Yukon Ho!

**BCJC** · 03-17-2012, 11:42 AM

when i tried searching for threads about skiing in the yukon, all the threads that came up were about a large domestic suv, or a mag from michigan.

i'm headed up to haines junction, yukon territory, in a weeks time for a month. it's a work trip, but will have weekends off, and am keen to do as much touring as possible. so far my reading has said whites pass, and haines pass, are the two most popular options, but does anyone have first hand experience/advice?

thanks.

**carpathian** · 03-17-2012, 08:06 PM

Haines Pass is pretty cool, you will want to ski The Guardsmen for sure. Can't miss it, on you left as you top out on pass heading south. You can decent towards Haines and snow gets deeper and some tree skiing.

Skiing in Haines Junction looks like possibility. Always seems to be -40 though and could use a sled to get to mountains and way less snow then pass, as you are rain shadow side of range. There is some cool stuff north of there near Destruction Bay/ Kluane, but always looks like sparse coverage. Good luck!

Z · 03-17-2012, 08:12 PM

Three guardsmen has some cool terrain on it for sure, although everytime I have been up there this year the wind has made the snow conditions in that area pretty bad. There is some good tree skiing/pillows as you drop into Alaska. Past Three guardsmen into Canada there looks be some cool terrain around, but you might need a sled to really get places efficiently. Wind is an issue near the road, protected spots look a ways away...

**ak_powder_monkey** · 03-18-2012, 04:38 PM

Three guardsmen is in British Columbia....

As for YT
I think there's a few little but possibly cool ski areas near Whitehorse, good snow is where you find it.

**BCJC** · 03-20-2012, 01:34 PM

thanks.

when you guys say 'descend into haines', do you mean continue to drive into alaska, or actually ski down from the pass?

Z · 03-20-2012, 01:45 PM

Continue to drive from the pass into alaska...

**BCJC** · 04-02-2012, 04:23 PM

thanks for the tips. some pics from the weekend.

**Alaskan Rover** · 04-02-2012, 06:37 PM

Fan-fuckin-tastic, BCJC!!!

I'm presuming you're working out of Whitehorse? It might be a slight haul, but if you can get to Kluane...it has some 'out of this world' beauty...and terrific BC !!

If you are at all into XC, the Minto area is a winter wonderland.

And a trip to Dawson City is also in order...as there are TONS of really decent possibilities along the route (although parking is sometimes few and far between!!). If you DO get to Dawson, there is some excellent terrain at the beginning of the Top of the World Highway...it'll still be closed (prolly until May 1st or April 25th...check with the territorial ministry of transportation or whatever they're called)...but there is still great terrain before the closure point.

But it seems you've already found Valhalla....and no heli necessary!!

--

**icelanticskier** · 04-02-2012, 06:50 PM

holy shit! looks like some room to roam!

terrible, just terrible

rog

**wendigo** · 04-02-2012, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by BCJC

Nice!
Nadahini sure takes some time to get up.
We skied a line to the left of that a few years back.
Lookers left in this photo

I took the liberty of naming it "Gretchen's Gulch", since I sent my wife down it first.

**Trace Hardslab** · 04-02-2012, 07:59 PM

In a pinch,any ho will do!

**ak_powder_monkey** · 04-03-2012, 02:41 PM

that looks absolutely horrible and no fun at all...

**vanisle** · 04-03-2012, 10:52 PM

Very nice...looks like you got those dynafiddles mounted alright

**BCJC** · 04-03-2012, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Alaskan Rover

Fan-fuckin-tastic, BCJC!!!

I'm presuming you're working out of Whitehorse? It might be a slight haul, but if you can get to Kluane...it has some 'out of this world' beauty...and terrific BC !!

If you are at all into XC, the Minto area is a winter wonderland.

And a trip to Dawson City is also in order...as there are TONS of really decent possibilities along the route (although parking is sometimes few and far between!!). If you DO get to Dawson, there is some excellent terrain at the beginning of the Top of the World Highway...it'll still be closed (prolly until May 1st or April 25th...check with the territorial ministry of transportation or whatever they're called)...but there is still great terrain before the closure point.

But it seems you've already found Valhalla....and no heli necessary!!

--

thanks, working in haines junction, so i am literally a stones throw from kluane at my jobsite:

**garyfromterrace** · 04-03-2012, 11:11 PM

Good job dude! Looks great!

**BCJC** · 04-03-2012, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by wendigo

Nice!
Nadahini sure takes some time to get up.
We skied a line to the left of that a few years back.
Lookers left in this photo

I took the liberty of naming it "Gretchen's Gulch", since I sent my wife down it first.

are you talking about the bowl across the valley, in the background? or do you mean dropping in to the left of where you are standing in the pic?
if you go to skiers right of where you are, there are some fun "chutes", one of which is in the pic with the tracks in it.

**Spark** · 04-03-2012, 11:25 PM

Looks like you found the goods!

I've been up there to mountain bike and hike, now I need to plan a ski trip.

Nice jobsite!

**BCJC** · 04-03-2012, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by vanisle

Very nice...looks like you got those dynafiddles mounted alright

thanks for your offer, ended up having them done in vancouver before i left. loving them so far.

although i'm happy to be here, seems like i left the island a bit early...

**wendigo** · 04-04-2012, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by BCJC

are you talking about the bowl across the valley, in the background?

The couloir across the valley on lookers left with just the top in view.

You should head on down to the Three Guardsman and ski the north facing couloirs
This pick shows the west face

black is the way up, dashed red is the first couloir you come to
drop this

then boot up the dashed black that puts you on a little saddle on the ridge

this opens up a suite of north facing couloirs and the ability to drop the west face

Also head to the summit of Nadahini and drop the short(ish) steep shots that take you to the glacier (northwest drop) they usually hold great pow this time of year as well. Can also head down to 5 mile (north of the border) and ski either side, if you cross the river you can get to Mt McDonell

which holds pow well, but is a bit of a steep skin track.

That ought to keep you skiing for a bit. Love that area have fun!