Six Star Magazine Six Star Magazine Spring 2018 | Page 17

a few family campers parked with wood stoves puffing away
nearby. We recover from our activity with warm cinnamon
buns and cappuccino at a local bakery in Carcross—it’s the
perfect end to a perfect ski.
The Boréale Ranch is our last stop in the Yukon wilderness.
On our way to the ranch, we’re rewarded with two different
woodland caribou sightings near the town of Tagish, the
Southern Lakes region being the majestic animal’s winter
home. It’s hard to look away from the mountain views in
the Yukon—until you remember that the bush is full of
local wildlife.
The ranch is a mountain bike haven in summer and fall.
We hire some fat bikes and explore the trails towards Lewes
Lake, powering along a few single tracks that were opened
up for visitors. The biking generates endless peals of laughter
and much amusement during the day. Later that evening, we
sit next to the crackling fire pit, gazing up at the myriad stars,
waiting for the auroras to dance across the sky.
With a belly full of amazing food, we have the chance to
reflect on the breathtaking scenery and the rich history there
is to experience in the Yukon. In just one week here, we see
enough to completely overwhelm our senses and dominate
our thoughts.
We think of the First Nations people who thrived in
the wilderness of the Kluane National Park and Reserve.
We think of the rough-and-tumble times during the
Klondike Gold Rush. We think of the pioneering
adventurers, like my grandfather, who ventured into the
maw of the Saint Elias Mountains and came out alive.
These days, adventurers have a much easier time of it in
the Yukon—but that doesn’t make experiencing this vast
and ruggedly beautiful area any less thrilling.
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