Master the Yukon Adventure: What You Need to Know Before You Paddle
Paddling the Yukon River is an incredible adventure, but preparation is everything. Here’s a detailed guide on how we planned and packed for our 15-day journey from Whitehorse to Dawson, with insights into what we brought from Scotland and how we navigated travel logistics.
Getting There from Scotland: Preparing for the Yukon River Adventure
Starting from the Scottish Highlands, our journey involved careful planning to ensure smooth connections and adherence to strict luggage allowances.
- Flights
- Inverness to Canada: We flew from Inverness to London, then to Vancouver. We slept overnight in Vancouver before we caught an internal flight up to Whitehorse (AirNorth).
- Connection Considerations: Choosing airlines with guaranteed connections was critical for ensuring we wouldn’t miss the next leg of our journey. (British Airways)
- Luggage Challenges
- With weight limits and multiple flights, every item we packed had to earn its place. Our kit was tailored for the Yukon but versatile enough to come straight from Scotland. (British Airways allowance 23kgs in 2024).
The Essential Gear You Need to Master Paddling the Yukon
Packing for the Yukon required balancing essentials for survival, comfort, and practicality. Most of our kit was designed for outdoor adventures in Scotland, making it equally suitable for the Yukon. I didn’t have some of the gear which Cory already had so I get fantastic new trousers from Palm with built in feet, a new kag and buoyancy aid.
Clothing & Personal Gear
- Kayak Trousers & Kags: Waterproof and durable for paddling. The built in bootees ensured I didn’t suffer from miserable cold feet.
- Life Preservers: Non-negotiable safety essentials. We could have hired these of course, but ours had pockets and whistle etc. and fit like a glove.
- Warm Clothing: Layers were vital to combat cold mornings and evenings. I had a down jacket, and merino tops to layer. One three long sleeved and three short sleeved. We didn’t have any extra weight allowance for frivolity.
- Bug Coat: Absolutely necessary for protection from potential relentless mosquitoes. I was able to borrow one from Dave, Cory’s partner in crime when they paddled UNPEELED.
- Socks, Sun Hat, Cold Hat, Gloves: Darn Tough Socks are the only adventure sock we use since our Pacific Crest Trail Days. The same goes for our Tilley Sun Hat! The snuggly lined cold weather hat is Lidl’s best and the gloves were cheap and cheerful Decathlon.
- Trousers and leggings: 2 quick drying pairs of outdoor trousers from Decathlon and cheap leggings for sleeping from Primark (99pence in the sale, male size and fluffy lined so super cozy).
- On our feet: Our oldest pair of New Balance Trainers for in the water. Cheap and cheerful Lidl’s best ‘crocks’ for in camp.
Why Quality Camping Equipment Is Key to Your Yukon Success
- Tent: Our wee two man TerraNova tent was home for six month whilst walking the Pacific Crest Trail. Almost a decade later, many adventures and Cory’s UNPEELED adventure it had died. So we brought an excellent new TerraNova tent (3 man this time with front and back porch) built to withstand tough conditions.
- Sleeping Bags & Mat: We are still using our RAB sleeping bags (PCT days) which are high-quality, warm, and compact. If it isn’t cold you can use it like a blanket, if it is cold, zip up! We both used our PCT Thermarests. (Cory’s died on the Yukon, mine survives. Cory has since received a free replacement, Thermarest have great customer service.).
- Pots, Stove, Mugs, Knives, Water Bottles: We had pots from Alpkit (superlight) and Aldi (pack of three all fit in snuggly together. Whisperlite stove (just in case). Plastic mugs cost a pound from the Poundshop, pop out bowls. Swiss Army Knife. Titanium Sporks. Cooking essentials for self-sufficiency. Nalgene water bottles we already had (we took three each).
- Folding Seats: A touch of comfort for campsites. This was a luxury but I was a great luxury. I bought mine from Alpkit when it was on sale for about £35 (2024), you can get similar from Decathlon or Amazon.
Survival & Navigation Tools
- First Aid Kit: Cory packed a comprehensive survival first aid kit. (He is after all Director of The First Aid Training Co-operative). If you need advice about your survival first aid kit contact us for more information.
- Garmin Inreach: A lifeline for communication in remote areas. We used this for double checking the weather, communicating with home and just confirming our location and progress.
- Rope & Compass: For navigation and various campsite needs.
- Water Purification Tablets and System: Purification tablets I just bought from eBay and our purification system is from our old PCT days. Platypus GravityWorks.
- Heat Resistant Glove and Folding Bucket and Folding Saw
How to Stay Organised: Dry Bags, Solar Chargers, and More
- Dry Bags: Various sizes for keeping everything dry and organised. From Ortleib to Palm, Lomo and Aldi’s best.
- Trowel: A humble but essential tool for digging cat holes.
Power & Connectivity
- Big Blue Solar Chargers: Allowed us to keep devices powered throughout the trip.
- Battery Packs: Allowed us to store the solar for later phone charging.
- Mobile Phones: Our main camera was our iPhone. I bought us holders which allowed us to tie the phones to our buoyancy aids. Ensuring easy access to capture any photographic opportunity. We also took three in one cables, so, if one got damaged we could all share and make do.
Packing Tip: Prioritise Dual-Purpose Gear
Much of the equipment we brought served multiple purposes. For example, our kayak trousers doubled as waterproofs for camp, and our dry bags were our suitcases.
Why Bringing Your Own Gear Matters
Bringing equipment from Scotland gave us confidence in its quality and reliability. We knew our kit, tested in Scotland’s rugged conditions, would hold up in the Yukon wilderness. And just as important cost! Anyway to keep costs lower was essential.
Whitehorse Purchases
The next step in our journey involved picking up essential items once we arrived in Whitehorse. In the next blog, we’ll dive into the gear we sourced locally and how it complemented what we brought from home.
Master the Yukon Adventure: What You Need to Know Before You Paddle
Accommodation in Whitehorse and Shopping
Master the Yukon Adventure: What You Need to Know Before You Paddle (Part 2)
Planning for the Yukon doesn’t stop at packing your kit. Once you arrive in Whitehorse, there’s plenty to organise and purchase before hitting the river. Here’s a breakdown of where we stayed, how we shopped smartly, and the essential items we added to our gear.
Accommodation in Whitehorse
We stayed at the Stratford Motel, an ideal choice for budget-conscious adventurers. It’s centrally located, making it easy to walk to McDonald’s for a quick bite, visit our outfitter, and shop for supplies at the nearby large shopping complex.
Top Tips for Shopping in Whitehorse
Planning your meals and shopping list in advance is key to staying on budget and avoiding unnecessary purchases. Here’s how we approached it:
- Write Your Shopping List Beforehand
- Plan every meal you’ll need for the journey, including snacks.
- List specific items for meal prep to avoid overpacking or missing essentials.
- Start at DollarRama
- DollarRama is a treasure trove for budget items. We scored:
- Chopping Board: $2
- Frying Pan: $5
- DollarRama is a treasure trove for budget items. We scored:
- Finish at Shoprite and Other Stores
- After DollarRama, head to bigger stores like Shoprite for anything you couldn’t find.
Items We Purchased in Whitehorse
Cooking & Food Prep
- Frying Pan: A cheap option worked well after breaking off the handle to save space.
- Firelighters, Matches, and Lighters: Essential for easy fire-starting.
- Coffee Pot: A must for early river mornings.
- Pots: Compact and inexpensive (handle removed for convenience).
- Ziplock Bags: Perfect for repackaging food and keeping supplies organised.
- Black Bin Bags: Used for waterproofing and rubbish management.
Camping & Packing
- 25-Litre Water Container: Vital for ensuring we had enough clean water.
Navigation & Safety
- Yukon River Guidebook by Mike Rourke: This book was indispensable for maps, river details, and campsite suggestions. It’s widely available in local bookshops or outfitters.
Canoe and Bear Safety Arrangements
We prepaid for our canoes through Up North Adventures, securing:
- One Two-Seater Canoe
- One Single Canoe
- Paddles
- Bear Barrels: Essential for storing food safely away from camp.
Bear Spray
- Available for hire or purchase at outfitters and local shops.
- Important: Bear spray cannot be taken on flights home, so plan accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Whitehorse is your last stop to stock up on everything you’ll need for the Yukon. With careful planning and strategic shopping, you can save money and ensure you’re fully prepared for the journey ahead.
In the next blog, we’ll delve into how we organised and packed all this gear for 15 days on the river. Stay tuned!
Master the Yukon Adventure: What You Need to Know Before You Paddle
