Kluane National Park and Haines Junction

 

On the last day before my flight, I was still looking for new places with ski terrain in Kluane and my research brought me to Quill Creek which was mostly frozen and had a nice crust on it with made the ski up rather chill and the way back was fast with ability to clip in and skate ski on many parts of it. These must have been my fastest kilometers on low incline ground ever in my life. Ski options here are limited as the distances following the creeks are far too great for a day objective, despite the looming mountain in the distance. Many other spots but I think Kluane is more of a traverse kind of park rather than day skiing

Quill Creek 

Haines Junction

Walking on the frozen Kluane Lake at dusk

Rental car parked in the empty trailhead. Great time of year to visit

The long dunes of Kluane Lake with numerous signs for no offroad driving allowed. There is also a parks visitor center nearby here as the scenery of the drive really opens up as you cross near Kluane Lake on the Alaska Highway

Mountain goats on the scree slopes

Dezadeash River

Cabins at the south end of Dezadesh Lake. This was the furthest I drove south from Hained Junction

Typical view along the Alaska Highway

Kathleen Lake area was another rated and common backcountry ski zone. I just stopped by for a visit and didn't make it too far from the car

I started at the Auriol Trail and did a loop which is a common backcountry cross country route. I had actually met a local guy from Chez with 2 dogs who had just completed the loop too. He had given me some beta including destinations at Haines Pass and another further south on the BC side I think at a town called Atlin which has backcountry huts. I will have to refer back to my notes if indeed Atlin...

As you can see I didn't make it too far on snow and there was also increasing precip coming in 

A cool hiking route I was able to explore on skis anyways

Bear or some other large animal tramping through the snow. I was extra aware when in downhill mode that I didn't surprise one of these guys

Leaving the town of Haines Junction. I had only enough time for 1 night at the local motel. Hope to come back to Kluane in the summer months for multi day trips. I can also see why this was foresty Forests favourite part of the bike tour of his bike tour from Alaska to Canmore