Escaped the relentless headwinds of the last fifty miles or so we might have, but I was less than appreciative. Felt increasingly nauseous since leaving Destruction Bay, and there’d been a brief foray into the woods with a toilet roll. And bear spray – didn’t want – quite literally – to get caught with my trousers down. Hardly a fitting epitaph for a headstone.
It’d been hard going from last night’s wild camp into the small settlement of Burwash Landing, on the shores of Kluane Lake. Not more than fifteen or so miles, progress had been slow. Mike had finished the last of his rations the previous evening, and I had precious little water left. We’d agreed that whatever the other had could be shared, but in practice, we’d just pressed on.
We’d found the cafe in Burwash without difficulty. Little more there. And, delighted they’d take cards as we’d still not been able to get hold of Canadian dollars, we’d both taken the larger of the breakfast options on the menu. The Hikers Special. And frequent coffee top-ups. Got the flask replenished with more for later, and our water bottles filled.
Destruction Bay, the next and only remaining settlement on the lake shores, was a mere ten miles away, but it had taken well over an hour to reach it, constantly buffeted by remorseless headwinds. A brief coffee stop at the Talbot Motor Inn stretched a little. Replenishing rations and admiring the quaint 80s perms that appeared to be popular in these parts.
