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2001 Vacation |
Photos |
Caribou Usage |
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Travel Information for Old Crow
Yukon Territory, Canada:
General Travel
Info:
- ** Make arrangements ahead of time!! **
Phone: (867) 966-3261 Email: info@vgfn.net
- Visitor Reception Center (VRC) coming in 2004
- With increased security, be sure to carry your passport
- Alcohol is prohibited
 
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Getting
to the Arctic:
Airline
Info:
To fly into
Old Crow, you first need to get to Dawson City or Whitehorse, YT;
or Inuvik, NWT; or Fairbanks, AK. From there...
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Mushing/sled/snomobile:
- Muktuk
Kennels & Sled Dog Tours - Mush from Eagle Plains to Old Crow
- On your own:
Ski-doo from McPherson to Old Crow. The overland Sk-idoo trail
to Old Crow is about 200 miles, but it is mostly on rivers, and
is late in November before it is marginally safe to travel.
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Canoeing/rafting:
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Private
boats line the Porcupine River bank at Old Crow
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Accomodations:
- Porcupine
Bed & Breakfast
Harold and Teresa Frost
(867)966-3913 fax: (867) 966-3029 No email.
They offer a guest house with satellite TV and continental breakfast
for $120.00 per night [can$]. They also offer cabin rental 1 mile
down stream on the Porcupine River.
- Ch'oo
Deenjik Accommodations (pdf)
867-966-3008
- It is permissible
to pitch a tent along the riverbanks
- Alan Benjamin
has some rooms in a trailer. Single bed, night stand. No facilities,
however and no screen door or ventilation. Tough in summer.
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Getting
around, in Old Crow:
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Summer:
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Walk
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4-Wheeler
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Canoe
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Locals
also
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Bicycle
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Drive
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Winter:
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Walk
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Snow
Shoes
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Ski-doo
(snowmobile) over land and ice
(2) |
Locals
also
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Mush
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Services:
- Health
care: Old Crow Nursing Station. Staffed year-round.
- Groceries:
Northern store has food and general merchandise. They do
take US currency. Expensive.
- Post
office
- Royal
Canadian Mounted Police detachment
- Computer
access is available in the administration bldg. by request.
Tips:
Tips for summer
travel:
 STRONG
mosquito repellent (end of June/early July is hatching time).- Maybe bring
mosquito
gear
- Strong sunscreen.
- mud boots
(trust me, I sank to my knees in the river bank)
- wind-breaker/jacket,
a life-jacket, hat, and gloves for river travel (it can be cold
on the river, even in summer)
- Temps: 60-80
F
- Advantages:
Lots of sun!
- Disadvantages:
Mosquitoes!, dusty
Tips for winter
travel:
- Warm
socks (wool), thermal underwear, wool pants, ski/snow pants,
sweater, neck warmer/dickie, scarf (fleece, flannel, wool),
down jacket/parka with hood (fur-lined better), hat, mittens
(skin best), boots (sorel, skin mukluks best) *
- Goggles
and ski mask if you want to look like you're from Whitehorse
(hehe) *
- Several
blankets (fleece), duvet, sleeping bag, blanket on door,
lots of wood, space heater *
- Walk
quickly, eat hot soup/stew, drink warm tea *
- Temps:
-20 to -40 F mostly. Can go as low as -60 to -70 F.
- Advantages:
No mosquitos, not dusty, Northern Lights
- Disadvantages:
No sun, horribly cold.
- NEW!
Special Winter
Weather Information page.
*
Source: Advice from locals
For the ladies:
- Not that
this isn't obvious, but ladies, forget about heels and purse.
You'd be better off carrying a small backpack and wear sturdy,
waterproof, shoes since you will spend a lot of time walking and
riding on the back of 4-wheelers. Don't forget a hat and sunglasses.
And for goodness sake, bring sunscreen and bug repellent if you
value your skin. ;-)
Crow
Mountain, heading North, from the Porcupine River
Purchasing
crafts:
Bring cash, and ask around.
A pair of slippers might cost you $300 CA. To order in advance,
call Old Crow and ask them where you can send a copy of your feet
outlines for some shoes. Otherwise you might have to ask around
and see if anyone has any made that will fit. Generally men's are
blue with brown fur, and women's are pink with white fur. All prices,
colors, and availability are subject to change.
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Things
to do in Old Crow:
Entertainment:
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Gwitchin
Days: A local gathering, annual, in the summer.
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Gwich'in
Gathering: Biennial event at alternating villages. Next event is in 2006.
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Potlatch:
Holidays are good time for potlatch, but you have to ask. It may
change at last minute. |
Boating:
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Kayak
down the Porcupine
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Midnight
Sun Ventures - One to 10 day guided tours into national park.
Guided photography trip during fall and spring migration of Porcupine
caribou herd. Observe hunts. Rentals.
Contact: Dennis Frost in Old Crow (867) 966-3010
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Hitch
a river ride aboard a local's boat. Still fun! |
Hiking:
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Crow
Mountain - A nice hike or a short drive from town
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Vuntut
National Park 50km North. By pontoon plane in summer. By land
in winter. 190 km by river. Stage from Old Crow. No rangers or
services. Come fully prepared. Contact Parks Canada community
liaison officer in Old crow.
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Archeology:
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Bluefish
Caves -- 54 km SW of town overlooking the middle course of
the Bluefish River, a tributary of the Porcupine River, is an
archeologically rich group of three limestone caves containing
rocks and other evidence of North America's oldest inhabitation,
24,000 years ago. The ice age caves have been protected as a historic
site reserve by the Yukon government, with the support of the
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, and have also been reproduced at
the Beringia
center in Whitehorse.
Cave
location
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Other
fun things:
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Have
some caribou to eat
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Listen
to some elders' stories |
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Take
a tour on a 4-wheeler |
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Ice
skating |
The convenient 4-wheelers can be heard buzzing around town in the
summer. Sometimes residents might borrow whatever vehicle is available.
Travel
Stories:
Useful
things:
Sample
trip:
Travel plans from my own trip.
Radio:
CHON FM - Northern
Native Broadcasting Yukon
Weather:
Old Crow
Seattle, WA
Tulsa, OK
Average
temperatures in Old Crow:
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Cel. |
Far. |
Jan:
Feb:
Mar:
Apr:
May:
Jun:
Jul:
Aug:
Sep:
Oct:
Nov:
Dec: |
-31.1
-27.6
-21.7
-11.1
2.5
12.4
14.6
10.9
3.2
-9.7
-23.2
-27.0 |
-24
-17.7
-7.1
12
36.5
54.3
58.3
51.6
37.8
14.5
-9.8
-16.6 |
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*Averages
from 1971-2000. Information provided Environment
Canada.
Need
some cold weather clothing? Check out:
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Shoes
from Eagle Sports.
Most of these shoes can be found from other retailers, but this
website shows you quickly what shoes will keep you warm.
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Parkas
from WearGuard.
Again, others are available. These might be the warmest.
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Please
feel free to make suggestions, via the guestbook. Thanks.
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