Planes

Road Trip

Day 29 and we head out with Brad's friend, Jon, to take a drive on winter roads, to Skagway, Alaska.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Pristine white snow, untouched landscapes and majestic mountains draped in loads of white.  Winding around a corner we unexpectedly saw a flash of colour blowing in the wind, and this is what we saw.

In Skagway, we went on a hike, relaxed....and had some fun.

Mysterious Moon

A visitor

Day 27....
Brad and I picked up a good friend of ours, Jon, to stay with us over the weekend.  They plan to go snowshoeing Friday morning and then spend the rest of the day....pub crawling. 

A different kind of art.

Day 26 requires me to step back in thought, to day 25. 

Along 2nd Avenue is an

unused parking lot

surrounded by a fence

and filled with atleast

2 feet of snow.  When

I walked by on Tuesday
the lot was pristine white
and layed out like a
perfectly ironed sheet on
a bed.  No wrinkles,
no tracks, no foot prints,
and no ripples. By the
next day the canvas
had inspired a Raven
to swoop in to
have a snow bath.........

and
then 
flapped
his
way
out. 

   
I did not
catch the
Raven
with the
paint brush
under his
wing, but
I did
catch the
artwork
on film. 



uninspired

Today was one of those days where so much filled
my mind.... but nothing came out. 
Therefore the photo today was more about my mood
than about what inspired me .

Tiniest Snowman

I was just walking along....and there he was. 

Twigs outstretched as if he wanted a hug.   

He stood no bigger than the length of my hand. 

First one, last one and the most.

Day 23.

Being that it was above 0 today.....I accepted an invitation to go ice fishing just down the street from our home.  We had to dig a few holes and be patient, but it paid off. 

In 3 hours I caught the first fish .....the last fish....and the most fish.  Six in total, but I only kept 3.  One of which is in the picture below.  We will, of course, be eating fresh Rainbow Trout for dinner.

Leon, my co-worker, his fishing rod broke.  So he used a coffee cup, and ended up with the biggest catch.

Here they are ready for cooking....yum yum.

before,during and after

Day 22

This is the view from my front porch at the beginning of the day.

This is the view at the end of the day,,,,,

And this is what we did in between.

The strength to survive

Day 21

I found this little tree peeking out beside Brad's snowshoes. 

This harsh climate still supports the smallest of life to survive it's wrath. 

Do you know what happened?

Day 20

This is what happens when...........? Any quesses?



Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous

Day 19

Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous

Yukon: A territory in Northern Canada, north of British Columbia and east of Alaska.  It is home to the famous Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890's.

Sourdough: A veteran inhabitant of Canada’s Yukon Territory.  Someone who has braved the entire winter and stayed from 'freeze up' to 'thaw' of the Yukon River.  (That does not describe me yet...I am considered a Chechako which is a tenderfoot, greenhorn or new comer)

Rendezvous: A meeting at an appointed place and time.

Put them together and you have the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Festival, which is apparently "the only true, legal, and healthy cure for Cabin Fever."  The Festival is going to be held on February 24-27, here in Whitehorse.

The overall theme of the festival is set in the 1890's and not only celebrates the Klondike Gold Rush, but all things Yukon. 

This photograph is on an historic building that has been relocated and restored and now sits at Shipyard's Park, where some of the festivities will take place.

A History Lesson

Day 18....The White Pass Railroad.

This train station is a Whitehorse Landmark located at the end of Mainstreet.   The 110 mile White Pass&Yukon Route Railroad was completed on July 29, 1900 in Carcross Yukon connecting the deep water port of Skagway Alaska to Whitehorse Yukon. The train route from Skagway follows what was originally a foot path known as White Pass which was one of 2 routes that gold seekers used in the early 1900's to reach Dawson City and other parts of the Yukon during the Gold Rush era. 

The WP&YR climbs almost 3000 feet in just 20 miles and features steep grades of up to 3.9%, cliff-hanging turns of 16 degrees, two tunnels and numerous bridges and trestles. The steel cantilever bridge was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was constructed in 1901.

Today, the WP&YR is Alaska's most popular shore excursion carrying over 450,000 passengers during the May to September tourism season operating on the first 67.5 miles. 

The train does not reach all the way into the Whitehorse anymore but it does offer a ride all the way into Carcross, Yukon. 

It is an amazing train ride that I have had the pleasure of going on twice already. 

Take 1, Take 2

Day 17


Main Street -- Hougan Centre  8:30 am

Main Street -- Hougan Centre  12:30 p.m.

Just another walk in the cold

Day 16

Brad and took the opportunity to get some fresh air ....since the weather warmed up to -28.  We took a walk along the trails out behind our home, camera packed. 

Cold but sunny!

Day 15 and it was another brisk day. 

I dressed warm and went down to the river front to take some shots.

Here are some of my favourites.

You just can't go wrong with snow and sunshine.

I am going to try and get a picture of some Sundogs so keep watching for that.

Blowing Bubbles

Day 14 and it was -39*

Today we decided to do an science experiment.  We went outside and blew bubbles in the extreme cold.






When we blew them and they burst they did not just turn into water droplets.  They burst into tissue like paper or ash that floats up from a fire.  It was amazing.  The bubbles that were complete quickly floated up but once they froze, and got heavier, they started to drop and lose their shape.  Here are some photos that show what happened. 

 

You can guarantee that I will be trying this again.  Tomorrow perhaps.

Tooooo Cold!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 13.....and today was a day not to be outside.  It was the coldest day yet, -34.  I braved the elements and took a few shots to show my perseverence.   These are pictures along the walkway that 

winds its way along the Yukon River.   

I paid for it about 10 minutes later when I could no longer feel my finger tips and the warmth of the indoors was just making them ache and burn.  Just so you know.....I will not be doing that tomorrow when it is expected to be even colder.

I did get to see a Sundog today which was quite amazing.  It is basically a rainbow created by the sun shining through the ice fog.  The ice fog sunset was spectacular too.  Hues of pale pink and blue hanging over the snow capped mountians.  A picture would just not justify the view. 

The SS Klondike

Day 12.  I went out for a walk in the brisk cold, but gloriously sunny afternoon...to take these shots.  This is a picture of the SS Klondike which is an old sternwheeler that travelled the upper Yukon River between Whitehorse and Dawson City for the first half of the Twenntieth Century.   Originally it was built in 1929, but sank in 1936, was rebuilt and launched in the spring of 1937. Located on the banks of the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon and restored to her original 1937-40 appearance, the S.S. Klondike pays tribute to an era of riverboat transportation and the inland water transportation system that linked the Yukon to the outside world before the building of roads.

Steam boating on the Yukon River began in 1886. After the discovery of gold in the Klondike, many more stern wheelers began to travel the river. These boats carried passengers and supplies to and from Dawson during the months when the river was not frozen. They were fueled by wood, burning up to two cords an hour. This meant stopping about every 30 miles to get more wood at the wood camps.

The next shot is of the Yukon River upon which the Klondike is beached.  The Klondike is behind me in this picture.

The Bird

Day 11

This is...."the Bird".  Her real name is Kaya.  But somedays that just does not suit her.  She is one of the quirkiest cats I know.  We got her from the SPCA about 4 years ago and we just kept her given name.  But as we got to know her nick name became "Koo Koo Bird"  (now I just call her "Bird" for short) because sometimes she is nuts.   I call them psychotic episodes.  She is known for jumping straight in the air.  I have caught her running down the hallway sideways with her back end running along side her head.  Sometimes she will sitting quietly on the floor and then in a flash is tearing down the hall, nails out trying to grip the laminate floor, all the while sliding and behaving as if she has been spooked.  She is very smart and will sit for a treat and has about 5-6 different sounds to let you know her mood or her desire. 

She refused to open her eyes for any of the pictures which is a shame because she has very pretty blue eyes. 

Lit' er up

Day 10 and I have to say I think I am starting to enjoy this a little.  I am being more critical of my shots, taking chances, and even having some fun.   Yesterday, after a great day taking pictures, one of the lenses to my camera actually broke.   It has loosened up inside and has come off track, so now I need to send it to the manufacturer for repairs.  Fortunately I have another lense to use for the time being.  So there is no stopping me. 

I probably should have tried some outside shots today.  It snowed all day and at times there were big fluffy flakes making it very beautiful.  But.....this is what got me excited tonight.  It could be better...but I am quite proud nonetheless

Yukon Wildlife Preserve

Day 9 and there was not shortage of things to photograph.  Brad and I went the Yukon Wildlife Preserve and took the 5 km walk to see the animals.  We saw Moose, Elk, Caribou, Muskox, Bison, Mule Deer, Mountain Goats, Big Horn Sheep, Lynx and Artic Fox.  Here are a few of the highlights.