Breaking Trail: Atlin to Dawson
When we are not roasting coffee at Atlin Mountain Coffee Roasters, you’ll find us in the backcountry on some kind of adventure.
Snowmobiling
It’s The End Of The Trail
Spring has arrived in the Yukon, and with that comes the last days of snowmobiling season. And what a good season it was!
Safe Riders
Snowmobiling is a fun and safe activity for the whole family, and riders like you can help us keep it that way.
How’s your etiquette?
Yes, as much as you don’t want to, you really should mind your table manners. However, there’s more to life than just the dinner table…
A Northern Wilderness Escape
Imagine your own cabin, far in the wilderness, steps away from a beautiful lake and spectacular mountain vistas.
So, You Need A Snowmobile
Two- or four-stroke? Long- or short-track? Utility or crossover? Snowmobile shopping can be overwhelming for a beginner…
Breaking Trail
The new moon brought winter, including swans and more ducks taking a rest on our little lake. We will soon be breaking Trail.
Three voices on the love of snowmobiling
Notes from ‘Sled Head Lane’ Three voices on the love of snowmobiling “You need to have an intimate relationship with your snow machine.”
Snowmobile survival gear
A little planning and preparation can save your day in many situations. The winter bison hunts and Dempster Highway caribou hunts are true examples of the extremes in planning and preparation when it comes to snowmobile travel. Some operators, who realize that bad things can happen, carry survival equipment. Others take off without so much …
Snowmobile ice travel
Larry Leigh has some tips to stay safe when venturing out onto ice on your snowmobile
The last great road race
The 50th running of the Alcan 200 International Snow Machine Road Rally takes place on the third weekend in January, attracting snow-machine enthusiasts from Alaska, the Yukon and northern B.C.
Yukon spring sledding
As those cold, dark winter days start to fade like a bad memory, Yukoners emerge and many will dust off their snow machines, or sleds, in preparation for popular spring sledding.
Trek Over the Top Turns 25 this Year
The 25th annual Trek Over the Top snowmobile race will arrive in Dawson City on March 8 and return to its starting point in Tok, Alaska, on March 11. The event has been organized on the Dawson end by the Klondike Visitors Association (KVA) for the last seven years, and this is the second year …
The magic of darkness
The weekend of January 26, 27 and 28 will see the Klondike Snowmobile Association journeying out on a group ride to Mount McIntyre and Fish Lake area to observe the night sky. The idea for the Aurora ride was hatched by James Connor, director at the Klondike Snowmobile Association, who also works at Air North. …
He is a steward of the trails
To begin to understand Mark Daniels, you must first discard the stereotypes of a snowmobile owner. Yes, the president of the Klondike Snowmobile Association (KSA) owns snowmobiles – and ATVs and dirtbikes and quads and boats – but these are mostly used to get to far-off wilderness areas so that he can hike and camp …
The Trekkers Will Soon be Here
The Trekkers are coming again, and this year’s Trek Over the Top from Tok Alaska to Dawson City, will have a substantial increase in numbers over the last two years. Paul Robitaille, marketing and events manager with the Klondike Visitors Association (KVA), reports that the Tok Chamber of Commerce has taken over the promotion and …
Heading Out? Check it Out!
For many Yukoners, enjoying the backcountry is an integral part of their lifestyle whether they love to ski, snow machine, snowshoe or run sled dogs. They rely on their own experiences and common sense to keep themselves safe. Some have tuned into avalanche forecasts that have been available since 2011 on the Canadian Avalanche website …
Every Revolution Begins with a Spark
The kicksled, or potkukelkka in Finnish, is part scooter, part sled. It has two long runners for self-propulsion on snow. With a wooden seat at the front, it can accommodate a backpack or two. It is widespread in Scandinavian countries, especially in Finland. “You don’t need any special equipment to kicksled, just a good pair …
The Distinctly Northern Signs of Spring
There are several distinctly northern signs of spring. As the long-winter winds down the Yukon people enter an obvious state of outfit confusion. As you drive through town you peer out to see an eclectic mix of people waiting to cross roadways: There is a man in shorts, and sandals next to a woman wearing a Canada …
Ready… Set… Snow Race!
The fastest snow machine race on earth, the 47th Alcan 200 International Snow Machine Road Rally, will roar to a start on Jan. 16 near Haines, Alaska. Drivers sign up the night before, Jan. 15, at 5:30 p.m. at the Fogcutter Bar in Haines. Spectators buy their drivers by class in a Calcutta auction, and …
An Old Crow Halloween
I looked out our window in Old Crow Halloween Day, 2014. It was -10ºC outside. Trees were shaking as the wind howled making it much colder.
A Christmas Tale Retold
Manufacturing, transportation — even writing styles — have all changed since Clement Moore’s famous ditty, A Visit from St. Nicholas, first appeared anonymously in the Troy, N.Y. Sentinel on December 23, 1823. As a public service, What’s Up Yukon is pleased to present a more contemporary version of this oft-told tale: Yo, Nick. Is that …
The Trek Will Be Coming Soon
The 21st running of the Trek Over the Top snowmobile run from Tok, Alaska, to Dawson City and back will take place from March 6 to 9. It’s a 200-mile (382 km) trip each way, over the spectacular scenery provided by the Top of the World Highway. Trekkers will ride out of Tok on Thursday, …
Set to Fly
Picture the serenity of pristine mountain scenery, contrasted by the fast action of snowmobiles launched upside down on soaring jumps. That’s exactly what Whitehorse filmmaker Blake Wildfong is capturing for his new film, Syndicate of Snow. Using a high-profile lineup of professional snowmobilers and recreating a Winter X Games environment,Wildfong plans to showcase the northern …