Haines Junction in the Yukon, Canada

The Village Bakery in Haines Junction, Yukon (Canada).

An hour and a half from Whitehorse and I was on my way to Haines Junction, Yukon. The drive on the Alaska Highway is like a roller coaster- get the driver going fast enough and the passenger need only hold up their arms and yell, “Look, no hands!” Okay, that’s what I did to pass the time, but there were sure a lot of stomach-dropping moments.

We finally arrived in one piece and grabbed a quick lunch at the Village Bakery (867-634-2867). This is where everyone in the area seems to be for lunch, as they have a simple sandwich, wrap, pizza and quiche menu for reasonable prices.

The food isn’t actually all that good, but it has free wireless for campers (or for those without wireless in their hotels), a lively atmosphere and inexpensive lunch options for travellers who would rather be out exploring the neighbouring Kluane National Park than sitting down for a meal.

Mt. Logan, Canada's Largest Mountain, in Kluane National Park, Yukon.

That’s exactly what we did: I grabbed a wrap and apple and got ready for a small plane ride over the mountains with Kluane Glacier Tours.

Our pilot, Tor, gave four of us the safety precautions before revving up the plane. Off we went from the tiny Haines airport. This route is called “The Logan Super Tour” because it’s a thorough look over much of the park. We saw the impressive St. Elias Mountains and then kept going past glaciers, one of the largest non-polar icefields in the world and rivers.

The grand daddy of them all was Mount Logan, of course, the largest mountain in Canada (a mere 5,959 metres). It was breathtaking. This thing is enormous! We were flying at 10,000 feet and still weren’t even near the top of it.

We were all snapping photos like mad, trying to capture the enormity of these mountain ranges.

Back on land, I staked out two churches that I spotted when we drove in. There are some seriously cute churches in the Yukon. Our Lady of the Way was my first stop, as it looked like, well, I’m not sure. It was built in the mid-1950s using parts from an old American army Quonset hut. A semi-circle shape, with steel arch-rib framing, it’s covered with a “skin” of corrugated steel sheets. It’s like a spaceship.

Our Lady of the Way Church in Haines Junction, Yukon (Canada).

Across the street is the St. Christopher’s Anglican Church, a gorgeous log wood cabin with eight sides. Finished in 1991, the church was built with the help of local inmates from a nearby minimum security prison who supplied labour for hauling logs and cement. There are neat photos in the basement of the construction process.

What I Liked:

• This area is absolutely stunning. Think big mountains, times that by three, and you’ll get the scenery at Kluane National Park.
• Kluane Glacier Tours is a great way to see it all: they run five different length small plane routes that cover different parts of Kluane park. The views are phenomenal and the mountain ranges so large, they left me with my jaw hanging open.
• Village Bakery is a cute stop for any meal, just expect simple food and a bustling atmosphere during mealtimes.
• Make sure to check out the churches. They’re super cute and you can go inside during the summer months and take a peak at the designs. Well worth it.