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Here we are! Weekend a

For the few readers of this blog, "us" mean the parents of Matthew trip to the Yukon's 12 to 21 February 2010.

From Strasbourg to Dawson

February 12:

all started with a snowstorm that swept much of Europe . Parties at an early hour drive from Strasbourg (France) to join Frankfurt (Germany), we are caught in traffic jams from across the Rhine: 4 truck accidents on highway 50 km! Odds arriving on time at the airport shrinking over time: more than one hour to travel two kilometers. But eventually everything works out and we took off for Calgary. After a second stop in Vancouver, where we witness the opening ceremonies live on giant screens (11 ° C and rain), we are off to Whitehorse where we land at 1am. Where is Matthew? We have forgotten it? The security guard tells us that the airport will be closed and we do not want to leave it outside in - 15 ° C, we ordered a taxi that arrives at the same ... time that Matthew! proud of his new sled on the roof of the car engine he had just finished a few minutes before the finish.

February 13:

After a night's sleep (?) And a too brief visit to the Yukon's capital, stopping at Main Street, known worldwide through a webcam (but where is she hiding?), racing for a week and it's off to Dawson City, over 500 km an icy road, through lakes, spruce forests, and partly along the mythical river. It is also an opportunity for Françoise to increase knowledge of Umiak which gratifies the two naps a pleasant and loving (?) Licking surprise!

Carmack stop for refueling of gasoline. It is 22 pm when we cross the gates of the Downtown Hotel and we hurry to go to the casino, the only place where you can find refreshment at this hour. No dancers that evening, but a small group of musicians, slot machines and table games under assault. Matthew will welcome some knowledge, all came to witness the arrival and / or from teams of the 2010 Yukon Quest.

Barely sleeping, wake with a bang by Matthew tells us that the aurora borealis. Wonderful show yellow and green, strange and moving in the sky. We must at all costs take the car and cross the frozen Yukon to record the event away from city lights. Not a chance: after we dressed at the speed of fire (it is still -25 ° c) and have dark outside the city, the dawn had vanished before leaving us a black sky studded with stars. Finally the only one who really saw the show was quietly Francoise remained in the bedroom window.

February 14:

After a hearty breakfast (pancake / omelette and bacon, or grilled potatoes / fried eggs / sausage and cheese), we cross the frozen Yukon direction Camping available for mushers and their teams.

Meet Jocelyne Leblanc, baker of Whitehorse and the current quest for the first time.

Not a cloud in the sky, which encourages us to climb the Dom Midnight by car and foot to enjoy the views of Dawson and the meandering river. It's fascinating and even more surprising that the whole river, we had just crossed by car, is not completely frozen. Temperature inversion required, it is warmer at altitude and we enjoy a bench in the sun to warm us.

But time is short and Matthew wants us to train on the Dempster Highway which runs from Dawson to Inuvik, seeking hordes the porcupine caribou that winter north of Tombstone. Here we are on track to 150 km further north in the landscape where spruce gradually gives way to small groves willows that grow in wetlands.

From Tombstone, the scenery is magnificent. Expanses of frozen water, and icy blue colors at sunset a sunset that never ends. We would want to never stop on this road which could lead us to the Arctic Ocean, following the huge tanker trucks (one per hour) that raise impressive snow clouds in their wake. In the absence of caribou, we see their traces over a huge area that suggests the size of the herd (over 100 000 animals). We also meet ptarmigan (galopèdes for Françoise), a fox and two elk on the roadside. U-turn at Two Moose Lake.

February 15:

An early morning departure allows us to reach Whitehorse to 14 h. En route, a short break offers a view overlooking the Five Fingers (see Lucky Luke in the Klondike).

While we are in the middle of nowhere and right in the heart of winter, we go beyond maintaining the gear drive (scraping and sanding of the frozen ground much more efficiently than our asphalt to withstand extreme conditions). During the cold season, the roadside is cleaned of branches and trees too close to limit the risk of fires this summer: This timber is placed in huge piles and burned, generating smoke and benches surprising smells of fire. As to the trip, we feel the temperature rise and WH, it is largely positive and melts the snow on the car leaving a sad spectacle. And that in a few hours we're supposed to go with our sleds, protected by our countless winter clothing ...