Yukon bush life

We met the Yukon’s most formidable forces this spring. The annual breakup of the Yukon River ice, which will not go until it is ready and will not stop for anyone, the world’s fastest bird and a family of grizzly bears, Mum and two grown cubs. Grizzly cubs stay with their mother for up to 3 years and nothing, not even the largest, grizzliest of male bears will tangle with the combined power of this fluffy, little family unit, happily picnicking across the river from us. The cubs are almost the same size as their mother now and loll around on the bank digging at roots or voles. One is honey amber and the other a shimmering blond, almost polar bear white. I’ve read that males usually have dark fur so maybe they are both teenage girls? They lay on their bellies with their paws stuffed into holes in the sand. Probably looking at their phones. Mum is slightly larger and paces along the beach. Even she is endearingly plump and cuddly. Grizzlies are the tedd...

The river broke up on May 9 th . After weeks of watching and waiting it tried to sneak out on us when we were in bed.  The day before, crazy caribou out for a stroll, deep channels of water at the side Luckily Neil’s bladder isn’t all that and he had to get up at 4am for a pee. “The river’s breaking up!” he shouted as he ran back in. You know when you’d just rather be asleep? “Oh for heaven’s sake,” I said putting on my wellies and grabbing the camera. We have 24 hour daylight now, as far as I can tell, so at least we were able to see it and film it. All the drama at 4am, icebergs breaking apart Here’s a very exciting compilation from the moment Neil ran back out the door into the yard, to later the next day when there must have been a jam upriver and it cleared for a bit. There is some foul mouthed and inarticulate 4am commentary from us to enjoy too (“Wow! Look!” etc) Perhaps because break up happened late in the year and the ice was b...