Drivers were trapped by rock slides on Yukon’s South Klondike Highway, with Brandon Palmer recounting his experience of being blocked by falling rocks while en route to Skagway, Alaska. The highway closure, caused by two consecutive rock slides, occurred between Carcross, Yukon, and the B.C. border. Yukon’s transportation officials, led by Bobbie Milnes, are working to reopen the road, potentially by the weekend, with plans to operate it as a single lane initially.
The closure, now limited between the Conrad campground and the B.C. border, was deemed necessary for safety reasons. Geologists are investigating the incident to determine the triggers and scale of the slides, one of which covered both lanes, rendering the highway impassable. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but businesses like Wild Adventure Yukon, relying on tourism traffic, are feeling the impact of the closure.
Palmer, the driver caught in the rock slide, managed to clear a path through the debris to continue his journey, describing the unnerving yet captivating ordeal as “beautiful” and acknowledging his fortunate escape from harm. Despite the challenges posed by the closure, authorities and businesses are hopeful for a swift resolution to restore normal traffic flow on the South Klondike Highway.
