End of the Yukon Year

Hello everyone,

2010 was a wonderful year thanks to Arabelle showing that it is possible to host helpers in my "rustic" Yukon property and we had an amazing time driving and tenting throughout Alberta, BC, Yukon and Alaska. Nothing can top that year!!

2011 has been an exciting year as well with all the changes and all the terrific Helpers I have had the opportunity to meet and show the magic and mystery of Yukon and its Klondike history. This is the year that I have became a Yukoner, but it will take a few more months before I earn the title of Yukon sourdough.

I am awaking this last day of 2011 to blue sky and the sun peeking through the trees. The days will get longer now; the sun will rise higher and soon clear the trees again. Unfortunately it is -20ºC (-4ºF), but it will warm up in the next few days.

The view from my bed on the second floor. Woodstove smoke rises straight up in the still air. Sun blazing through the trees.

I must thank all my helpers this year and their promises to visit me again.  

-Diana who spent all of June with me tenting and touring throughout Yukon and Alaska. A great travel companion and now a close friend.

- Laura who shared the heated area now that the cold weather has arrived. She showed that winter travel could be an exciting as well. Wow, tenting in the snow! A friend who will return to visit again, but in the summer :)

-Enora who showed that it is possible to see Yukon and Alaska and have a great time doing it despite me working weekdays. A close friend who will some day return to live in Canada.

The house has improved greatly this past year, a real working shower and the heated room being enlarged with a second bed. The outhouse painted and the shower room finished. While Laura ran out of time to get the hot tub working, but I will get it working for her next visit!

2012 is starting to be another outstanding year; I have several helpers already booked for challenging the winter and some more looking at the warmer summer. I hope to be tenting and swimming in Atlin again next weekend and there will be more roadtrips, tenting and hot springs to come in the next few months. I think that I will love living in Yukon and will create many more friends through my hosting. I hope that all my future helpers/guests have a memorable time and will return often as my Yukon home is built.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!! I hope to meet you or see you again!! You have all made it a remarkable year!

Stephen and Tyson

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In other news, my employer sent me last week to Haines Junction, Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek on a delivery run. Unfortunately I had no helpers to bring along and see the sights, but there will be more delivery trips in the future, which will provide a weekday opportunity for helpers to see some sights that might otherwise be missed.

Destruction Bay and Kluane Lake.

Christmas day I was invited to a grand feast at Charles and Kathy's.

A great time with wonderful friends and neighbours!!!