One of the first adventures Poseidon and I went on together was our road trip to the Yukon and Alaska in the spring of 2014. My friend and his dog were planning on the trip to visit some old friends in Whitehorse and Dawson City. Being 23 years old and having no serious plans for the summer I jumped at the chance to join him.

Corolla waiting for us to return from adventure

Our trip was 2 weeks long and we didn't have much planned other than a place to stay while in Whitehorse and we knew we would go to Dawson City. The drive from Canmore, AB to Whitehorse, YT, was full of mountain views and row after row of trees, the wildlife was abundant and the roads were clear of traffic. We made pit stops along the way based off of how we felt along the journey. When we were tired we stopped, when hunger embraced us we ate, and when adventure called us we explored. The road was our friend, we welcomed the lessons it taught us and the moments we grew.

It's interesting looking back on an epic journey and being able to pint point exact moments that were life lessons for you; the moments that allow you to be a better, stronger version of yourself today; these experiences we've had are small steps in creating who we are.

I met so many unique, driven, hard-working and inspiring people on this trip. To live in the Yukon, requires you to be a very strong person, not only to withstand the harsh winters, but to thrive in the vastness of the Yukon. We drove for hours through the territory and there are hundreds, thousands of kilometres of untouched land. The rawness of the land is what makes it so beautiful, and there are endless views of that beauty.

Along the drive we stopped at Laird Hot Springs to enjoy a soak in the natural pools, and check out the area. We passed Watson Lake and took in the views of the mountain backdrop right from the highway. Hundreds of Bison roamed the roads, ate grass along the ditch, rested beside the highway, or just stood there blocking the way. We saw many bears too, a few moose and a couple wolves as well. As I said, the wildlife was abundant. When we reached Whitehorse we stayed with a friend for a couple days to rest from the journey, and check out the area. My favourite activity here was hatchet throwing, it made me feel like a Yukoner. The drive to Dawson City was my initial realization of just how vast it was in the north. I was surprised my 2003 Toyota Corolla could take us as far as it did.

Views of Dawson City from the Midnight Dome

Fishing on the Klondike River in Dawson City

Dawson City provided some amazing memories; camping along the Yukon River; driving up the Midnight Dome; soaking in the evening sun; learning about the town's glory days in the gold rush; and meeting the people who lived there. From Dawson City we drove across the Top of the World Highway which is only open from May-October. We waited for the highway to open and the day it did we drove it to Chicken, AK. Smallest border crossing I've ever been through, I don't even know if they looked at our paper work. We ended up being in Alaska for a total of 4 hours that day, as we drove from Chicken down to Tok, and then back into Canada. The next part of our journey took us to some of the most beautiful views in the Yukon. Our time in Kluane National Park was not enough, although we made every moment count. I embraced the stillness of Kluane Lake as it provided a beautiful reflection of the mountainous backdrop. We journeyed on to Kathleen Lake and soaked up the views of King's Throne and the Kluane Range. Once we returned to Whitehorse we learned of a Beer Festival in Haines, AK and decided to join some friends for a weekend in Haines. The drive was 5 hours through countless mountain passes ending at an inlet of the Pacific Ocean. Camping on the edge of the ocean with a backdrop of snow covered mountains, there is nothing like it and I will never forget that view. Although we enjoyed every second the north had to offer us, we eventually had to say goodbye to our friends, new and old, and make the journey back home.

I've read that every place we travel to forever holds a piece of our heart, and our heart holds a piece of that place. These experiences and journeys we take help to shape us into who we are and teaches us lessons that allow us to grow. I have learnt that every trip I take means something at that moment in my life, and points me in a new direction to take. This trip taught me that we don't always need to plan everything, sometimes just an idea can lead us in the right direction. So be open, go with the flow sometimes, and take a chance.

Enjoying a snack on the side of the road

The Vastness of the Yukon

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