Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/753864
Fish Lake, climbing through snow-quilted trees toward Mt. McIntyre. From here you can see ivory-cloaked mountains marching in a majestic procession to infinity. And then they serve you steaming hot chocolate at the top of the world. Now your group rides downhill. Now you stop. Your guide points out animal tracks on this combination nature lesson, sightseeing tour and adrenalin rush. Your thoughtful provider? A Yukon Wild operator. A HEAVENLY LIGHTSHOW Now day falls. Whither the night? Just think Yukon Wild, along with one of its adventure experts, who now picks you up at 10 p.m. to head backcountry for yet one more Yukon must-do. First you defrost in front of a wood- burning stove in a replica prospector's tent outside Whitehorse. Sky is clear, night air crisp as you don toque and venture outside. You stand in awe at the edge of a vast meadow. Aurora borealis dances high over- head, lime and aqua, lavender, a seductive sky-based saraband. Not by accident do First Nations people call this the "Spirit Dance." AN ICONIC ADVENTURE And now, before you know it, a new day, and a new Yukon Wild adventure. A pack of dogs in front of their kennels cavort and wrestle with each other, yipping and yapping while you struggle to attach their leads. Once they're harnessed your guide offers last-minute tips. "Never let go of the sled," she warns, checking the leads. "When you stop always have one foot on the brake." She grins. "And have fun." Now you break for the forest, at seeming breakneck speeds, sled lurching forward with a sudden jerk. Shoulders strain, quads complain, but it's exhilarating. Now you watch the team ahead disappear into the forest. Now you follow, left, right, up, down. Gentle slopes and hairpin turns. You are as happy as the dogs, as you experience an iconic Canadian adventure in the very fabric of your muscles. No surprise there. A BEVY OF OFFERINGS "Guest satisfaction is one of our chief prior- ities," says Pallett of the 19 companies that form the membership of Yukon Wild, this consortium of licensed adventure experts committed to wilderness stewardship, respect for cultural values and benefitting local communities. Their offerings range from multi-day backcountry horseback expeditions to fishing, from hiking to a glacier to booking WINTER 2016/2017 DREAMSCAPES 17