updated: 05.04.2010

Canada 2008

The last few days in Germany were still beautiful and sunny, not very warm. The prediction in Yukon does not look so pleasant.

To Dawson City we are now for the fourth time. In those days, we will be here in the far north of Canada, celebrating our 10 wedding. Even as we saw for the first time, we were thrilled by this building, the Downtown Hotel. Here is our room for this special day reserved.



11.9.08
The flight went well has been pleasant. The transfer to the hotel goes quickly.
In Whitehorse we go to the Yukon and look forward to something. I send few e-mails home to say that everything went well. At 6 pm local time the day is to the end. At 2 am the night is ending for. The jet lag keeps us awake and suffer.
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12.9.08
The day is get sunny. In the morning there are 2 ° C and frozen covered cars passing by. We've breakfast at the hotel and I still have a few e-mails.
At 9 am, we call on when we can takeover vehicle is retrieved. At 9:30 clock, we were picked up and get our pickup with 51537 km.
A hot device. The Ford F-350 Super Duty Double Cab has an eight-cylinder Power Stroke diesel. The 6 liters engine capacity of 325 "horsepower" (242 kW, 330 hp) powering by the 5-speed automatic gearbox on the road. To get towards more comfortable. .
Shopping was a little bit chaotic, but necessary. I'm not really here and the car is alien to me. Then, we are then going north. . Up here in Yukon is already full of autumn. The birches are already yellow and it's cool outside. On this day we came to Pelly Crossing. There is located a neglected-looking Campground of the First Nation. The place is not like us but he has a beautiful location, here we are and here we remain.
Today Kilometers 51863 km.
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13.9.08
At Morning 4 am, we are stand up - too cold. Inside it is 8 degrees C, and outside it is 6 degrees C cold. During dry weather we drive quickly through the Tintina Trench to the Klondike River Lodge. This area is already known to us, here we were some times before.Fill up at 52079 km. The daily count I have set to 0, Now we are on the Dempster Highway. It is partly cloudy and until we have had over the truck was not sure that we been here today. Warning signs there is no emergency medical assistance, and to individual stations. . At Tombstone Mountain Dorothea takes many pictures of the magnificent landscape. At km 73, just above the Tombstone Montain Campground we make a break and a couple very good pictures. During the start towards Northfork Pass, it started to rain, the road is initially still dry - up to km 194, the road black and wet - it is started to snow. The Campground at Engineer Creek was probably tarred some times, now he is muddy and black, as the car. . The weather at night: Snow at 7 ° C. According to a few Englishmen with whom I talked is already Snow south of Eagle Plains. Sooner, at dinner, are coming to the Dutch alongside, an another pickup diagonally across the square. The new one are Germans also. Now we are tree Europeans in party. Booth throw at the rear of the vehicle with long sticks. My idea: they have a running flat tire. We have more fortune that we have spared them so far . Eventually they came across. It is still snowing, it's cold and the two were already busy for a while. Questions German or English, and whether our help because they said could get. I say that I coming soon. I still want to drink my coffee and dress a jacket that can be cleaned easily. Everything is black right here. Both her, if you read this then keep in touch.
When I come over, I see that the pickup is already jacked up, even the nuts are all gone - perfect, but the wheel does not to dismantle. To bang effected nothing, the tire is flat. . For the large 18 "wheels you need a hub puller. We take a lashing strap, wrap him several times through the rim and levers with a thick branch from the large hub. There is really cold and the snow remains on the leaves. I don't hope that we get the same problem. We also have these big 275th wheels.
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14.9.08
Start to Eagle Plains. The ride is worse than yesterday. . We are 120 km from Eagle Plains and shortly before the "point of no return", to the gas station up there would be enough diesel, but not more. It is still snowing. We come in to the "Vuntut Gwitchin Settlement Lands" the snow is now closed, it's going uphill and there comes a Sign that the chains should be put on. We are started shortly after the dawn and it is only one vehicle in front of us. We see that at the thin trail in the snow. There were also routes without potholes, but often I drive on the left, or crosswise. I need full concentration and its straining. I do some brake tests and come to the conclusion: We turn now.
I come up there, no problem, but I don't know how it looks behind the mountain and whether I have no problems come down again. Return to continue to Dawson City. Snowfall -2°C. Actually, the first snow should be in Eagle Plains. . Accordingly it snowed heavily overnight. Even at our last campsite is still snowing, but there is not remaining.
The route back is wet and the snow goes on rain. Until we are back on the Klondike Highway the sun is back again. We are happy when we see the bridge. At the gas station to wash our truck and fill up. The tank was almost empty.
The trip to Dawson City is more comfortable. There we go shopping and go to a RV Park outside the city. Here we have electricity, cleaning our holding tanks and get fresh water. Then we get what to eat.
From 22:30 clock it rains again.


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15.9.08










Only at 8:00 clock, we are awake . It is cool and it's raining. Yesterday evening arrived the Dutchman, which we know of Engineer Campground, also here. He stands behind us. Around the same time, we starts our cars and drive off to the dumping station. The water tanks are full. The city is nebulous. At the Visitor's Information we parked the car and call to Elizabeth. At the Info for the Dempster Highway, we ask again about the current weather and go to warm up and look into the info from Dawson. Here are more German that just inquire to the campground in Eagle. We know they are still from the airplane. I get big ears, because we want go to Eagle also. We hope that is suny on the "Top Of The Word Highway. It become sunny, and we will soon take a breake to get some food. Some stops we use to take a couple of pictures.
On the border into Boundery / Poker Creek we have the usual formalities in order to be in "Mr. Bush's Land". We are here at the northernmost checkpoint and at the loneliest border post in North America. Einige Formulare ausfüllen, Some forms, fingerprint index left and index right, and smile for a picture. On the gas station, a few kilometers further, we ask for diesel. Otherwise it will be too little if we go to Eagle. In Alaska, it is not self-evident to get Diesel on filling stations. Immediately he offers a coffee. I've forgotten his name, and call him Jim. Sometimes later, we sit in an interview outside in the sun – it's Jim's birthday . Everywhere is loud music and soon I have a single malt whiskey in my coffee. Bad thing in Alaska. The dog joining us and Jim show his cat. About an hour stay, we filled up 11 gallons of diesel. I paid U.S. $ 60 and a pack of 30s Magnum (German Smoke). He had acute shortage of cigarettes. The cup of coffee with whiskey, I had already swapped with Dorothea otherwise I would have rounded feet. We start with the coffee in the cab, bad thing in ..... Slightly away from the gas station, we put it in the fridge. There is a good single malt in it.
Der Taylor Highway to Eagle is in good condition and gravelled. Only the steep gorges are violently. Accordingly long is the journey for 65 miles to Eagle. The weather is good up to a heavy rain.
The campground in Eagle is located near the cemetery and the airfield. There are a few restored buildings of Fort Egbert. We throw on the grill for a few sausages and potatoes. It's cold outside.
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16.9.08
The night was cold with 2 ° C and the woods is wet. . The other two German's gas is expected and they are already gone. The heater is runing the whole night and we sip our coffee. After that a short look around the car and still few pictures to remember. In this place the dog is buried, it looks closed, I take some pictures, the Yukon is deep and powerful in the river bed, and we go again.
I have a scratch in the throat. A cold announcing itself.

After 20 kilometers I know suddenly no longer where we are.The Navi I had not switched on it know here obviously not enough. It shows that we often 50 meters beside the road. Now I put it on again. In the town I would have to turn once. Soon we are back on the Taylor Highway. 100 km narrow streets, rockfall hazard and deep gorges, but still a magnificent landscape. I had an anathema to the hairpin because there is the only single track road, as everywhere else on a large part of the route. Some curves have alternate places where^goes down up to 100 meters deep to the bottom. The curves are so closely that I only see oncoming traffic when he stands before, in part, I can road overlook up to 5 km. With fortune, we have the oncoming traffic only to clear places.
After turning on the Top of the World Highway (Rich Way) is the better route, but the road .... With the small pickup, it is better here than go with a big motor home, here I can't hear how are committing suicide together chattels therein the porcelain. . The route until chicken seems to me a very long time. The burning in the throat is stronger. So violently that I have not yet experienced.
The old Cafe in Chicken is already closed, as well as the souvenir shop, but there is a campsite with a cafe, here we get good food and also a place for the night with electricity. The Spot costs only $ 10. The generator is turned off at eight a clock, we get told. By nine clock, he still runs. The cold has caught me completely. The night is bad.
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17.9.08
As expected, I had a night with little sleep. I am going to the toilet we get wet feet. In the ceiling of the shower is a perspex dom in which the air over night condensed and seeped on the floor. Outside there is only 4 ° C warm. By 4 clock Alaska time I am stand up and cook coffee, by 6 clock is slow bright. Hopefully it will be turned on the generator soon again, the battery is no longer in service. We drive on this day back to Dawson City and spare us.
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18.9.08
The day we leave slow approach. Today is our personal holiday - we have reason to celebrate. First we go to the Dom, the mountain above Dawson, to the campsite on the other side of the Yukon, and then to the Downtown Hotel. Against 1 clock are at lunch. Then shopping. This strenuous activity lasts until evening. To 1. Show we stay at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gamblinghall. . The entrance was on this day in vain, as well as free. In vain, because we do have achieved not profit on this day. The show was good and entertaining. One of the ladies left on my forehead 2 large love bite, to the amusement of all, but they all came to the series, so many audience are not here today. Dorothea could sing along – live. 24 $ gamble away and a some whiskey-Cola. The slot machines have to keep everything. Easy like Angel we hover after the 2nd Show to the hotel l. All in all, a beautiful day. The room is still cold at night.
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19.9.08
It was the first night in which I been not cold. The cough has strengthened tortured myself. Morning, we take first made a coffee for eyopener. The two pancakes with blueberries are not to tackle. After breakfast we write still six postcards. After check out the bagage into the car, another attempt to call Elisabeth and get souvenirs in our hotel. Then we were ready for departure. The tank is still full. We inspected the Campground on airport side. He has more pitches, is probably not as quickly overrun, but the Yukon is the most beautiful and meanwhile even bigger. By the way, we stop last time at the gas station on Dempster Highway and get souvenirs also. The idea to go to Keno is not fixed yet, but I've already programmed it in the Navi. It is probably become warmer.
As far it is, the weather is good, we drive toward Mayo, the road is great and the scenery beautiful. Resting on a space we meet two German, they came with the same plane, but they flown up to Fairbanks and started in Alaska. Already in Dawson, we saw them. They report that Mayo is not so attractive. In its store, I get bread and looking for tea. The shop is a tin shack as a car repair shop. Here I would without sign never voluntarily gone. The road to Keno is slightly worse, but they are good, only from Elsa is bad but not as long. In Keno we drive on the local Campground. Here are just two Swiss, who have until spring to stay here in America. At night, when I go smoke, I sat on the roof of the pickup, a Bear, I would only see when he stands before me. The night is cool with 3 ° C. I hope to see the Aurora Borealis.
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20.9.08
Aurora was not last night, but the coughing and snot because of the damp moist bed. I've been here worse slept. By one at night comes the rain. From one to three, we are awake and I eat something. Dorothea says that the toilet is clogged again. utside it's cold at 2 ° C. When I get up morning at 9:00 clock,I first take x out and make a small tree to tool, to repaired the toilet. That part has about 1.2 meters long and 6cm thick. It works with the shit-house.
After the coffee we go to the museum. There is nobody, so was the night for free. Here is the campsite paid - or not. I get told to drive to the Signpost would be worthwhile, so we get on the path there are only 11 km on the "street" continues. We would called this Path. I have four wheel drive. It is still raining as buckets, and goes steeply up the hill. In the valley we see a mine. After a few kilometers jolting the leaves turn white, and soon it rains no more. Once it is suddenly cold and it snows. We are high in the mountains. Passing it on a warped rack, knows the vultures for what the times were. A kilometer and a few more curves, I can't no longer continue with my truck. Once again the snow. Although I have winter tires on it, but without the profile directed from nothing. Put on the all-wheel drive and turn over on snowy slush. Up here on the mountains, it is too dangerous to make experiments, the next which could find us, comes perhaps in the spring. We don't see the Signpost, there is also strong fog.
We drive few kilometers back to see whether someone is in the museum now. It is still closed, the woman has the key is just at lunch and comes back at 13:30 clock. O.k, that's it. We wait no longer and go through Elsa back to Mayo in order to refuel. One thing is sure. In Mayo at the gas station will be told that there are no diesel!
Get out in "low level flight" towards Steward Crossing (Steward Xing). Here we get the full tank of petrol costs only $ 1,559On the opposite car park, the sun is shining now, do we have a meal break. Diesel was initially more important, now we are off before we continue the far trip. After many kilometers we attain Five Finger Rapids. The cab of the truck is nice and warm by the sun and so we decide to grow on the long white staircase down into the forest, there are over 240 steps. Down is so simple. But, we make nice pictures down there. Throughout the trip we had the hood open on the bed and turned on the ventilation. The moisture is essential to get out of bed. The staircase is high above the forest beyond, so you can see it from below. I am not currently fit, I can see that now, the cold still plagues me violently. I fight myself up the stairs and even read the signs on the stairs!
As we are recovering something we continue to be our day goal Carmaks. Here, at the bottom of the Yukon, we refer to the favorable camping, go shopping and do cooking for dinner. The sun goes away and it is now cold. We have electricity, fresh water and sewage. Sometimes the need to be showers, or it will be easier if you do not need to make sure that one tank is not empty and / or the other tank does not fill up. At 23:00 clock its the days end.
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21.9.08
The heating powers the whole night to 73 ° F (22.8 ° C), the thermometer on the table shows 19 ° C and outside the windows are frozen. There are -4 ° C outside and we get probably sun. I already have make coffee, Dorothea still asleep. It is half past eight and I'm already awake for two hours. I go out after my first coffee for a smoke and take few pictures of the Morning mood . There is a slight wind, but piercing cold. I strike a cigarette and pull my jacket over a thick sweater together in order to close. I go down to the Yukon. Under the bridge of the Klondike Highway is thick fog, the sun shines on it and the last orange birch leaves shine in the sun. I will not get rid of the feeling that the cold behind us comes forth. I go back to the truck, Dorothea still asleep. From boredom do I start to the dishes. When I'm almost done Dorothea is awake - hhaaa. After a joint coffee, the first trip to the store. There are 200 meters. It takes a few calls to to get Elizabeth to the phone. „I do not turn if I do not see the number". I could jump out of the shirt. I'll give it further to Doro. At that moment someone comes straight to me, I'm confused, who knows me here? He pulls the hat up protrudes his hand contrary - I need to know - "Hi, I'm Chris," I know him, jo. There is Chris von K...., he helped me in Whitehorse in an unfortunate situation. He reported that he and two friends for 5 days go to Faro leaves into the mountains, moose hunting. On the trailer behind his shiny truck, he has his off-road vehicle with a fully equipped trailer. I am pleased to see him.
With a few stops we drive through Whitehorse to Carcross. Here is buried the dog, it's nothing more exhilarating, except for the Visitor's Info is everything closed. After refueling, we follow the road to Skagway / AK. The area is super, it is incredible that people came over 100 years ago through these mountains by foot over the White Pass from Skagway into the Yukon. We cross the 60° latitude south and coming to British Columbia. The road leads on steep slopes through the mountains, and the signs have repeatedly shown the "Avalange Erea's" not to stop. If something up there comes down, you are just flat! Shortly before White Pass is suitable parking place. From there is to see the border crossing to Alaska also. We'll go no further, because in the land of the blue flag its raining. Only a short break to make Picture, it is cold and wet, and we are back on track. I have expects here a campsite on the Canadian side.
We go back and pass to the Yukon Suspension Bridge ". A beautiful place and a beautiful suspension bridge, but with over $ 18 too expensive - and closed. On a long while, I see from afar is a little dark. This is not a sign I guess and say 'this is certainly a moose". When we are closer, we see that there is a female moose. I remain due to distance. Dorothea is a little nervous, and when the camera is on, the animal had already disappeared in the thicket. Back in Carcross we drive on the Campground at the aerodrome. The place I do not like, but that is in many cases today the case. It is a little bit late also. On the bed we put big bath towels. We do not need it, because in the car we had some towels also. It works – night is something pleasant.
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22.9.08
Half past six, I puked almost because of cough , therefore I am stand up and cook water for coffee. First out on the little glade behind the car and get a smoke. I was on this day awake early, but I asleep the hole night. The battery is empty again. The gas sensor showed no operation and the fan heating made the only quietly sounds. Dorothea is awake and first times I leave the engine running to the battery something to revive. We need the heater and the water pump. We still need to wash the dishes. We are after the start rather quickly on the Tagish Road. When you comes from the south is the junction between the airport and the desert. Until Tagish we are crept 70 - 80 km / h, to participate in local bridge something to admire. We have time and the Alaska Highway, it is not far. We are from the Alaska Highway drove further south. Behind the border to British Columbia, again the 60th Latitude, it starts to rain and it is also not much going on. The Navi said at Smart River N59° 55' 47" W 131°44' 27" when we turned. In Johnson's Crossing, we find our place for the night. Only we get electricity. Water is already off, because there always heavy frost can give. Our tachometer indicates that day 54579 km. Here we were even with Julia before 9 years. Fuel, water and car dumping is done quickly. We want to go to cafe take cookies and coffee. That's good. Dorothea makes the food. Then we go out walk and take some pictures. We have the bridge viewed from below. It is already cold. Clock at 23:30, we are ready to cuddle in bed, only the pillow, and sleep. Suddenly tires screech, followed by a bang. Then it was quiet. I ask, Dorothea, it also listened. For a moment, we are very quiet, but both hear nothing. I look through the window - nothing. I did not keep cool, you must jump into the clothes and look for. In thick jackets and head-lamp we go out. At the motel, a woman stood and cried for help, knocked on the door. I called them loud and asks whether they have a problem. „yes, I have an exident, my car bang the Brigde, I can't move it" we went toward street, she continued „my phone has no Service, I'm from Oregon, on the staates. I need payphone" she was dissolved and confused. We went to the phone together on the square. I dial 911 and said she should even speak, English is not my mother language. She said "911 has no service, what should I do" dLast chance is to call the operator on 0. She gets connection. It is very cold. Her buddy is still in the car, but nobody is hurt, which I hear from the conversation. They thanked several times during they are trying to get Police. As the 1st Freightliner from Whitehorse down the hill towards the bridge goes, it will panic. I go toward road to reach the truck but no more. On the road, I see that even a large truck stands from the south side of the bridge . Of this, she had said nothing, so someone was already by the car and the accident had secured. Dorothea comes behind me, and we go on the bridge. Whether the booth know what high the bridge is? The woman comes shortly after us on the bridge and says that the police is coming. It must, the two are foreigners also. There are still some cars over, we'll get back to truck driver from the vehicle in which the two now sit and go back to our car. It is cold, -1 ° C. Somewhat later, after the first coffee, we are back to the street, the truck is just driven and the police are on the bridge - Ok. Well done. Until we are in bed clock is 2 am
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23.9.08
I've Slept until half past seven. Because I am coughing leaving the bed immediately, it's snowing outside, we go after the coffee to the store for breakfast. The snow does not lie. We drive over the bridge back to Canols Road. It is an old road which was built for construction of the Canol pipeline . She goes from Johnsons Crossing to Norman Wels and was built in the 40th of the last century. It is still one of those streets on which it is interesting what kind of weather is, the camera should be within reach, and when you arrive. On the first 270 Kilometers, there is no service. After 39 kilometers we turn around and drive back. We lack the time, unfortunately. Pause at the top of the photo Canols Road and pause at the rusty buckets with which the road was built here. I will be asked whether the trail lets go well today, as I said ....

then it continues to Whitehorse. Lunch break, we do just north of Atlin and trying to find a Carwash. 22 km before Whitehorse we reach the Caribou Campground. At office is a sign "I'm back at 6" in German also. Carwash is closed. We drive through Whitehorse to be found one

Opposite the airport, we will find a carwash. We listen "This is the worst summer since 64". After washing, we go back to Campground and occupy a spot. We wander about the place and see that the Wolfs Den Restaurant has opened. We are in and also had hunger. A good flair, unusual for here, we received. Dorothea had a Bratwurst and I Godon Bleu. Just the right one. Grasping the evening we make the car clean, it's our last night in the car. Even today, it was not always properly warm, -3° C - 6° C.
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24.9.08
Get our Coffee, a few breads, cheeses and egg sausage pack, say goodbye and then we are gone. First refuel and collect stamps then car competence return. Everything has well done at 11:30 when we sit in the hotel. Here it is warm and we have just eaten something. We were several times out there, shopping, drinking coffee and walk on the Yukon.. The last evening at the Yukon has arrived. Sleeping in a cold bed has finally.


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... Ende

Traveling km	3316	Required diesel:	782 Liter
Costs for Diesel;	1167$CAN	Diesel price / liter:	1,61 $CAN
Propan;	Liter	Costs for propane:	25 $CAN
Number of images:	2112	Min Video:	14 min, 19 sec
Max. Temperatur:	14°C	Min. Temperatur:	-4°C

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