June 4, Keno City

We pulled out of Pelly Crossing with intentions of making Dawson City.  We got as far as Stewart Crossing and decided to explore the Silver Trail.  We parked the rigs at the Whispering Willows camp ground which looked abandoned.  We checked with the folks next door at the gas station and said it was OK.  I unhooked the Jeep because we also wanted to go up to Keno Hill which was suppose to be a rugged dirt road.

We stopped at the Binet House in Mayo. Bill and Liz are on a mission to get all of the places stamped in their Yukon Gold Passport.  Not much to see, but we did learn that the purple flowers along the road were wild sweat pea.  Never did get a decent picture of them.

The dirt road to Keno was in perfect shape.  They treat it for dust so I'm not sure what the "treatment" is going to do to the paint job on the Jeep.  We stopped along the way at Five Mile lake.  It is one of those lakes that I picture as being a summer camp, although it was a little early for that.

We arrived at Keno City, population 25.  Music was playing from the cafe across from the visitor center.  There were several young ladies working, planting bedding plants and dancing to the music.  Not much else to do in Keno.  They are getting ready for the tourist season, like everyone else in the Yukon, not starting until June 1 or later.  The cafe looked interesting, but we decided to explore after we got back from Keno Hill.

It was a good thing I drove the Jeep as the road up to Keno Hill was somewhat rough and a few places were still a little muddy and soft requiring that I put it in 4X4.  The views were spectacular.  There is a sign with mileage pointing to different land marks.  Its nothing like Watson Lake, but fun.

                               We are very close to the arctic circle.  It never really gets dark at night.

                                           The Kayak looks a little forlorn.  Hasn't been in the water for a while.

We stopped at the Cafe on the way back but there was a "gone fishing" sign hung out.  So we moved on taking Duncan Creek Road back to the Silver Trail, hoping to see some wild life.  No such luck.  I think the dreary weather must be keeping of the wild life away.

We didn't get back to Whispering Willows until about 5:00 so we decided to stay.  Although the round trip to Keno City and back was about 140 miles, our progress towards Dawson City was only 44 miles! That has got to be a new record for us.