Discover Atlin and Moore House
News & Events
APRIL to AUGUST 2007
Culinary Arts, Level I - Northern Lights College
This program was taught on Atlin Campus for the first time this summer. Taught by a most able and most amiable Chef Daniel Gunter, the course was 5 months of intense learning. Chef Daniel is a brave man. He's in his early 30's; he agreed to teach 8 students, all women, most of whom were older than him, all of whom could already cook. Now there's a challenge!
The classroom was the kitchen at Kershaws' Cafe (Pearl Avenue and First Street, across from the Post Office). During the summer, Kershaws' Cafe was open on weekends for coffee all day, and for a hot buffet lunch, made and served by the students. At Graduation the students treated their families and friends to a buffet of salmon steaks, greek salad, rice pilaf, roast potatoes and luscious desserts.
Below at left is Barbara Ancheta of Northern Lights College, Atlin Campus, Chef Daniel Gunter and the four graduates: Denise Yeoman, Roberta Eschleman, Kim Dickson and Carolyn Moore (seated).
There were lots of giggles at the presentation of the certificates.
At right, representing Northern Lights College, are Julie Taylor, Howard Mayer, Monique Pharand and Barbara Ancheta.
MARCH 2007
Atlin has a new newspaper!!! It's called The Atlinite. Pick it up at local stores mid-month. Contact Kelly at dirkelly@hughes.net.
FEBRUARY 2007
Lance Mackey ran a near-perfect race, gauging the abilities of his dogs and adjusting to the changes in trail and temperatures. His total run time of 10 days, 2 hours and 37 minutes established a new Yukon Quest time record for running the 1,000 mile trail between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, knocking over 1/2 day off the previous record from 1995.
Lance also became only the second person in Yukon Quest history to win three races in-a-row, giving his kennel the recognition of the second Yukon Quest dynasty. For the third consecutive year, Lance's lead dog Hobo Jim claimed the Golden Harness Award with his new running mate, Lippy, giving Lance's 'Mackey's Comeback Kennel' six Golden Harnesses so far!
AUGUST 2006
The Four Crown Quest - was held in 2006 on Saturday 19 August and Sunday 20 August - A 1 or 2-day "friendly" triathlon of biking, running and paddling for novice, intermediate and experienced people. Check 'Photo Gallery' under Four Crown Quest and check http://www.atlinskiclub.org/FourCrownQuest.htm
JULY 2006 
The Tarahne Tea raised $1,972.00. Congratulations to the volunteers of the Atlin Historical Society, especially Patricia Kother who coordinated the effort.
The Atlin Arts and Music Festival was a huge success! Congratulations to all the volunteers, organizers and the underpaid and overworked staff. You did it again! The town says Thank You. http://www.atlinfestival.ca . Atlin Arts and Music Festival is held annually in early July. This festival rejuvenates the senses! In 2006, the festival was held on the weekend of the 7, 8 and 9 of July. We are a community of about 400 people, so tickets are limited. Reserve as early as you can. http://www.atlinfestival.ca
Canada Day Parade July 1 every year! Home-grown fun. Everyone participated - floats, decorated bikes, trikes and clean Chevy pickups; Firetrucks, Ambulance, Search and Rescue vans, Mounties in red serge on horseback, and RCMP vehicles. Juneau visitors contributed a kazoo band - a refreshing alternative to the usual kilty band! I couldn't tell if they had rehearsed or not, but they're welcome back next year. Family and friends got together to walk or ride in the parade. Ursula Holmok walked Moki, dressed as the Canadian Ranger Canine Patrol. I feel well protected. Like the best of all parties, it ended with cake - home-made by Trudy Whitney - at Tarahne Park.
MARCH 2006
In mid-February the temperature was around -12C. For the first five days of March it was -31C in the morning. That's quite a plunge in temperature! It's beautiful and clear and SUNNY! Despite the cold, the birds are still chirping and looking for mates this week; the low temperatures don't seem to bother them. The Pine Grosbeaks are back, as are the Pine Siskins. I have Chickadees, Woodpeckers, Boreal Nuthatches and Canada Jays at my feeders. I haven't seen a Redpoll yet, but there are a lot of LBB's - Little Brown Birds!
Three snowmobilers went missing Monday 13 March on the LLewellyn Glacier.
A party of 7 snowmobilers had travelled from Atlin to Tulsequa for the weekend. It’s a 100 mile trip which goes to the south end of Atlin Lake to the glacier, up and over the watershed and into the Taku River valley. Thirty of the 100 miles is at elevations over 5,000 feet. The trip usually takes 6 hours.
On Monday, the seven snowmobilers left Tulsequa to return to Atlin. A party of four went ahead to prepare bridges and ramps along the trail. Unfortunately, the party of three didn’t get started on their journey til 2:30 in the afternoon. They followed the tracks left by the earlier party and hoped to make up for lost time.
The weather along the Taku was relatively warm, -20C to -25C. The Taku River has an outflow wind and the wind felt warm. Once up on the glacier though, the temperature dropped, the wind picked up and bad weather rolled in. Len Parisien had left a trailer on the glacier when he came over. It contained emergency supplies. He picked it up and pulled it for awhile, but the whiteout became intense and it became difficult to see or to follow the trail. Somewhere above 4000 ft elevation, the sled broke loose, and it tumbled downhill. He left it. He had no choice.
The three men, Len Parisien, Terry Jack and Dick Gilbert, are all from Atlin and are familiar with wilderness travel. However, without their trailer, all they had was a radio, some warm gear, 2 mylar thermal blankets, and some Hot Shots to warm their hands. It was cold! (It was -30C in the mornings in Atlin – so how cold was it on the glacier?) They had not planned to bivouac.
They were not located til Wednesday afternoon. A Hercules and another military aircraft were sent from Sitka, Alaska. Various chartered helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft from Atlin were in the air, but how could they get the men out? The ceiling was low and visibility minimal. There was doubt that aircraft could land. Skiers from Klondike Heliskiing and Canadian Rangers, Atlin Detachment, volunteered to be flown in as close as possible (about 10 miles away) and to ski in with survival provisions. If another overnight became necessary, at least it would be more tolerable.
In the end, the ski expedition was not necessary. Annette Geisbrecht of Atlin Search and Rescue, and Norm Graham of Discovery Helicopters in Atlin, made one last attempt. They flew the helicopter into whiteout conditions, and descended through a small break in the clouds to find the stranded snowmobilers. Their bravery and skill saved three lives.
The relief nurse, Mary Shogga was staying here at Moore House B&B; at 5:30 pm Wednesday, Donna Hall called from the Outpost Hospital to have Mary return right away. The 3 snowmobilers were on their way to Atlin by helicopter! Great news! They didn't have to spend another cold night on the ice. Soon we could hear the familiar sound of Norm's helicopter - just the way Radar on Mash hears Incoming Wounded.
Gratitude to all those who helped, especially to the members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Atlin Detachment, for co-ordinating the search. Update: All three of the snowmobilers have recovered fully.
FEBRUARY 2006
Congratulations! Lance Mackey won the 2006 Yukon Quest on Tuesday 21 February. Hans Gatt and his dog team from Gatt Kennels in Atlin, came in Second! This dogsled race runs 1,000 miles between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. Hans has won the Quest three times in the past, in 2002, 2003 and 2004. The first Canadian to win this race was another Atlin musher, Bruce Johnson. He won the Quest in 1986 with the ironic distinction of running the Slowest Winning Time! The Yukon Quest keeps a list of the Top Ten Finishing Times for all years - both mushers are on this list, Hans in 2003 and Bruce in 1993. For the full story, see www.yukonquest.com
DECEMBER 2005
The annual Christmas Concert was held 14 December at Atlin School. The children did well. the event was well-attended, causing an uncharacteristic traffic jam up and down Warm Bay Road.
Atlin Public Library held a bake sale last weekend and raised almost $900.00! Good for you! We have a wonderful public library here, run completely by volunteers. Thank you to the many people who run the library, and thanks to those who support and use the library. A library like ours is vital in a place where the nights are long.
JULY 2005
On Saturday 2 July we held the 15th Annual Tarahne Tea. It's a fund-raiser held every year by The Atlin Historical Society (250-651-7522). Many people dressed for the event, renting clothes from theDressup Corner at The Garrett Store. Eighteen members of the Anchorage Auto Mushers arrived for the Tea in their "nostalgia" cars, many from the 60's and 70's. We hope they'll make their way to Atlin for next year's Tea as well.
That same weekend we had the Slowpitch Tournament at Tarahne Park. The town was buzzing! We have these tournaments every long weekend from May to September.
And then we had the Atlin Arts and Music Festival. Reports say that about 1600 people attended. That's a lot for a community of under 400! The town had a wonderful festive air!! Thanks to all of you who joined us: participants, spectators, and volunteers.
JUNE 2005
One recent Sunday afternoon I took my 2 dogs for a walk on Pine Creek Beach*. The sun was hot, the air was still, and we had the whole beach all to ourselves! Along came a dear friend of mine, Donna Hall, with 3 dogs. As all 5 dogs ran around in a tizzy playing and splashing in the water, we waded in too and laughed like kids. What fun! No wonder those of us who live here love it! No wonder it causes visitors to dream! (*Note: Pine Creek Beach is at Km 4 of Warm Bay Road, at the foot of the Monarch Mountain Trail).
Flightseeing
A few weeks ago, I had three visitors from Japan staying at my B&B. They took a Guided Glacier Walk with Gernot Dick of Atlin Quest. They left Atlin early in the morning, travelling by jetboat to the south end of the lake at Willison Bay. One toe of the Llewellyn Glacier comes out there. They then walked for about 3 hours to get right up onto the ice and into the ice caves. Gernot gave them crampons to fit over their boots to give them traction on the ice. When they returned to Atlin that night, they were tired but glowing with accomplishment, and thrilled with the beauty and wonders they had seen! Check out the Atlin Quest website at www.atlinquest.com
MAY 2005
This spring I had the pleasure of a flight over the Llewellyn Glacier, due to the generosity of visitors, Bev and Barry Ross of Tumbler Ridge. Chris Moser at Atlin Air (250-651-0025) flew us across Atlin Lake, down Torres Channel, and over the Llewellyn Glacier, high enough that we could see across to the mountains on the other side of the Lynn Canal. What a view!