| YOOP Home |
| Contact + Board |
| Membership + Constitution |
| Members + Presidents YOOP |
| Obituaries |
| Events |
| Interesting Tidbits |
| Index |
|
After the meeting I asked Bill if I could spend some time with him and find out more of his Yukon past. We had a bit of a problem getting together as he has so many friends here in Whitehorse but on Friday evening September 15th he phoned from his old farm on the Alaska Highway that is now run by his son Bill and wife Barbara to see if I would like to go with him to Carmacks where his grandson Ben Drury was working for Klondike Helicopters. I jumped at the chance to go with Bill so we met at the junction of the Alaska and Klondike Highway about 9:00 a.m. on Saturday September 16th. There he was waiting in his silver caddy and he even had the passenger's seat warmed up for me to enjoy the 100 mile trip to Carmacks. As we drove, in luxury comfort, Bill started to relate some of his Yukon upbringing and his life and experiences working for his father's business, Taylor and Drury, located in many parts of the Yukon. He remarked at length of the dealings with the First Nation People in the fur trade business so prevalent at the time. He mentioned the names of Alex van Bibber, Paul Burkall and others. I was sure wishing that I had a recorder on me as he was so very interesting as he continued to speak of the transportation the he and others used in the early days, mentioning as we neared Fox Lake, the old Yukon stage und freight road built in approx. 1902 from Whitehorse to Dawson used in the winter months when the paddle wheelers did not run. He spoke of names like Takhini Crossing, Little River, Nordenskiold, Montague road houses and of course, the Yukon Crossing above 5 Finger Rapids. He really stirred an interest in me and I made a promise to myself to learn more about the history of this great territory and the men and women who helped built it.
Approx. 2 hours later we were having coffee with Ben at Klondike
Helicopters office. Passing Minto where there most certainly is a lot going on because
of the new mine being developed about 15 miles north west of the
Yukon River. We viewed the workings, roads, buildings etc. and
did a thorough investigation of this site where approx. 135 men
are working. It was surprising to us how much had been done
there - huge quantities of earth that has been moved which
showed greenish seams of oxidized copper wash. The camp complete
with housing, works Ben took a couple of passes over his cabin to check all was well there before we headed towards home and it was then we saw what was left of the Yukon Crossing.
A couple of trips around the 5
Finger Rapids produced a very nice photo taken by me. About an hour and three quarters later found us back at Carmacks sitting having a lunch prepared by Ben and some delicious preserves brought up from Sechelt by Bill that he had made. It was a fantastic day and one I will long remember. Thank you, Bill signed: Rick Griffiths We most certainly should have Bill back and along with others, record their interesting life stories for future generations to enjoy. |
Now the
real surprise - Ben is taking us on a helicopter ride!!! I
certainly did not tell either of them that I had never been in a
helicopter in my life!! Once aboard, on a beautiful day
with blue sky and a scattering of clouds, we headed north as he
wanted to check out his cabin on the Yukon River about 12 miles
north of Minto on the east side of the river near the old stage
road that ran to Dawson. He flew down the west side of the river
where the old stage and freight roads ran down past 5 Finger
Rapids to a place called Yukon Crossing and then to Minto. We
did not find the crossing at this time but did locate
it on our way
back; a spot I hope to check on more in my freighter canoe this
coming summer.
sheds and huge fuel
tanks, that looked tome to be at least 40 feet wide by 30 feet
high! It is very impressive.