Yukon Autumn/Winter

Sophie is in her 30s and French. She studied and worked in the UK and Senegal, before moving to Canada. The time she spent in the Yukon changed her life for the best. She developed a true interest for quiet, wild spaces and a more-rural life. She is now back in France, starting a goat farm in the countryside and sharing stories from Europe!

A GLIMPSE INTO THE YUKON’S AUTUMNAL BEAUTY

PHOTOS: Sophie Andre

A farmer once told me, “There are two seasons in the Yukon — summer and winter. If you are lucky, you can ‘capture’ fall … the most-beautiful time of the year.”

Autumn does not last long and can turn quite different, from one day to the next. Expect early snow, cloudy skies, and chilly or mild temperatures … But, no matter how the weather turns out, the colours and atmosphere in the air are always magical.

The Dempster Highway

From Dawson City in the Yukon, to Inuvik in the Northwest Territories, the Dempster Highway is a 737.5-kilometre journey of wild, open spaces.

Entering the Dempster, early one morning …

On the road, the sunshine revealed the gorgeous colours of the season. We passed by the stunning Tombstone Territorial Park, where untouched nature seemed endless and there was also impressive scenery along the Grizzly Lake Trail.

The Klondike Valley

Lying around the Klondike River, in the north of the territory, this valley surrounds Dawson City.

A Lynx slipped onto the landscape on a sunny day in the Klondike Valley and the Midnight Dome offered a beautiful panorama of the surrounding nature of Dawson City.

Kluane National Park and Reserve

In the southwest of the Yukon, Kluane National Park is a vast wilderness of mountains and ice.

The majestic snow-capped mountains were a few kilometres east of Haines Junction, as we entered the park. And there is a dramatic view from King’s Throne, above Kathleen Lake. We had a fantastic day at Bullion Plateau, a 24-kilometre trail that reaches Alpine areas at the north end of the park. And we caught a glimpse of the “toe” of the Kaskawulsh Glacier.

At Kathleen Lake, on a peaceful late afternoon, over 150 bird species can be observed, and we watched as the sun was setting over the chain of mountains, casting superb purple notes.

The Robert Campbell Highway

The Robert Campbell Highway is between Watson Lake and Carmacks, in the southeastern part of the territory. We took a charming walk in the yellow painted forest, as snow was falling over the fields—with winter just around the corner.

Liard Hot Springs

We cheated a tiny bit as we headed slightly out of the Yukon. Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park is located in northern British Columbia and is one of the best-kept secrets of Yukoners, either coming in or going out of the territory. Here, spring offers water temperatures ranging from 42 to 52 degrees Celsius. The most-difficult part is removing your socks to reach the water. (Bison can be spotted on the way to Liard!)

Atlin

Finally we reach Atlin, which is located in the northwest corner of British Columbia and can be reached only from the Yukon and the end of our trip. FYI, The view over Atlin lake from Mount Monarch is a gem!

Thank you for taking this glimpse with us!

Whether you are walking, skiing, horseback riding or carpooling, we can all take the time to discover (or re-discover!) the Yukon’s fall beauty. See the entire photo essay at www.whatsupyukon.com. n

Iheard it on the Radio!

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