Midnight Dome

Last evening we went on a Yukon River dinner/cruise aboard the Klondike Spirit, a side-wheeler (there is a wheel on each side). The salmon dinner was very good!

This is Yasmin, our host and commentator. She has been living in Dawson City for five years and she had lots to say about living in a frontier town year-round.

On the Yukon River, looking north, toward the Bering Sea.

We passed a First Nations village. There are no roads or driveways. The only way to get into Dawson City is by boat in the summer and snowmobile in the winter.

We turned around to the south and came back toward Dawson City.

Two happy people enjoying the river cruise.

A ship graveyard. There are seven ships that are abandoned here, one in back of the other

A quaint building in town complete with a "living roof".

This morning we joined a Parks Canada walking tour of the historic core of Dawson City. In the Visitor Information Center were moose antlers. The two sets of antlers were found locked together. It did not end well for either moose.

Our guide Sierra was joined by...

another Parks Canada employee, in costume, who played the part of May, a resident of Dawson City.

The beautiful architecture of one of two bank buildings of the Gold Rush era. Since it was around 1900, the architecture is similar to the Providence Public Library.

May talking to us in the Red Feather Saloon.

This building, similar in architecture to the bank building, served as the library. The current library is in the school next door.

May and Sierra in the post office.

After the walking tour we hiked up the mountain behind the city called the Midnight Dome. Just as we reached the top we were greeted by these cheery people, Jamie and Madeline from Prince Edward Island. They, too, had just climbed the hill and asked if they could take our picture because they were impressed that we could make it up this strenuous trail. Madeline is one of 17 children who have scattered all across Canada so they will be traveling as far as Vancouver Island visiting relatives.

Confluence of the Yukon and the Klondike rivers. The Klondike is the dark river on the left.

A view of Dawson City from the Dome. 

Looking north toward the Bering Sea.

The trail down...

through a beautiful stand of Aspen Trees.

At the base of the hill we passed by St. Mary's cemetery.

This plot was poignant...

twin boys.

Interesting contemporary headstone with the man's chainsaw as part of the memorial.

"Heart of a Sourdough" and a gold pan.

One of the homes in town with lovely annual flowers on display.

St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Today's hike:

Length - 4.97 miles

Duration - 5 hours, 19 minutes (including lunch and conversation)

Elevation gain - 1,840 feet, (185 floors on the Fitbit)

P.S. When I asked at the Visitor Information Center, I was told that a former Fire Chief erected the bird houses to attract sparrows that would feast on the mosquitos.