Something to Declare

From Vancouver to Whitehorse. Hey, look at the Lights! (Not!)

December 28, 2025

Yesterday, Matt and I checked out of the Fairmont Airport Hotel in Vancouver and made our way to our Air North flight to Whitehorse.

On the plane, the guy in the window seat (who lives in Whitehorse) informed us that Air North has a nice tradition of serving warm chocolate chip cookies. True that!

On arrival in Whitehorse, we were met by our tour operators, Northern Tales. The guy in charge (Daniel, below, top, on the left) was gracious and informative.

We also met some of our tour mates, Mason (7 months old) and his father Jared, from Melbourne Australia (above top, to the right and above, middle), shown chatting with Matt.

On arrival at the Gold Rush Hotel, we had our orientation, got our cold-weather gear, and checked in.

The room was somewhat overheated and stuffy, but we managed to open the window to let in some air. Dinner was at the hotel restaurant, the Gold Pan Saloon (cum sports bar).

The local brews (Sirius Red, Weekend Warrior, and Icefog IPAs) were very satisfying, as was the Reuben sandwich.

We were told to be ready, with our cold weather gear (insulated parka, pants, boots, mittens, hats) at 9:50 pm, for the half hour bus ride (below, top left) to the Northern Lights site, comprised of a cabin with wood stove, hot beverages and snacks.

Matt (above, lower left) put a marshmallow on a stick to toast on the campfire outside. Also outside were benches, facing north, where the Aurora viewing would take place.

Uh……not really. The sky was wholly cloudy, and snow was continuing to fall. So no Northern Lights. We spent the next four (!) hours in and out of the cabin, chatting it up with other tourists and with the tour guides. Also trying the local treat, boiled maple syrup over fresh snow.

It was supposed to have the consistency of toffee, but to us it tasted more like maple-flavored slush. The bus arrived at 2 am to take us back to the hotel.

We decided to sleep in the next morning, which meant canceling the tour of Whitehorse. We woke up to find that the open window had allowed some of the winter to come into the room.

Matt took a morning walk through the town to the Yukon River. At 10:30 am, the sun hadn’t come up yet.

Lunch was at the Burnt Toast café: eggs benedict, plus some concoction of eggs and chorizo.

Healthiest thing in the world for you, right?

On the walk back to the hotel, we passed the NineTails Cannabis shop.

Matt got some recreational gummies for CD$5. You never know when they might come in handy, right?

At 10 pm tonight, we’re scheduled to go back to the viewing site for another try at the Aurora. FYI, it’s still very cloudy, and it’s snowing. Taking any bets?