THE YUKON IS GOLD
It’s the best of times— even in the coldest climes
The Yukon? In March? Isn’t it still winter up there at that time of year?”
I smiled at my friend and nodded my head. When our “Wild Women of the Yukon” group first suggested holding our annual reunion back in Dawson City, I balked a bit at the idea of heading north when most people head for sunnier climes. But it turned out to be the best of all times.
March is the month when the sun returns in the Yukon. After the long, grey days of winter, everyone smiles as the warmth of the sun increases. In Dawson, water drips from log cabin roofs, the streets get a bit muddy and the locals start speculating on when the ice in the Yukon River will begin to crack. People are eager to be out and about, but the summer tourist season is still just a thought in the back of the mind. Some shops are opening their doors, getting ready for the season ahead, and often prices are good, as they are clearing out last year’s stock.
We had come back to Dawson to celebrate the tenth anniversary of our annual Wild Women reunion and to help a few friends celebrate a milestone birthday. Usually there are six of us who get together once a year to renew our friendship and talk about those “old Dawson days.” We first met in the small northern community in the early 1970s and have remained tied together by those memories, the kind that solidify friendships into lifelong relationships.
But this time, there were more than six of us. We joined friends who still live in Dawson, and invited a few from Whitehorse as well. The numbers grew to the point where we had to find an alternate place to host the birthday party. When the time came, we packed a local establishment, presented a handmade quilt to one of the birthday girls and feasted on a variety of dishes supplied by our Dawson friends, including a huge and very delicious birthday cake. The party didn’t stop there, however, as we were invited out for dinner every night or met friends at local eateries and continued to present gifts to those hitting that significant milestone. The week flew by, filled with hugs and kisses and the often-heard expression, “Do you remember when…?”
We even managed to squeeze in a trip up the Dempster Highway as far as the Tombstone Valley. Layered in warm clothing, we lit a campfire at the campground, feasted again on everything from moose jerky to fresh oranges, and then drove to the summit to take in the view. There is nothing as stunning as a clear Yukon sky with the gleaming, snow-covered mountains reaching out to it. The Tombstone Valley in March is a beautiful sight to behold. A special bonus was spotting two lynx as we journeyed back down the highway.
All too soon, it was time to say goodbye to Dawson and its people and make the six-hour drive back to Whitehorse and our flights home. We chatted easily as we drove, already filing away more memories that would last until our next get together. Dawson in March? Oh, yes. I recommend it! n