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North America / Western Canada / Yukon
“Pic of the Week”, January 24, 2020: Sam Steele, The Lion of the Yukon
There are times in history when one man can make an enormous difference to the lives of thousands of people. Sam Steele, known as the “Lion of the Yukon”, was just such a man. His formal title, in time, was to be Major General Sir Samuel Benfield Steele.
Sam had a distinguished career as a soldier and officer in military and in the Northwest Mounted Police (NWMP), which today has morphed into Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Sam was head of the Yukon detachment of the NWMP during the Klondike Goldrush. What was a sleepy outpost initially turned into a challenging position for Sam and his Mounties.
He established Custom outposts atop the Chilkoot and White Passes, and the Mounties did …
Tagged gold rush, Klondike Gold Fields, Lion of the Yukon, NWMP, RCMP, Sam Steele
“Pic of the Week”, January 17, 2020: Moose Jaw’s, “Mac the Moose”
Situated just off the TransCanada Highway, besides the city’s Visitor Information Center, is a massive statue of a moose know as Mac. Mac the Moose was built in 1984, stands 32 feet (9.8 m) tall, and for a long time was the largest moose on Earth. Mac has become somewhat of a roadside landmark for those who enjoy visiting such sites (I admit to this guilty travel pleasure).
Moose Jaw is very proud of Mac. Then, horrors of horrors, a larger moose was constructed in Stor-Elvdal, Norway. That moose — known as Storelgen — was completed in 2015 and is a polished stainless steel structure that is 30 centimeters (about a foot) taller than Mac.
The good news is that Moose …
.All Trips / Florida / North America / Southeastern USA
A Few Photos of Life in the Everglades
The slowly flowing, warm, River of Grass is teaming with life, although at times it’s hard to see it. A recommended place to spot wildlife within Everglades National Park is in Shark Valley. There is a lengthy elevated bike path in the area, which is shared by a tram. You can rent a bike and cycle around, stopping to see the alligators and birds, or you can sit back in the tram and let a biologist/guide educate you about what you’re seeing. Both options are very rewarding. There is no better place to immerse yourself in this UNESCO World Heritage ecosystem.
We visited Shark Valley a few months ago and had a wonderful experience. I previously published a …
“Pic of the Week”, January 3, 2020: The Bounty of Canada’s Great Plains
The great Canadian prairies (and their American counterparts) grow a lot of food. More food than can be consumed in either country and which is then transported to destinations all around our hungry world. The Canadian prairies extend from Alberta in the west, to Saskatchewan, to Manitoba in the east.
While driving across the prairies to visit my father in Winnipeg this past year, I made a point of randomly turning up a country road or two, driving a few miles to see what was there.
One turn lead to field of corn. Corn is not that common a crop on the prairies and this likely would end up as feed corn for livestock (less likely for consumption in nearby Winnipeg …
“Pic of the Week”, December 27, 2019: Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida
A few scenes of a nice warm day at the beach, on what for many of us is a cold winter’s day. Generally about 80F in Fort Lauderdale today — and 20F in Calgary.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
“Pic of the Week”, December 20, 2019: Prince of Wales Hotel, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Situated in the heart of pretty Niagara-on-the-Lake is an elegant Victorian era landmark, the Prince of Wales Hotel. lt was built in 1864 and has gone through several name changes. Originally called the Arcade Hotel, then Niagara House, it was given its current name when the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary) visited in 1901.
The hotel was significantly expanded in the 1970s, though in a manner very consistent with its original design. It was thoroughly restored and updated in the late 1990s. It’s lobby shows nice architectural and historic details.
I’ve never stayed here but did eat at its fine dining room once and thoroughly enjoyed it. High Tea in the Drawing Room …
.All Trips / North America / Western Canada / Yukon
Kluane National Park, Yukon Territory
One of the more remote regions on the North American continent is Kluane National Park, located in southwestern Yukon, 160 kilometres west of Whitehorse. It’s minimally accessible by car and has few hiking trails, most of which are near the outskirts of the park. The park’s backcountry is largely inaccessible except to rugged individuals who like to blaze their own trail. The best way to see Kluane’s backcountry is by plane (on a clear day). It’s a very beautiful but rough landscape, filled with tall peaks, roaring rivers and glaciers.
Alaska Highway and Kluane National Park
The town of Haines Junction is at the convergence point of the two highways that skirt Kluane National Park and Reserve, namely the Haines Highway heading north from Haines in the …
“Pic of the Week”, December 6, 2019: Fresh Snow in the Mountains
I love driving through the mountains. Perhaps no season in the mountains is more memorable than winter. The fresh snow on the Rocky Mountains in the Crowsnest Pass and soft light were quite lovely.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge, right arrow to advance slideshow)
Dec 5, 2019
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