If you enjoy true crime/mysteries/drama/adventure, this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio has all of that. In 1932, Albert Johnson, The Mad Trapper of Rat River led numerous RCMP constables through remote stretches of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. To live up to their reputation of always getting their man, the officers (and numerous civilians) as well as Special Constables and dog teams, had to endure blizzards and temperatures as low as -50, often while breaking trail in complete darkness. Those guys were tough. Nancy Pope, who lives here in Tagish, reads from her dad’s journals– he was one of those tough, good guys who did indeed get their man. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-63-albert-johnson-the-mad-trapper-of-rat-river/
May 16
Those Guys Were Tough
May 16
Snowstorm in May
I guess it was premature of me to store the snow shovel. In the Tagish/Whitehorse area we awoke this morning to quite a bit of snow. The only one not grumbling around here is Max the puppy. He thinks it’s great.
May 15
The Manhunt for Albert Johnson, The Mad Trapper of Rat River
On this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we go back in time to 1932 and join the manhunt for Albert Johnson, known as The Mad Trapper of Rat River. Johnson is a desperate man who’s already wounded two RCMP constables, and killed a third.
During the podcast, one of the officers involved with the manhunt and who came face to face with Johnson, Constable Sid May– detailed the experience in his official RCMP journals. His daughter, Nancy Pope, reads his entries which were written while on the chase, in temperatures as low as -50 and occasionally during blizzard conditions.
Here are a few excerpts from Constable Sid May’s journals:
Feb.17th,1932 – Wednesday – 35 Below F.
Met Johnson on Eagle River about twenty miles from the mouth by winter trail. Johnson was shot between 11:00 AM and 12:10 PM wounding one of our party. The attack was a surprise to Johnson.
12:30 PM started out to follow Johnson’s trail. He had made two camps in twelve miles but no fire. On seeing a ski traikl Johnsonn turned back on his own trail following the high banks at times and once climbing a tree.
Trail poor Miles 38
Made camp at the mouth of Eagle River, 10:20 PM
Feb. 18th, 1932 – Thursday – -35F.
Broke camp 9:30AM
Made noon fire 12:00 PM
Made LaPierre House 2:15 PM
Miles 10, Trail Good
Plane left LaPierre House this AM with Insp. Eames and body of Johnson.
Borrowed three dogs from H. Anthony. During the fight with Johnson these dogs got into fight, crippling one dog badly. Edward Chitze and William Chitze in from Old Crow, Y.T.
Listen to the podcast on iTunes or here on our website: http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-63-albert-johnson-the-mad-trapper-of-rat-river/
May 15
This Week on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio: Albert Johnson, The Mad Trapper of Rat River
This week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio is now up! Get your snowshoes on and pack your dog sled– we’re on a manhunt for the notorious Albert Johnson, The Mad Trapper of Rat River. Along the way, we’ll hear from Constable Sid May, in the form of his diary entries read by his daughter, Nancy Pope. This is one of the most infamous episodes in Canada’s history so put your feet up and enjoy.
http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-63-albert-johnson-the-mad-trapper-of-rat-river/
May 15
Episode 63: Albert Johnson, The Mad Trapper of Rat River
Have you ever heard of the Mad Trapper of Rat River? The year was 1932 and a trapper (whose identity has never been proven) shot and wounded an RCMP constable investigating allegations that the man was stealing others’ traps. So began one of the most famous manhunts in Canada’s history which started in the Northwest Territories and ended in the Yukon. In the dead of winter, a team of officers and their dog teams tracked the man through some of the roughest country in North America. Before it was over, another RCMP officer was killed in the line of duty. Our guest this week on My Yukon Life podcast radio, Nancy Pope, reads from her father’s leather-bound journal about this infamous episode in Yukon’s history. RCMP Constable Sid May was Nancy’s father, and he was one of the adventurous men who tracked the Mad Trapper under horrifically challenging circumstances.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:51 — 17.8MB) | Embed
May 14
Constable May’s Journal Entries About The Mad Trapper of Rat River
This is the leather-bound official RCMP diary left behind by Constable Sid May. The entries include his involvement in tracking Albert Johnson, The Mad Trapper of Rat River. Sid’s daughter, Nancy Pope, reads those entries during this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio. I’m still working on the final edits and will be posting it later tonight. Apologies to those of you in the later time zones, but if you can’t stay up, I hope you’ll check out the episode tomorrow morning on our website, or download it from iTunes.
May 13
The Mad Trapper of Rat River this Week on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
Have you ever heard of The Mad Trapper of Rat River? The year was 1931 and a trapper (whose identity has never been proven) shot and wounded an RCMP constable investigating allegations that the man was stealing others’ traps. So began one of the most famous manhunts in Canada’s history which began in the Northwest Territories and ended in the Yukon. In the dead of winter, a team of officers and their dog teams tracked the man through some of the roughest country in North America. Before it was over, another RCMP officer was killed in the line of duty. Our guest this week on My Yukon Life podcast radio, Nancy Pope, will read from her father’s leather-bound journal about this infamous episode in Yukon’s history. RCMP Constable Sid May was Nancy’s father, and he was one of the men who tracked the Mad Trapper under horrifically challenging circumstances. Look for that episode beginning tomorrow/Monday night on the podcast page of our website.
May 12
The Most Fascinating People You’ve Never Heard Of
My Yukon Life podcast radio features some of the most fascinating people you’ve never heard of. Our archives include podcasts with Yukoners like Retired RCMP Constable Bill Pringle who once patrolled the Far North by dog sled; Ione Christensen, a pioneer of women in politics who carved her first trap line out of the bush at age 6. Turn up the speakers and have a listen while you do the dishes, surf the Internet or organize those closets.
http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts-2/2012-2/adventurers/.
May 09
A Timeless Traditional Story Spoken by Ida Calmegane
Tagish, pop. 200, is the town where my cabin is located and My Yukon Life podcast radio is produced. It’s also the name of the language once spoken by the original people. Sadly, the language has died. Angela Sidney was the last person to speak Tagish fluently. Around the corner from me is Sidney Street, named for this woman who was revered as a story teller & the co-author of two narratives of traditional Tagish legends.
Angela passed away in 1991, leaving behind her daughter, Ida Calmegane. It’s no coincidence that Ida lives on Sidney Street here in Tagish. She’s our special guest this week on My Yukon Life podcast radio and shares a traditional story with us that was handed down to her through the generations. It’s a compelling tale, one with a timeless message all of us can appreciate regardless of where we live or our bloodline. Besides that, I can listen to Ida read the phone book. It’s clear she inherited her mom’s storytelling ability. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-62-first-nations-elder-ida-calmegane/
May 07
This Week’s Episode of My Yukon Life Podcast Radio with Elder Ida Calmegane is Now Up!
This week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio is now up! Our special guest this week is Tagish/Carcross First Nations Elder Ida Calmegane who turns 84 this year. Ida’s close relatives were the very same folks who began the infamous 1898 Klondike gold rush. Ida shares that story with us, as well as another one handed down through the generations. This is a very special episode, one made even more enjoyable by listening to Ida’s voice. It’s clear she’s the daughter of a renowned, traditional story teller. Don’t miss it. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-62-first-nations-elder-ida-calmegane/
May 07
Episode 62: First Nations Elder Ida Calmegane
Ida Calmegane is a Deshitan of the Crow Clan and respected Elder of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. She shares with us a traditional Tagish story handed down to her from her grandmother. Three of the four people associated with the 1898 gold rush were close relatives of Ida’s and she explains how the Klondike gold rush actually got started. Ida also shares her own adventure of climbing the Chilkoot Trail in her 50′s, a trail that was carved through the mountains between Skagway, Alaska and the Yukon by her ancestors, then later used by thousands of gold seekers during the 1898 gold rush.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:28 — 17.5MB) | Embed
May 06
Some History of the Tagish People as Told by an Elder
I just spent a lovely afternoon at Ida Calmegane’s cabin here in Tagish for this week’s episode of My Yukon Life and I’ll be posting that podcast tomorrow night. Ida is a Deshitan of the Crow Clan and respected Elder of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation. She shares with us a traditional Tagish story handed down to her from her grandmother. She also talks about what it was like in the 1940′s when public places were segregated between whites and “Negros and Indians” as they were called back then. Three of the four people associated with the 1898 gold rush were close relative’s of Ida’s and she explains how the Klondike gold rush actually got started. This week’s episode of My Yukon Life will be very special and I encourage you not to miss it. (Time permitting, you’ll even learn Ida’s favorite ways of cooking porcupine!)
May 06
Ida Calmegane This Week on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
Ida Calmegane is a Deshitan of the Crow Clan and respected Elder of the Tagish Dancers and Carcross/Tagish First Nation. Ida will be our guest on this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio. I’ll be honored to spend much of today in her Tagish home as she shares some of her knowledge about using native plants and herbs for medicine and healthy living.
May 06
Thank You Cathie of Archbould Photography!
A big thanks goes out to Cathie Archbould of Archbould Photography for her infinite patience while photographing me yesterday for the upcoming summer issue of Yukon, North of Ordinary magazine which will include a piece on My Yukon Life podcast radio. To say I hate having my photo taken is an understatement, and the results usually reflect that. Thanks again, Cathie!
May 03
Yukon UFO Expert Lorraine Bretlyn On My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
Yukon UFO expert Lorraine Bretlyn this week on My Yukon Life podcast radio: http://bit.ly/IMn8KL
Apr 29
This Week on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio: UFOs in the Yukon?
This week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio is coming to you a little early. My Yukon Life is all about showcasing the many wonderful and out-of-the-box folks who contribute to making the Yukon a unique and fascinating place. Boring is one word I’ve never heard used to describe it. Case in point is this week’s special guest, Lorraine Bretlyn, a self-described UFO investigator for the Yukon. Whether you believe in UFOs or not, I’m betting you’ll find this episode very interesting. I encourage you to keep an open mind, and I’d like to thank Lorraine for making herself available to speak on what is still considered by many to be a taboo subject. Enjoy the podcast! http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-61-ufo-investigator-lorraine-bretlyn/
Apr 29
Episode 61: UFO Investigator Lorraine Bretlyn
UFOs have been reported numerous times in the Yukon over the years. In one of the local Whitehorse newspapers, you’ll find an ad in the Personals for the UFO Hot Line. It says, “Report Yukon UFOs, bigfoot, spirit, etc.” A phone number is listed so I called it and left a message. Within a few minutes, my phone rang. A woman with a soft voice asked me if I was Jennifer. I said yes. She told me her name is Lorraine and she was returning my call about UFOs.
Lorraine Bretlyn grew up in Manitoba. Before moving to the Yukon in 1989 she lived in British Columbia and Spain. Although she’s had an almost lifelong interest in UFOs, it wasn’t until 1997 when she started writing about them.
The newspaper ad has kept her busy. Since first running it many years ago, she’s conducted dozens of interviews with people who claim to have had some sort of UFO encounter. Some reports involve seeing the classic round objects in the sky with rotating lights, and at least one person has even reported being abducted.
In Lorraine’s Whitehorse home are many of the exhibits and bits of memorabilia that were part of the UFO museum she operated for a while. Lorraine has fit as much of it as possible into her home, the rest is packed away in boxes.
I asked her to share some of the highlights of her UFO investigations and bring out some of the objects and photos she’s collected over the years.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:08 — 16.6MB) | Embed
Apr 27
Running with the Caribou
While driving yesterday, way ahead of me on the grassy shoulder at the edge of the bush (known as forest down south) I saw two dark objects. My first guess was they were juvenile black bears, but no, they were two young caribou. They crossed the road in front of me (by now I was driving slowly and staying back to give them lots of stress-free room) and when they got to the other side, one of them immediately disappeared through the trees. But the other one paused, then looked over at me as I slowly drove past. Then it was like he/she recognized me and began running parallel to my truck. I sped up, the caribou sped up, watching me the whole time as we travelled together. When it reached maximum speed I clocked us at 20 mph. Eventually, it tired and slowed down, then stopped. In my mirror I watched the caribou as it watched me disappear down the road. That’s the Yukon for you– anything can happen, and something always does.
Apr 26
Dalton’s Gold Rush Trail
Many people are familiar with the Chilkoot Trail over which thousands and thousands of would-be gold prospectors trekked on their way to the gold fields of Dawson City, Yukon at the end of the 1800′s. A less familiar route, known as Dalton’s Trail, was also used by many on their to Dawson. Like the Chilkoot, the trail had originally been made by aboriginal people long before the white man/woman arrived from distant places. But it was a white man named Jack Dalton who hijacked the trail for himself, capitalizing on it during the gold rush. Hear the fascinating story of Dalton’s Trail this week on My Yukon Life podcast radio, thanks to Michael Gates, Yukon historian and author. He reads excerpts from his new book, Dalton’s Gold Rush Trail, Exploring the Route of the Klondike Cattle Drives. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-60-yukon-author-michael-gates/
Apr 26
Next Week on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio: UFOs in the Yukon
UFOs have been reported numerous times in the Yukon over the years. In one of the local Whitehorse newspapers, you’ll find an ad in the Personals for the UFO Hot Line. It says, “Report Yukon UFOs, bigfoot, spirit, etc.” A phone number is listed so I called it and left a message. Within a few minutes, my phone rang. An older woman with a soft voice asked me if I was Jennifer. I said yes and she told me her name is Lorraine and she was returning my call about UFOs.
Lorraine Bretlyn grew up in Manitoba. Before moving to the Yukon in 1989 she lived in British Columbia and Spain. Although she’s had an almost lifelong interest in UFOs, it wasn’t until 1997 when she started writing about them.
The newspaper ad has kept her busy. Since first running it many years ago, she’s conducted dozens of interviews with people who claim to have had some sort of UFO encounter. Some reports involve seeing the classic round objects in the sky with rotating lights, and at least one person has even reported being abducted.
On next week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, we visit Lorraine in her Whitehorse home. Inside are many of the UFO exhibits and bits of memorabilia that were part of the UFO museum she operated for a while. Lorraine has fit as much of it as possible into her home, the rest is packed away in boxes. We’ll talk about UFOs in the Yukon and find out what Lorraine has discovered during her investigations.
That’s next week on My Yukon Life podcast radio. We’ll be posting that episode Monday, April 30th on the podcast page of our website at MyYukonLife.com.
Please Like My Yukon Life’s Facebook page to get all the latest news and announcements about the program.
Apr 24
So You Want to Experience the Yukon?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume you’re a fan of Canada, or else you probably wouldn’t be reading this. I know a lot of My Yukon Life listeners have the Yukon on their bucket list of places to visit. I highly recommend you check out this Facebook page which is all about enjoying the best of what western Canada has to offer, and it’s the portal to their website Canada EH Tourism (www.CanadaEH.net)– the largest network of travel planning websites in Western Canada:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/EH-Tourism-Canada/144756898899416. It’s never too early to start planning your dream trip!
Apr 24
Author and Historian Michael Gates on My Yukon Life
This week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio features special guest Michael Gates, author and Yukon historian. Hear from Michael about the behind-the-scenes making of his latest book, Dalton’s Gold Rush Trail, Exploring the Route of the Klondike Cattle Drives. How many writers, while researching their material, have close encounters with bears and spend a week at a time alone in some of the most remote country on the planet? Have a listen to this free, half-hour podcast in iTunes, or from our website at:
http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-60-yukon-author-michael-gates/
Apr 23
Episode 60: Yukon Author Michael Gates
Our special guest is author and historian Michael Gates. Michael was one of our guests on Episode 23: Rediscovering Tagish Post about the 1898 gold rush stop for miners passing through Tagish on their way to Dawson City. Michael read an excerpt from his book History Hunting in the Yukon.
Michael is back to read from his latest book, Dalton’s Gold Rush Trail, Exploring the Route of the Klondike Cattle Drives which will be available in May. Jack Dalton was known as a hard driving entrepreneur and adventurer, who established a toll booth on a trail he’d stolen from local First Nations people who had used it for centuries.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:45 — 17.7MB) | Embed
Apr 17
Ready To Get Away From It All?
Apr 17
Episode 59: Ice Fishing and Mushing
On this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio, I take you to a remote camp reachable only by dog team or ski-doo in winter or by boat in summer. It was a stopover for the old mail run between Atlin, British Columbia and Carcross. The mail was delivered by dog team between those two locations, over frozen lakes and through a snowy mountain pass.
There’s lots of history in that area, and I’m going to share some of what I learned when I traveled there recently by ski-doo from my cabin in Tagish. If you’ve ever wanted to mush dogs or ice fish in absolute wilderness, you won’t want to miss this week’s episode.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:23 — 17.4MB) | Embed
Apr 14
Take the Plunge
For a lot of folks it’s tax time which means added stress. When you’re done with that, treat yourself to a Yukon getaway without even leaving home. Attend a sheep & crane viewing festival, take flight over lakes and mountains, paddle down the Yukon River with breast cancer survivors, enjoy phenomenal music– My Yukon Life podcasts are all of that and more. The podcast page of our website is a portal to a different world. Take the plunge! http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts-2/
Apr 10
What’s the Furthest North You’ve Been?
When I used to take long road trips through the Yukon and Northwest Territories, I never really felt like I was truly north until I hit the Arctic Circle. During one trip I traveled by float plane to Herschel Island in the Beaufort Sea. That felt very north. How about you? What’s the furthest north you’ve ever been, and are there places even further you dream of visiting? Someday I’d like to go to places like Baffin Island and Banks Island, where I know for sure I’ll feel like I’m in the Far North.
Apr 10
When You’re Stranded on Floating Sea Ice…
When our special guest this week on My Yukon Life podcast radio, Retired RCMP Constable Bill Pringle, was stationed many years ago in the Arctic, his partner was a “Special Constable.” Special Constables are locals who are often experts at surviving off the land and in those days, travelling by dog team. On this week’s episode, find out what happened when Bill and Andy were stranded on an ice flow that had broken off from the mainland and was on its way to the Bering Sea.http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-58-retired-rcmp-constable-bill-pringle/
Apr 10
Retired RCMP Constable Bill Pringle on My Yukon Life Podcast Radio
This week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio features special guest Bill Pringle, retired RCMP constable. When Bill was posted to the Far North, he patrolled remote stretches of the Arctic by dog team. And he’s got some hair raising stories to tell, which he shares with us on this episode of My Yukon Life. http://www.myyukonlife.com/podcasts/episode-58-retired-rcmp-constable-bill-pringle/
Apr 10
Episode 58 Retired RCMP Constable Bill Pringle
Have you ever seen the old TV show from the 1950’s called Sergeant Preston of the Yukon? Canadian Mountie Sgt. Preston patroled the wilds of the Yukon with his horse Rex and his faithful dog Yukon King, battling both the elements and criminals. That’s the official description of the show.
Retired Constable Bill Pringle lives in Carcross, Yukon. There are about 700 people living there. When it was even smaller, Bill called it home as well as his office. But during his long career in the RCMP, Bill was posted to many locations. And several were much smaller and much more remote than Carcross.
His dining room overlooks Bennett Lake. During the gold rush stamped of 1898, many thousands of people sailed across Bennett Lake on their way to Dawson City, including Jack London. After London left the Yukon, he became famous for his stories about the north.
Bill Pringle has many interesting stories to tell about life in the Far North, except they happened to him, and they aren’t fiction. He shares some of those stories with us on this week’s episode of My Yukon Life podcast radio.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:00 — 17.2MB) | Embed
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