May 26, 2025
With Whitehorse in the rear view mirror, I set my sights on a potential overnight camp along the road somewhere … by 6:30 or 7:00 PM. The temperatures haven’t been much above 50º with variable winds. Today’s winds stiffened during the second half of the ride, but showers were isolated to the mountains on either side of the highway.
Speaking of the AlCan, it’s not the same highway Kathy and I traveled in 1987. For the sake of simplicity, there are three generations of highway. The first was the original, built during WWII to support the war effort. The second generation rebuilding took place in the 60’s when it was straightened and widened. In the 2000’s the “superhighway” was built and that highway’s shoulders are what I’m following now.
Not only has the complexion of the highway changed, but so has the landscape. About 20 miles outside of Whitehorse, in the Takhini River Valley, there are large pasture lands for horses and cattle. The Yukon government now has an Agriculture Branch to support “… agriculture industry through land development, expertise, and research information, extension services and funding programs.” Wow! I had no idea. If you like, sign up for the Yukon Master Gardeners Course through Yukon College. Most of the ag sales are direct sales.
Gone now are the lodgepole pines that made up such a large part of the forest canopy, replaced by balsam poplar and birch. When conifers mix, it’s usually white spruce. The spring green is starting to spread in all directions and makes for a nice contrast to the mountains with their mantle of snow and ice.
Since the wind was zapping my strength and camping in the woods was on tap, I decided to stop and eat before going on another 10 miles. I don’t like to eat where I camp, so I had a quick pasta pesto and chicken dehydrated meal, drank hot chocolate, and continued on to the Champagne road (second generation AlCan) turn off where I found a nice sphagnum moss-covered forest floor on which to pitch my tent and sleep.
I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend my birthday and birthday weekend.
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Today's ride: 55 miles (89 km)
Total: 1,263 miles (2,033 km)
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2 weeks ago