based course, that traverses the woods at our recreation site. It is beginner friendly, but challenging enough to test experienced players. It’s a fantastic way to enjoy the woods. We have discs available to use for free at the site, dropin programming on Monday nights, and regular events. It’s a free facility and we encourage you to come see what we’ve built. For more information visit UDisc.com

Sho Tayh Tsul Pump Track: Built in 2021 by Transition Industries, this is a great little feature at Crocus Bluff Park, which challenges you to improve your bike balance and skills by riding swales, berms, and humps without pedalling.

Midnight Dome Trail Network

Dawson is building and improving our trail network every year. We have approximately 20 kilometers of trails to appeal to all levels of hikers and bikers. Our hiking trails follow historical landmarks, such as the Acklen Ditch and Ninth Avenue Trail; local landmarks such as the Midnight Dome (via the Dome Hiking Trail) or the Yukon River (via the Millennium Trail); and help access facilities such as the Crocus Bluff Disc Golf Course. Our biking trails are mostly downhill, with access from the top of the Midnight Dome. Our most recent trail build was Birch Runner, a flow trail many Yukoners claim is the best downhill trail in the Territory. Our trails are celebrated during the Midnight Dome Enduro, which

happens on Aug 5, and is open to all riders. Future plans on our trails, include the creation of a new Dome hiking trail, improvements to the Ninth Avenue Trail and better connections between Ninth Avenue Trail and Crocus Bluff Lookout. Whether you are new to biking or a grizzled veteran, we have trails to appeal to you. Best of all, they all lead to Dawson City. To see a map of our trails, visit Trailforks, or CityofDawson.ca

Greenspaces

Dawson has some fantastic spaces for you to enjoy. We maintain and operate seven greenspaces in our community. All of our parks are strewn with native trees, perennial plants, and flower boxes that make them appealing to all. We provide leisure parks, such as Canada 125, active parks, such as Crocus Bluff park and forested sites like Crocus Bluff Lookout. Our crown jewel is Minto Park, a historic site of the Yukon. This park features a programming building, the skateboard park, tennis courts, baseball field, playground and swimming pool. In brief, we have a park for everyone. Come see for yourself.

Programming

City of Dawson provides year-round programming to get you active and having fun in our community. In-house our focus is towards providing amazing programs for youth. Some of our iconic programs include Play Like a Girl – an introductory hockey program to bolster female participation in the sport; HopOn Cycling – a learn-to-bike initiative supported by Cycling Canada; Mad Scientist – a fun and messy program to get kids involved and interested in the sciences. We’re also extremely dependent and supportive of third-party programming to increase activity in all ages. We partner with locals who are passionate about programs to assist them in bringing their enthusiasm to the community. If you have an idea for a program, reach out and if it’s the right fit, we’ll help you make it a reality with funding, insurance, facility space and more. Email us at

recreation@cityofdawson.ca to find out more.

Events

Our community is known for fantastic events. Many of these happen within City of Dawson spaces. Weekly concerts throughout the summer enthrall Waterfront Park during the Summer Concert Series; parades take place on holidays such as Canada Day and Discovery Day; baseball tournaments take over our parks on Labour Day.

We have something for everyone. We encourage you to visit DawsonCity.ca or Kiac.ca to get a sense of all the activities that take place in our bustling little town!

Volunteers

Dawson’s success in recreation is extremely dependent on volunteer groups. Many of our facilities and programs are provided by third-parties. Facilities like Moose Mountain Ski Hill, cross country ski trails, Dawson City Golf course, Gaw Field (our soccer pitch) and more are provided by non-profit groups. The City of Dawson works with these groups and many more to improve and increase the number of things to do in our community. We encourage you to support and thank these volunteers, as our success as a community depends on them.

This is a very brief overview of some of the things happening in Parks and Recreation in Dawson City. As usual, Dawson punches above its weight. We challenge you to find another community of 2,000 or so people, who provide the breadth of spaces and initiatives that we do. Our activities are primarily for our residents, but are also key infrastructure and drivers for visitors to enjoy as well. We love to see people get active and have fun in Dawson City.

To find out more, visit our Facebook page (City of Dawson Parks and Recreation), website (CityofDawson.ca), where you can sign up for our E-News service, or check out the posters we put up throughout our town. If you have questions about what’s happening in Parks and Recreation at the City of Dawson, please contact us at recreation@cityofdawson.ca or 867-993-7400 ext 299.

Dawson City Celebration of Lights. (Courtesy/John Howland)

Dawson City Golf Course. (Courtesy/John Howland)

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