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Season of Wonder Season of Wonder

the Yukon

Award-winning photographer and storyteller Ami Vitale could never have imagined how profound and exhilarating an open brief from Destination Canada would become. But exploring the Yukon during the spring and summer months, she discovered adventure, connection and a vast untamed wilderness that captured her imagination – and her heart. As a storyteller passionate about wildlife and women, Ami found both – exploring the themes of stewardship, adventure, learning from our lands, and rediscovering a deep sense of wonder that comes over you when visiting this remarkable and awe-inspiring part of our world.

A Photographer’s Journey

Ami’s journey of wonder took her deep into the rugged wilderness of the Yukon, where she:

Came face to face with an orphaned moose
Took a horse trek into the mountains
Explored the rugged terrain outside Whitehorse

Exploring the Yukon

A snapshot of Ami’s adventure. Click an image to find out more.

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Witness the power up close in the Yukon

As far back as the Ice Age, musk oxen roamed the Yukon. But their existence was threatened by hunting. Today, the creatures which can weigh as much as 800-pounds, are still at risk with about 300 remaining in the Yukon. Spaces like Yukon Wildlife Preserve offer a chance to see them up close. “It was amazing to see them all running,” notes Vitale. “It was like the ground moved.” Here, two males butt heads a few feet from Vitale’s cameras.

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Predators and Prey share space

At Yukon Wildlife Preserve, three Canada lynx roam 24,000 square feet of land. The stealthy hunters can be hard to spot in the wild, but where snowshoe hares live—their preferred prey—they are likely to follow. At the reserve, guests get a chance to learn about these elusive creatures.

Audio From Ami Vitale

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Munching moose help maintain northern lands

An orphaned moose keeps a watchful eye on Vitale at Yukon Wildlife Preserve outside of Whitehorse. Moose are among the largest animals found across Canada and are an important keystone species. The herbivorous animals also play a crucial role in the health and dynamics of aquatic environments and plant species in the region.

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Moose on the Loose

Yukon has around 70,000 wild moose, but with 69.5 million acres (28 million hectares) of boreal forest for them to roam, moose sightings can range from frequent to rare. When you do spot one, it can be an exhilarating encounter. But don’t be fooled by their big eyes and calm demeanor, these animals are wild and shouldn’t be approached.

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Deep Forest exploration

The drive from Whitehorse to Finlayson Lake took Vitale and her companions about eight hours. For most of it they were on the Robert Campbell highway, seemingly embedded in the forest. “We were just surrounded by wilderness, and when you’re driving, you don’t get the scale,” says Vitale, noting that when the cell service cut out they suspected they were in deep and stopped to let out the drone. “It’s impossible not to feel small in this space.”

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Edge of the city wilderness

Almost nine million years ago, a rush of basaltic lava spread over a pre-glacial landscape a few miles from what is now, downtown Whitehorse. A ribbon of fast-moving turquoise water runs between the cliffs that remain. Today, you’ll find residents and tourists alike strolling the cliffs and soaking up the scenery.

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Escape to the mountains

Backcountry expeditions offer a chance to connect with nature that isn’t possible on its edges. Caribou Wild Mountain Tours owner and guide, Deb Wild takes guests—even those who’ve never ridden before—out into the wilds of the Yukon. In Wild, Vitale found a unique guide, whose skills living off the land, trapping and guiding inspired confidence in her guests.

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Horses Rest on Flat Mountain

Horses await their riders on the slopes of Flat Mountain, with Pilot Mountain and Grizzly Mountain in the distance. The animals are partners in the backcountry treks led by Deb Wild of Caribou Wild Mountain Tours. And Vitale says they play a unique part in allowing guests to connect with the flora and fauna. “You become invisible when you’re on a horse,” says Vitale. “Wildlife responds so differently. It doesn’t run away.”

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Connections in the long grass of Flat Mountain, the Yukon

After a night of camping, Deb Wild lies next to a horse on the slopes of Flat Mountain. “The thing I always respond to is people’s connections,” says Vitale. “The horses trusted her so much that it sort of rippled on to the relationship that we all had. It made you realize that we are wild, too. We are a part of this.”

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Capturing the wind

When the gusts of wind come over the ridge, there’s nothing you can do but surrender, says Vitale. “I feel like a lot of us don’t recognize how much we are part of nature. But when you meet people like Deb, you realize it. She’s so connected, not just to the landscape, but to the animals—her two dogs accompanied the trip—and to everything around her.”

Audio From Ami Vitale

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A spirit of one

It’s hard to know where Deb Wild ends and her horses begin. The trust between them is clear. They share a language, an understanding, a bond. As they make their way through the remote wilderness, their connection to each other and to the land is palpable. “I think it’s a reflection of the wonder that these places can bring out in all of us,” says Vitale. “These are the people who are attracted to these places and they’re our guides.”

Audio From Ami Vitale

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Taking it to the water at Finlayson Lake

Human bodies are 60 percent water, so it is natural that we would feel connected to lakes and rivers. In the north, the waters seem to be the directors of all things. “An Indigenous woman once said to me, that it’s so important that we have a relationship with water,” recalls Vitale. “If you don’t have a relationship with water, you don’t have a relationship with yourself.”