Though my real passion is multi-day treks, most of our summer thus far has been spent doing day hikes due to convenience. Yesterday some friends and I headed up to a hike nicknamed, The Tors, that is featured on a local hiking website. It was a fantastic hike, and I want to share with you good folks a few of the pictures.
Location: Outside of Haines Junction, Yukon. Just east of Kluane National Park.
Distance: 13km round trip
Elevation Gain: 966 metres (3169 feet)
The morning started off as most do, with my partner and I getting up two hours before departure to ensure we got enough coffee into our systems that the drive to the trailhead would be interrupted with multiple pee breaks. There was a group of six of us planning to hike the trail, and along with the large group number came the obligatory text messages back and forth trying to co-ordinate plans. Finally, at 11:00am we were nearing the trailhead.
We followed a cut line 2km's into the bush, which landed us right at the trailhead and the base of the first ridge.
The ridge was steep and most of our elevation gain was in the first couple kilometres. The road in this picture leads to Haines Junction with the mountains of Kluane in the background.
After making it to the top of the ridge the alpine opened up and the walking became much easier, albeit slow going. The spongy ground was nice on the joints but similar to walking in snow.
Maintained trails in the Yukon are few and far between but we were able to follow faint sheep trails for sections of the hike. We rounded the plateau and traced our path over a saddle which would eventually take us to the first set of tors.
Tors are rocky outcrops that jut out prominently on the tops of hills and slopes. There are two large sets of tors on this hike, and our goal for the day was to reach both and do some exploring.
At the first set of tors we stopped for a lunch break in a sheltered spot to refuel and relax.
The walk to the second set of tors was relatively flat, easy walking. The landscape on the plateau had an otherworldly feel to it. Surely it would make a great location for some dystopian sci-fi flick.
While exploring the second set of tors the weather began deteriorating and we started to head back. While picking our way down the plateau one of our group members turned around and was surprised to see that four caribou had stealthily crept up behind us.
It was a great way to end our day, but also quite strange. We were in a group of 6 along with a dog. They crept up from behind and continued to approach us. They got within 50 feet of us when the dogs bark seemed to finally deter them from coming any farther. And just as mysteriously as they had appeared, they turned around and disappeared into the landscape.
After the encounter with the caribou the Yukon weather really hit. It became hailing aggressively and we tried our best to boogie down the increasingly wet and steep slopes to get back to the car. In a matter of minutes what had been snow free alpine was now covered in a couple inches of hail/snow.
By the time we made it back to the car the sun was again shining allowing us to dry off. We pulled open the stashed cooler and enjoyed a cold beer and a cheers to a great day in the mountains.
