Dawson City and the Top of the Dome

 I had heard about the Midnight Dome look-out over Dawson City and the fantastic views of the town and the Klondike and Yukon Rivers. There are tours that drive up, but I was interested in hiking up if I could find someone to go with. Luckily a couple in our group were keen to go, so on our free day in Dawson City we met after breakfast while it was nice and cool. The Visitors bureau had given me a map, but it was not the easiest to follow. The start of the hike was easy, not too steep and through the forest. But as we climbed the slope kept getting steeper and the footing drier and more crumbly. It wasn't too bad climbing up as long as you took it slow, but I was thinking that going down was going to be tricky. We reached the top after 2 3/4 hours and were rewarded by an incredible view. We took lots of pictures, rested and had our snack. 

My friends were saying that they didn't think they could make it down that steep section, and that we should maybe take a different route down. We were looking at the map and checking out the easier options when we spotted a hang-glider setting up his gear and went over to watch him. We started asking him some questions about his equipment and how long he'd been doing it when he said "I have a very strange question to ask you. Would anyone be willing to drive my car back to Dawson City?" Well, we all burst out laughing and said that he'd certainly asked the right people. None of us were keen for the hike back, and more than happy to take his car down. He didn't ask our names, or where we were from. Dave just handed us his keys and asked us to park by the mammoth statue in town and leave the keys under the seat!

When we got back to down we went for a big lunch at outside tables under the trees. I had a salmon BLT with a mountain of fries and a Yukon Gold beer. We spent a long time over lunch and by that time it was getting pretty hot. 

 I went back to my room to shower and change, and was about to head over to the lobby to try and get on the internet when I ran into several from our group who were going to do the "Sour-toe Cocktail". So of course I had to go and watch. This drink is a shot of 40 proof alcohol with a petrified frozen toe in it. You have to down the shot and let the toe touch your lips. Then you get a certificate as a member of the Sourtoe club. There is a huge fine if you swallow the toe!

I declined to partake, but there were certainly a lot of people lined up to do it! A huge money-maker for sure.

I did another walk around town to take a few more pictures of the interesting buildings. Some of  the buildings that were build directly on the ground instead of on blocks had buckled or sunk because of the permafrost.

Later, because when you by a ticket to Gerties you can go as many times as you want, I went to see the 10pm show. It's completely different than the 8pm show. They have a midnight show as well, but I didn't make it to that one.