Only in the Yukon
6 weird, random questions and answers about the Yukon
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6 weird, random questions and answers about the Yukon
When you have a territory as unique as the Yukon, people are going to have questions. Random questions. Here are a few that we’d be happy to clear up. Some are fair. Some are strange. Some are nonsensical. But this is a safe place where no question is a stupid question. Except for, “Do you all live in igloos?” We won’t dignify that with an answer.
Do you need any special vaccines to prevent cabin fever?
There is no vaccine on the market or even in the works for cabin fever, because it’s not an actual fever. The most widely available preventative measure for cabin fever is binge-watching Netflix, which is not covered under benefits—yet. But for those who’ve seen or streamed it all, the Yukon Rendezvous Festival in Whitehorse is the cabin fever cure-all that has more entertainment than you can shake a chainsaw at, literally. There’s ice sculpting, musical performances, and, of course, chainsaw throwing. But if that isn't enough for you, you can always see Dr. Grey or Dr. Strange. We’re pretty sure they're both on Netflix somewhere.
Do the northern lights make a sound, or am I just crazy?
According to recent scientific research, if you hear a distant hissing sound that fluctuates with the movements of the lights, then you’re totally not hearing things. This noise is very subtle, so it’s not audible to everyone.
According to recent scientific research, if you hear a distant hissing sound that fluctuates with the movements of the lights, then you’re totally not hearing things. This noise is very subtle, so it’s not audible to everyone.
Is there still any gold left over from the Klondike Gold Rush?
There’s still a lot of gold in the Yukon. In fact, gold mining is one of the top industries in the territory. But things have changed since the dusty swashbuckling-prospectors-in-floppy-hats days.
Much like the nuggets in the ground, there are still prospectors in existence looking to dig up that sweet, sweet gold. They just do less swashbuckling and wear more normal-looking hats. But hey, we still like to think they haven’t cut out swashbuckling entirely.
@van_travellers (IG)
Are there a lot of tasty local dishes to be discovered up here, or do you only serve bison burgers?
If the only food served up here were bison burgers, that would still be pretty awesome. But there are a lot of eateries, cafés, restaurants and pubs offering local fare, classic cuisine and international flavours. And yes, some even serve bison burgers.
For all of you brunch lovers out there, a good avocado toast is usually just around the corner. And for those who believe distance from the equator makes the stomach grow fonder, we have some wonderful authentic Mexican and Caribbean restaurants for you to try.
Other than some very large wildlife or drinking a cocktail with a severed toe in it, the scariest thing in the Yukon would be the Caribou Hotel in Carcross. Over the last century, it has become a well-known stop for travellers, but it’s famous for its long-standing squatter: the ghost of Mrs. Gideon. The hotel has been around since the early 1900s when it was opened by the Gideon family. But while the original family members have moved on, many eyewitnesses claim Mrs. Gideon hasn’t. Her ghost is known for knocking on doors and appearing in rooms late at night, which is totally creepy. But hey, she’s a ghost, and that’s kind of their thing.
Great question. Some say that before the population boom, Whitehorse’s only resident was a white horse, which gave rise to the popular term for a small rural town: a one-horse town. But that’s actually not true, because we just made it up now. The truth is that the city is named after the river rapids in the area which, before the river was dammed, looked like the mane of a white horse.
