Airdog Action
For the uninitiated, hearing the words “boarder” and “rail” together might conjure an image of a skateboarder doing tricks along the guardrail of a public […]
When It Comes to Paddling Lakes, Go Ahead and Be Shallow
The beauty of a canoe is you can transport it by many means and paddle it almost anywhere. You can put in on any river
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Revelation in Joshua Tree
Once I decided that not to ride was just plain wrong, I had to decide what kind of motorcycle to get. Not even knowing how
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No Round of Resolutions for Me
Before I seem like more of a curmudgeon than I actually am, allow me to state right off the bat: I’m not against New Year’s
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Sally Ann’s Little Helper
Like store shelves bulging with goods and seasonal music bombarding the air, the appearance of the Salvation Army kettle is a sure sign that Christmas
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Our twins, closer to the sun
The atmosphere contains sufficient quantities of oxygen, but very little moisture. It is amazing that anything can grow here. The vegetation is as fantastical as
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Play Makers: Yukonisms: Yukon’s Letter to Santa
Another Christmas season is upon us and with that comes a time for each of us to give thanks for all that we have and
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My Nostalgia Train Just Derailed
You usually have two choices with your past: you can let it either haunt or inform you. Certainly one choice is likely healthier, perhaps nobler
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All I Want for Christmas is a Fishing Rod
You’ve written to Santa and he’s delivered. How he managed to maneuver that fully assembled nine-foot fishing rod down the chimney is best left a
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A Proud History of Civil Rights
Gay Pride is an annual event that happens in cities across the world, usually in the month of June. It celebrates, as its name evokes,
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Life in the Aquafit Lane
My friend Jeff once annoyed a woman so much that she splashed water in his face. They were in the Canada Games Centre pool at
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Olympics are just not normal
Point your toes! Point your toes!” I yelled at Sam Edney. He likely didn’t hear me because my mouth was full of Bacon Ranch Pringles
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Exposing Myself to Serenity
Meditation: not my strong suit. In fact, I suck at it. Sampling various techniques in the past led me to the conclusion I was destined
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It’s Here! Are You Ready?
Winter has finally come. At the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club, this is cause for great celebration (we were getting tired from all that snow
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APTN News to Broadcast Special Report on Aboriginal Health Care
In past columns, we’ve focused on a variety of genres of APTN programming, such as comedies, documentaries and blockbuster movies. But did you know that
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How Do You Snorkel Backwards?
Neiafu, ‘Uta Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga The first swimmer sprang from a standing position at the back of the boat into the warm, calm waters
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Reap What You Sow … Now!
The sun is shining, the snow is melting off of the roof and it is starting to feel like spring. But we are still in
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I Love the Smell of Camping in the Morning
The first camping trip of the year is unique in many ways. For one thing, there’s the anticipation of finding out which critical thing you
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The low of coming home
I don’t like to admit it, but I hate the feeling I get coming back home after a long motorcycle trip. There is so much
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Yachties for a Day on the Ratbag
Neiafu, ‘Uta Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga “Do pigs eat egg shells?” This was answered by a shake of the head. “No. They are too crunchy.”
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H2O 101
Now that we are almost at the end of June, I find my plants are growing very fast. I’ve already harvested the first of my
Stopping to Smell the Roses on the Farm
I took a walk today with three young boys. First they followed me throughout the barn while I did the chores. Asking questions and admiring
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With a Little Help From Your Friends
Support versus no support: Is there a difference when it comes to your health and fitness program? Each year, I run a six-week weight loss
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Hot Fun in the Summertime
Due to some travelling adventures in Latin and South America, I was introduced to chili peppers in the last 10 years or so. Approaching the
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Dear Mister Ed
I aint too sure whats goin’ on, but fer some reason the past few weeks I been startin’ to feel a fair bit older than
Drinking with the Germans
Iwas honoured when my German friends invited me over for an authentic beer and sausage party. What a treat, an Oktoberfest of sorts, without leaving
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Mr Ed
I aint herd if yer still traypsin’ around whilst some one else does all yer dirty work. If you made it back to yer job
Time: Freeze or Flow?
I love this creaky season, the turning of the wheel between one year and the next. The whole concept of measuring time in years is
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Some Like It Cold
With the snow blowing around and the temperatures dropping, most people and animals prefer to be indoors. This isn’t the case for the geese and
Funky Hand Controllers
The biggest problems experienced by amateur astronomers, who live in the Yukon and the northern limits of civilization, is the cold. The cold is brutal
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Dear Mister Ed
Darroll, theres a roomer goin’ round that some womman is camped out fer a few weeks in yer big stuffy Mister Ed chair. The same
Fit ‘n’ Healthy: Healthy Holiday Rules
Holidays are upon us. How much weight do you usually gain over the holidays? The average person takes on eight pounds over the two weeks.
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If I Could Ski With the Animals …
I could put it off no longer. Since work began on our trail (thank you Chris and Cole!), I could think of nothing but cross-country
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Rhythms Change as Seasons Change
Iam enjoying our long fall this year. It has allowed us to work on outside projects much easier than if we were knee deep in
Rhythms Change as Seasons Change Read More »
Mr Ed
Dont know how you been spendin’ yer weekends, Darrol. If I did I wud’nt say. I had a diffrent one from normal this past long
Don’t be a Weekend (Ski) Warrior
Now that the snow is flying and you’re itching to get out on your skis or snowshoes, or jump on the sleds, don’t get injured
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The legacy of legends
There are legends – those men and women who left their mark on the Klondike – and that is the theme of this year’s Yukon
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Tee-ing Off On Disc Golf
I really wanted to make fun of disc golf. I think it has to do with my past experience with the only other disc sport
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Perennial Planting for Northern Gardeners
Now is the perfect time of year to think about adding new perennials to your garden. First, take a look at your existing garden. Note
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Skis and Sleds Hit the Road
Mid-distance dog races are back, with the Road Runner 100. “Mushers and skijorers have been asking for this type of race for years now,”
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Play Makers: Lot Shortage What Lot Shortage?!
Sometimes when I write these articles, and I’m experiencing a little writer’s block, I start to picture life in the North through the eyes of
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The Geminid Meteor Shower and a Lunar Eclipse
The month of December promises to be an action-packed month of celestial events for every amateur astronomer and nighttime photographer. As long as the weather
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Caring for That Christmas Poinsettia
The poinsettia, or Christmas Star as it is known throughout Europe, is one of the very few plants that bloom during winter and the holiday
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2010 Perennial Plant of the Year: Baptisia Australis
Each year, the Perennial Plant of the Year Committee selects a perennial plant which meets the following criteria: suitable for a wide range of climates,
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Dear Mister Ed
If yer like most folks Darrol, you probly spent the past while or two glued to yer TV waitin’ to see how much hardwear gets
The Other Side of Late Blooming
Gayle Haggard published a book about her experience as the straight spouse of a homosexual partner who was outed by a male prostitute.
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Hope Floats at the First Annual Kayak For a Cure Yukon
Sunday, June 13, a small but determined group of local kayaking enthusiasts will put their paddles in the water for a good cause, traveling the
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Free-thinking and Espresso: A Rich History
When was the last time you went out for coffee? I don’t mean get a coffee and run – you probably did that already twice
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Creating Curb Appeal
When it comes to buying a home, the attraction of love at first sight is highly valued among potential new home owners. If you are
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Dear Mister Ed
The Olympicks finely got under way with all the hoop-law and hullaballoons, and Evas been vibratin’ like a joy buzzer fer days. This past Sunday
Play Makers: Hikers, Hippies and Germans Oh My!
After months of isolation in this frigid land north of 60, finally the much-anticipated Yukon summer is nearing. Sure, there are the obvious signs, like
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Tasting France’s Most Famous Wine
Now that the Yukon snows have finally arrived and the all-too-brief weeks of skating the magically bare icy surface of my lake are done, I
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Mining for missions
When it came time to retire, Yukoners Keith and Betty Dye decided it was time to start the hands-on work of placer mining. For six
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Winter Sports and the Art of Sucking
I come from a family of cross-country skiers. My father was a coach and my sister was on the Yukon Ski Team. Throughout my youth,
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Mo Love
The walrus, the Fu Manchu, the Dali — so many moustaches, so little time. For one month of the year, known as Movember, men around
Dog Sledders Hope To Get Students Mushy About The Sport
“It is so important for kids to be outside and to connect with nature,” says Karin Grenier. “And one way to do that is for
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Club Welcomes Beginner Dogs and People to Races
Whether you have a poodle, a retired sled dog, or a dog in race form, the Dog Powered Sports Association (DPSA) of the Yukon has
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Sporting with Horses
Don’t know your Egg-and-Spoon from your Keyhole, or your Road Hack from your Show Hack? You can watch and learn this weekend as more than
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Click Here To Protest
Once again the internets were all abuzz last month about the rise of “Fox News North”. My Facebook feed was riddled with urgent cries to
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Fishing Little Max Creek
With the ice out and the creeks beginning to swell, the grayling fishing can be superb. Pick any clear, moving river or creek with a
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Speaking Frankly about Choices
Jessica Yee doesn’t mince her words. “As young people, our rights to our own bodies and spaces are fundamental to our own existence. They are
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Along the Jo-Jo Lake Trail
The history of the Jo-Jo Lake trail goes a long way back, as the people of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations can tell you.
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Panoramic Ponderings
Panoramic photos are a wonder to behold – capturing the broad expanse of the vista all in one image and fascinating the viewer. They are
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No Klatch Required
“I think we should take a break.” When slapped together, those can be the most dreaded words in the English language. And so, it was
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Bitter and Batter
If you read Dennis Zimmermann’s article last week on ice fishing and combined it with the weather in Whitehorse this weekend, you may well have
Fit ‘n’ Healthy: High-Test Fitness
In the last two weeks I was able to attend two very different, yet very interesting and informative workshops. One was a two-day seminar in
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It’s Like Solving a Puzzle
I think we may have been talking too much,” says Eleanor O’Donovan. She’s on the crest of a hill facing Grey Mountain, staring intently at
It’s Like Solving a Puzzle Read More »
Prepping for the Trail Run
It’s been called one of the hardest marathons in North America by iRun magazine and one of the top 10 trail races in Canada by
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Not Quite Alone in the Desert
The highest peaks of the Animas mountains in the east are already colouring light pink. As the road dips slightly through an arroyo, there are
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Canyon Dreams
Warmer temperatures motivate and promote amateur astronomy in this marvellous northern land in which we live. For example, my favourite in-town observing site is the
A Rookie Mistake?
In my experience there are two kinds of anglers you encounter out on the water. There are those who are tight-lipped, seek solitude and avoid
Fit ‘n’ Healthy: Eating Allergies Away
Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Are you sniffing, sneezing and constantly rubbing your eyes? Do you stay inside when you see that yellow haze
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Quest for Fire
That is your favourite time at the fire? What makes the campfire the best place in world for you? Perhaps I am being a bit
Seeing With Both Eyes
My first introduction to the CHAOS program involved driving up Grey Mountain to meet a group of grade 9 students and educators as they completed
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Play Makers: The New People Are Here
They are the strangers, the glorious strangers, who have finally arrived north from all over the world, giving the territory a jolt of excitement. Some
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Who is Walking Whom?
Summer has finally arrived and more people are walking their dogs. Or are the dogs walking their owners? I see people struggling to hold on
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Bridging the Gap – Part 4
The last trip of my gap year (a study camp in Iceland) left me in disbelief that the year was already over, yet appreciating home
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Fit ‘n’ Healthy: Organics Overview
Should you bother spending the extra money to eat organic? Well, that depends. Though our options are limited living in Yukon, we do have some.
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Protective colouration
As a kid, I delivered the Windsor Star to Red Wings goalie Glenn Hall. As a cub reporter, I once photographed Toronto tough guy Eddie
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Bucky’s Lament: Archery
The one giving the orders is a big man. His commands are issued with an authority that leave no doubt as to who’s in charge.
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Wandering in Mendenhall Meadows
The meadows lie like pearls on a string along the winding, muddy Mendenhall River. I live only three kilometres from the river as the crow
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Wine on the Go
Last week I was cornered by someone who asked what her options were for taking wine along on a paddling trip. For me, part of
Saturn and the Super Moon
Where were you on Saturday March 19, when the Super Moon occurred? Sounds kind of ominous doesn’t it? So, what is a super moon? As
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Fit ‘n’ Healthy: Spring Break 7-day Challenge
Are you putting all your hours and hard work in at the gym and don’t seem to be getting anywhere? Please don’t order any more
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Mosquiticide
Everything in nature has a purpose. The purpose of the Noble Mosquito [Culiseta longiareolata] is to keep our campsites from becoming overcrowded. What I see
Janet Goes Walking – Part 2
This was it. After walking almost 800 kilometres in 31 days, I was about to arrive at what I thought would be my final destination:
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Late Night Dogs
Dave Fraser is wearing a huge smile on his face as he hands out six grilled cheese sandwiches thick with bacon, tomato, onion and pickle.
Lasers, Photons and Northern Lights
Discover the magic of astronomy in the Yukon. Explore the stunning night skies and experience the thrill of springtime stargazing.
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Fit ‘n’ Healthy: Feeling Good Outside and In
I have one question for you today. Is what you are currently doing to improve your lifestyle working for you? No? Then maybe you should
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Bridging the Gap – Part 3
After my memorable, and sometimes unsettling, experiences in Thailand and New Zealand, I returned to Whitehorse to work for awhile to top up my finances
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Peas Aplenty
I decided to go with the larger package. It is a variety that has done very well in the past. It was almost funny, when
Temperatures, Too
With the oncoming of spring, the nights are shorter and temperatures are struggling to rise. The Yukon night skies are also in a state of
Time to Check In, Ladies
Why do you ride? I’m serious. I want to know. I want to hear from every woman who reads this column. I want to know
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Janet Goes Walking – Part 1
It started with the Wife of Bath. I was about 17 years old when I first read Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. I felt a strong kinship
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Schwartz on the Job
One of my pet peeves is dogs (no pun intended). More specifically, other people’s dogs that come onto the farm. One reason dogs were domesticated
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Start a blog
Blogging is “a dangerous medium for personal exposure.” So says Andrew Robulack, a Whitehorse technophile, columnist and long-time blogger. He’s nailed the definition. Broadcasting your
Cranberries For Health
It’s time to bring fresh flavour into our long winter season! Bursting with colour and flavour, wild cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), or lingonberries, are one of
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Native Hockey Unites Yukon
signs of spring begin early in the Yukon, long before the weather offers any indication that the harsh winter will bow out. It begins with
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What Per Cent Civility?
Well, talk about putting the civil back into civil disobedience. Most of you have probably heard the recent hoopla out of Parliament Hill. During the
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Play Makers: A Salute to the Hardcore
I feel lazy. I think most of us do – at least the ones who have been following the part brave, part ridiculous winter antics
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