My heart is
pounding, my lungs gasping, my legs are burning as I slowly ascend the moderate
trail above the Canadian Parks Service visitor center beside the Dempster
Highway at Tombstone Park in the Yukon. I was advised by a 20-something, fit
looking man that it would take my guests and I about half an hour to reach the
top of this trail. What the H... does he know? I was young too, once, and full of hill-climbing vigour and
optimism. I still have the optimism.
 |
| It Isn't the top of the World, but it is a Significant Victory |
We are a group of four men, two over 60 one just under and one 40 something. I am the tour leader heading towards Inuvik, N.W.T. and beyond. Our common bond is our love of the wild places and wildlife photography.
We met a few days
ago in Whitehorse, Yukon and have a good start on a month long tour of the
Yukon Territory, some of British Columbia and ending at Edmonton, Alberta. It
is early September and the aspen are brilliantly shrouded in their golden
finery and tamarack are beginning their color change. Berry bushes and
shrubbery range from brightly crimson to a fine red wine and burgundy colour.
It is a great time to visit Yukon; past mosquito and black fly hordes, into
bright autumn colours and few tourist clutters.
 |
| Moss and Lignon Berries |
The further north we go, the less leaves are on the shrubbery. Weather is crisp in the
morning, sometimes even frosty but has warmed nicely by early afternoon. There
is a fresh dusting of snow above treeline to remind us that it could drop down
to highway level any day. We hope for a nice spell of Indian summer.
 |
| Begin the Dempster Highway |
This morning, as we begin the Dempster Highway, we
decide that a bit of fresh air and exercise will be good for our constitutions
after a late night photographing northern lights at Dawson City’s “Midnight
Dome.”
 |
| Midnight Dome |
We meet two young,
Swiss sounding girls coming down the hill. They give us the once-over and
cheerfully natter in passing, “15 minutes to go, it is well worth it.” They are
being nice to us I’m sure. One half hour later we wheezed and panted to the
top.
 |
| The Trail Winds Up and Around |
It is pretty good
scenery but our biggest victory is that we made it. We made it to the top and
back down without having a heart attack or breaking a hip. With a profound
sense of accomplishment and relief, we each savour our own victory. As I follow my shadow down
the hill I proclaim to it; “We are men,
we can still do fun things!”
 |
| My Shadow Leads |
I bet we enjoyed
ourselves more and remember this trail longer than those youngsters who have yet to feel the senses of doubt
and fear that we are getting past our prime and will soon be confined to the
arm chair in some nursing home with our kids wiping the drool off the corner of
our mouths saying. “There, there Dad, you have a good day. I’ll see you next
week.”
No comments:
Post a Comment