Canada/Alaska 2019-11: Yukon Southern Lakes District
From Carcross, we took the Tagish Road to Jakes Corner then turned south into the Yukon Southern Lakes District. The road parallels Little Atlin Lake, "little" in comparison to Atlin Lake.
If a campground is named Snafu, you have to investigate it! Snafu is of course an erudite military term meaning "situation-normal-all-fowled (or something on that order)-up."
Named by workers on the Alaska Highway in 1942, it does not warrant its name! It's gorgeous, so we stayed. For $12 Canadian, we hada lake view, eagle diving for fish, and a gentle breeze.
We had our own path down the slope to the lake, where I swam. I loved swimming in the lakes--so refreshing!
A little rain brought a rainbow.... Life is good but where are our kayaks?
We left our usual tablecloth on the table, paid our fee, and headed to Atlin. Just south of Snafu Lake lies Tarfu Lake--"totally and royally fowled up"--also named by the Alaska Highway Army construction crew. The lake being 10 km off the main road, we did not investigate.
It was another beautiful drive...
...or for some flight in a float plane.Every town seems to have its annual music festival--Atlin's was the previous week.
Remember Duchess, the little engine in Carcross? Well Atlin was the destination of her passengers, who arrived across Atlin Lake on the Tarahne.
Every town seems to have its annual music festival--Atlin's was the previous week.
Speaking of music....
We drove about 15 km south of Atlin to see Lleweyn Glacier--just to the right of center--which wasn't very visible in the haze. It extends from Atlin Lake to Juneau, 458 sq km (177 sq mi) though like many glaciers, it is steadily shrinking.
The van is the blue dot in the clearing lakeside.
Looking around, six years after being paralyzed, I just thought, "Wow, I get to do and see this!"
We returned to Jakes Corner and the Alaska Highway. In Teslin, we stopped at the Yukon RV Park on Teslin Lake. Fortunately it had a laundromat, for it poured during the night and leaked through the rear doors,soaking our pillows and sheets, though fortunately not the sleeping bag or comforters.
The George Johnston Museum in Teslin was one of the best museums we've visited. Johnston was a Tlingit who taught himself photography and imported a car to Teslin, despite there being no roads. He encouraged his friends to help him build a short road and charged folks for a ride. In winter he painted his black car white and drove it onto the frozen lake to fish. In summer, he repainted it.
First Nations people use buttons to decorate blankets and clothing.
Button blankets display clan and family history.
This strip was practice for a button blanket.
Each woman had her own signature embroidery style and made special clothing for her family for potlaches and other ceremonial occasions.
An"octopus" bag was worn by women for potlaches--held to honor the dead and strengthen ties between the Wolf and Crow moieties.
Raven Rattle for festive occasions. It was held upsidedown so the raven could not fly away. The design on its breast is a hawk. It holds the sun in its beak. This one was made by Keith Wolfe Smarch, Master Carver who was consulting on the canoe we saw being carved in Carcross.
A wooden display book of watercolors of local wildlife by Catherine Deer painted exquisite watercolors of local wildlife that was displayed in a wooden book. I would have bought prints if they had been available. Slow-moving porcupines are easy to catch and some find the meat tasty. Their quills are used to decorate clothing, footwear, and crafts.
From Teslin, we would begin our trek southward.
A little rain brought a rainbow.... Life is good but where are our kayaks?
We left our usual tablecloth on the table, paid our fee, and headed to Atlin. Just south of Snafu Lake lies Tarfu Lake--"totally and royally fowled up"--also named by the Alaska Highway Army construction crew. The lake being 10 km off the main road, we did not investigate.
It was another beautiful drive...
...or for some flight in a float plane.Every town seems to have its annual music festival--Atlin's was the previous week.
Remember Duchess, the little engine in Carcross? Well Atlin was the destination of her passengers, who arrived across Atlin Lake on the Tarahne.
Every town seems to have its annual music festival--Atlin's was the previous week.
Speaking of music....
We drove about 15 km south of Atlin to see Lleweyn Glacier--just to the right of center--which wasn't very visible in the haze. It extends from Atlin Lake to Juneau, 458 sq km (177 sq mi) though like many glaciers, it is steadily shrinking.
Before leaving the next morning, we walked up the steep hill behind the campground.
Looking around, six years after being paralyzed, I just thought, "Wow, I get to do and see this!"
We returned to Jakes Corner and the Alaska Highway. In Teslin, we stopped at the Yukon RV Park on Teslin Lake. Fortunately it had a laundromat, for it poured during the night and leaked through the rear doors,soaking our pillows and sheets, though fortunately not the sleeping bag or comforters.
The George Johnston Museum in Teslin was one of the best museums we've visited. Johnston was a Tlingit who taught himself photography and imported a car to Teslin, despite there being no roads. He encouraged his friends to help him build a short road and charged folks for a ride. In winter he painted his black car white and drove it onto the frozen lake to fish. In summer, he repainted it.
First Nations people use buttons to decorate blankets and clothing.
Button blankets display clan and family history.
This strip was practice for a button blanket.
Each woman had her own signature embroidery style and made special clothing for her family for potlaches and other ceremonial occasions.
An"octopus" bag was worn by women for potlaches--held to honor the dead and strengthen ties between the Wolf and Crow moieties.
Raven Rattle for festive occasions. It was held upsidedown so the raven could not fly away. The design on its breast is a hawk. It holds the sun in its beak. This one was made by Keith Wolfe Smarch, Master Carver who was consulting on the canoe we saw being carved in Carcross.
A wooden display book of watercolors of local wildlife by Catherine Deer painted exquisite watercolors of local wildlife that was displayed in a wooden book. I would have bought prints if they had been available. Slow-moving porcupines are easy to catch and some find the meat tasty. Their quills are used to decorate clothing, footwear, and crafts.
From Teslin, we would begin our trek southward.
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