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Canyon Creek Memories
by DennyDIn Spring 1962 I took my posting with CNT to the Repeater Station at mile 996, Canyon Creek, Yukon. Across the highway from my office was the Canyon Creek Lodge. Standing at my front door and to my right was the famous old bridge over the Aishihik River. Across the river and high on the hill above was a quaint Native Cemetery; complete with little houses, windows to allow a peek into the furnished and equipped dining room !
My responsibility for the CN Telecommunications camp was for the five residences of personnel which included a Microwave Technician, the Paint (?) Mountain Tramway Operator, a diesel mechanic and myself with my wife, Rachel and our baby boy. We were well equipped with a large walk-in freezer, a central fuel supply to heat our homes, a large 2-story building for the Lineman's vehicle and equipment and a garage for the Tramway Operator's vehicle and finally a metal building housing two Caterpillar diesel-electric plants and control panels. It all kept me well occupied and anyone stopping in to make phone calls were welcome visitors.
One late, August afternoon, a family of four from the southern states and heading for Alaska, stopped at the station and upon entry asked, "how far before we hit the snow??" I noticed their Chev Subarban was loaded with toboggans and ski equipment and tried, (successfully) to stifle my outburst of laughter while diplomatically explaining the truth.
Trips to Pine Lake, up the tramway and also curling during winter months at Haines Junction are events not to be forgotten. I was also the pianist at their Baptist Church.
On good Friday we felt the rolling effect of Alaska's earthquake as it passed under us. Nothing was too badly shaken but the experience was memorable.
Today I would love to fish again under that old bridge and up stream about a 100 yards for I pulled out many a Grayling during summer evenings. Downstream about a half mile I panned for gold and managed to acquire enough for memories sake. Trips up to Otter Falls were most memorable and I photographed the falls in every season. Sadly, all my photographic materials were lost in our move to Prince Rupert...and never recovered.
Trips to Haines Junction took us onward to Haines Alaska for July 4th weekend on one occasion. Our more frequent trips were to the Experimental Farm just up from Haines Jct. (mile 1018??)
On an especially cold winter day, well down in minus 50's, I watched my Lineman take a glass of water out to the front step. "Watch this!" he said as he tossed it up into the air. The droplets froze immediately and fell to the ground bouncing like pebbles.
In the 80s' I returned to the CNT site and was truly heartbroken to see that buildings had all disappeared and as I took my seat on a fmiliar old stump at riverside I reminisced of the days when as a resident I enjoyed this marvelous haven. I journeyed to Haines Junction and onward to the site of the Experimental Farm......it held no memories there as changes had made it something else.
Finally, my visit up to Otter Falls was a true and harsh reminder of what we humans call progress. The beautiful rushing waters and the otter playing across the river was now a sadly reduced trickle and random stack of rock and timber, and no playful Otters ! I left with a sunken heart.
Now 80 years of age, I am planning to travel the highway as I did so many many times....and with a few days in Whitehorse and Haines Junction, I hope to park my RV by the Aishihik River again, not to fish but to rest, and enjoy as I did in bygone days, the solemn and breath taking glory of the Yukon. This will be my last trip and I look forward to it with true anticipation. My travels to UK and elsewhere all remain secondary to my life in the Yukon and I am eternally grateful that God allowed me time to enjoy this part of his world.
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