A paddling trip on the remote, rugged, and beautiful Firth river will always be memorable. Add caribou—a lot of caribou—to the setting and it's like nowhere else on earth. But seeing the majestic porcupine caribou herd involves some hiking, and that's an issue for Chris Carli. He likes whitewater paddling and even whitewater swimming, but he does not like hiking.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon,...

Replay*: What do you know about the Klondike Gold Rush? If you've been to Dawson City, you've probably heard about gold seekers and dance-hall girls. But what about the people displaced by greed and colonialism? Parks Canada is widening its lens and asking visitors to consider their own responsibility to reconciliation.  *This episode first aired in August 2022. Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon,...

It's been more than 30 years since Krystal Senyk was shot and killed at her home outside Carcross and Ronald Bax, her accused killer and the estranged husband of a friend, disappeared into the wilderness. In "I got a name," author Eliza Robertson tells Krystal's story, digs into why protection wasn't provided when Krystal asked for it, and shows how prevalent gender-based violence continues to be.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] ...

The runways of Paris and New York are a long way from Ross River, Yukon, where Natasha Peter grew up. But that didn't stop her from making lofty goals of where she wanted to see her handcrafted fashion and jewellery on display. The creator behind Kaska Dena designs says her culture is a key element in her inspiration and success.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

When a bear starts running towards you, that's never a good thing. So began an uncomfortable standoff between three women on a backpacking trip and a grizzly bear. Karen debriefs this encounter with Yukon Conservation Officer Dean McLean, who shares his bear safely insights. Take a listen, it could save your life.   Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Recent years have seen devastating fires in Albert and B.C. The Whitehorse South Fuel Break is part of a plan to prevent a similar disaster in Whitehorse. It won't stop a fire in its tracks but it will help firefighters respond. Jennifer Sharp and Carl Cibart of Yukon Wildland Fire Management tell us how it works.   Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Cows Go Moo might sound like child's play, but when they hit the stage it's anything but. While other Yukoners struggled to let off steam during the pandemic, six pre-teen musicians cranked their amps to 11, practiced like hell, and honed a set of classic covers and original bangers. Since their debut performance in March 2022, the band has experienced remarkable growth—several inches at least. This is the story of Cows Go Moo, guest produced by "father of a Moo" Mark Koepke. Contact us ...

Cathy Brais lives at Eagle Plains, kilometre 370 of the Dempster Highway, just shy of the Arctic Circle. Her job as a highway foreperson often takes her into an infamous stretch of road known as "hurricane alley." What's it like living and working on one of the loneliest stretches of highway in the world? Cathy says a place is what you make it.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary...

Whitehorse journalist Haley Ritchie was curious why so many romance books are set in the North. What is it about the cold and dark that get the heart beating quicker? She unpacks three novels set in Alaska and Yukon.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

What does it take to make a good sandwich and a good video about making a good sandwiches? We ask Yukon-bred (pun intended) TikToker Jonathan Ostrander, AKA Sandwich Dad, and take a deep dive into the synergy created when various combinations of fillings and condiments are slapped between two pieces of bread.    Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Each spring, northern rivers go from solid ice to flowing water. In the best-case scenario this process goes smoothly, but if ice jams form there could be trouble. That's why Holly Goulding keeps a close eye on conditions year round. The Yukon government hydrologist knows how ice, water, snow, and temperatures combine to create the perfect melt or flood conditions.   Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to...

The homecoming of a beautifully woven 19th-century Chilkat robe is cause for celebration and consideration for the Taku River Tlingit First Nation in Atlin, B.C. Why did they have to spend thousands of dollars to repatriate one of their own artefacts? Elder and carver Wayne Carlick explains how they bought the robe and what comes next.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Spending 12 days alone in the wilderness in the depths of winter might seem crazy, but Jessie Gladish keeps going back for more. In previous years, she skied and walked the 430-mile (688-km) Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra between Whitehorse and Dawson City. This year, though, her biggest challenge yet: to complete the race by fat bike. Trail conditions will dictate how much riding she is able to do, versus pushing her bike through the snow as a glorified luggage cart. Contact us Tweet us at...

Cold therapy is all the rage right now. Karen meets up with Valerie, who "dips" regularly in a pool chopped out of lake ice, to get the lowdown on how it works and why she and many others do this. Then,  Valerie coaches Karen through her first dip.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Melanie Bennett grew up at Engineer Creek, 200 km up the Dempster Highway, when the road was being built. There were few neighbours of the human variety but the surrounding wilderness was her playground and schoolroom. That upbringing helps her maintain "one foot on the land" in her role as an educator.   *This episode first aired in January 2022.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of...

When Manu Keggenhoff moved from Germany to a tiny cabin outside Atlin, B.C., 15 years ago, she didn’t have running water or any of the fancy stuff.  Manu, also the art director of YNoO magazine, shares about cabin life, cabin fever, and best of all—outhouses. *This episode first aired in in December 2021.   Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

For drag performer Andy Pee, there's no better high than sharing their true expression of gender on stage and having it celebrated by a room full of cheering people. Andy, AKA Andyboy, tells us how the scene up here differs from mainstream perceptions about drag.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Anyone with even a remote interest in Yukon history or travel will, at some point, come across the work of Murray Lundberg and his 4,000-plus page ExploreNorth website. Although a health condition is stealing his memory, his legacy couldn't be clearer.  Justice vs Vengeance (Untold Comic Battles)Justice vs Vengeance hosts Caleb West and Robby Gaddis battle out their favorite comic...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email...

As an ice-core scientist, Alison Criscitiello studies ancient ice for clues about our climate, at the Canadian Ice Core Lab at the University of Alberta. As a high-altitude mountaineer, she climbs mountains all over the world. In the highest risk, highest reward expedition she has ever planned, the National Geographic Explorer heads to Mount Logan in search of potentially 30,000 year-old ice. As it turns out, summiting Canada's highest peak was only the start of the challenge ahead.  All...

Yukoners Ashley Cummings and Christian Wright reflect on a mind-blowing 30-day cruise through the Northwest Passage. Both worked as educators on a 400-passenger vessel traversing the Arctic from Nome, Alaska, to Halifax, NS. It was the experience of a lifetime for many reasons. And it was especially meaningful for Ashley, who is Inuk.  Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

There are only a handful of electric trucks in the Yukon and Greg Karais is the proud owner of one (a Ford-150 Lightning Lariat). It’s objectively nifty but comes with a big price tag. Greg takes Karen for a drive to convince her of its merits. He also spills about his "tow of shame" in Haines Junction.... Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

Yukoners drive a lot so it's no wonder there's a big push to ditch the gas guzzlers and get on the electric vehicle bandwagon. Shane Andre of Yukon’s Energy Solutions Centre answers key questions about EVs and Andrew Hall of Yukon Energy shares how the public utility plans to keep up with increasing demands for clean energy. Contact us Tweet us at @northofordinary or @theyukonkaren Email [email protected] You can also read/subscribe to Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine.

If anyone in the North sees a sasquatch, they know who to call: Red Grossinger. The Canadian Armed Forces veteran has spent his retirement years collecting reports and doing investigations. He walks us through two sasquatch sightings near Whitehorse.   This episode is sponsored by Air North, Yukon's Airline. 

Wayne Potoroka, associate editor of Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine, doesn't have strong feelings about sasquatch one way or another, but he is interested in the people who are interested in sasquatch. So, he talked to a bunch of them, including the Yukon's number one sasquatch tracker. As it turns out, there's no shortage of stories—or believers. This episode is sponsored by Air North, Yukon's Airline. 

What do you know about the Klondike Gold Rush? If you've been to Dawson City, you've probably heard about gold seekers and dance-hall girls. But what about the people displaced by greed and colonialism? Parks Canada is widening its lens and asking visitors to consider their own responsibility to reconciliation.  This episode is sponsored by Air North, Yukon's Airline.