Wilderness Guide
Yukon
Northern Lights
Wildlife

The Secret Life of a Yukon Wilderness Guide

R

Robert MacKenzie

15 min readFebruary 24, 2025
Kluane National Park, Yukon

After 15 years leading expeditions through Canada's northern wilderness, I've collected stories that few ever hear—from close encounters with grizzlies to the indescribable magic of the northern lights.

Most people see the wilderness as something to visit. For me, it's home. When the last helicopter of the season departs our remote camp in late September, a profound silence descends that most people in our modern world will never experience. That's when the real Yukon reveals itself. The grizzlies become bolder in their pre-hibernation feeding frenzy. The northern lights dance with an intensity that seems to create their own soundtrack...

R

Written by Robert MacKenzie

Travel writer and photographer

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