Absolute Must-Haves for Winter in the Yukon

Planning a trip to the Yukon Territory? Contrary to popular belief, winter is a great time to see the Yukon! Though it may be brutally cold, the snow-covered mountains and wilderness provide so many options for winter activities. Here are 8 things you should pack for your trip to the Yukon in winter.

The Warmest Possible Boots

My main piece of advice is to make sure your boots are rated to at least -40. I got a pair of Kamik Momentum winter boots, which were in fact rated to -40, but they did not keep my feet warm long enough. They were okay for a 15 minute walk outside when it was only around -25 F, but they were not warm enough when I was sitting or standing still. That being said, I have worn my Kamik boots every day this winter, and they have been great at temperatures above 0 F or so.

Recently, I bought a pair of Baffin Icefield boots, which are rated to -148 F. I call them my space boots. They are slightly impractical for actually walking in, but if you are going to be just standing around outside in -148 F, these boots are probably for you.

Hand and Toe Warmers

If you’re like me and have very poor circulation to your extremities, you might have to face reality: there may not be boots or mittens that will fully keep you warm. Luckily for us, we can get hand and toe warmers to put inside our boots and mittens, making our lives more enjoyable.

The best way to use these warmers is to put them between layers of fabric. Do not put them right on your skin; they might actually burn you. Instead, put on a pair of socks, stick the toe warmers on top, and then put on another pair of socks.

A fair warning about toe warmers – if they have been inside your boots, and you take off your boots but leave the toe warmers in between your socks, the toe warmers might inflate and suddenly become the temperature of magma. This happened to me while visiting a very stately English artist in her regal log home.

Base Layers

It’s been said before, but dressing in layers will save you in the northern lands. Even if you have a sealskin coat lined with muskox fur, it might not be warm enough if you don’t have warm layers underneath. I like to wear my merino wool base layers under a lighter sweater, and then a heavier fleece on top of all that.

Mittens

You will need mittens, and not gloves. My mom made me a pair of felted wool mittens lined with rabbit fur, and they are so far keeping me warm. I have worn them in temperatures as cold as -20 F. I definitely recommend mittens lined with some kind of fleece or fur.

A Fur Hat

Not only will a proper fur hat keep your ears toasty warm, it will also make you look like a rugged outdoorsman.

A Down Coat (or Two) or Fur Coat

The first time I visited the Yukon in winter, I brought my down Columbia coat, which turned out to not be warm enough. However, wearing a puffy down coat on top of another down coat can solve that problem.

This year, I visited a consignment shop with the goal of finding a lamp. The shop owner convinced me to buy this fur coat instead, saying I will be “Yukon Girl.” It isn’t my usual style, but it is WARM.

A Swimsuit

Yes, you read that right. Winter in the Yukon is an exciting time to take a dip in one of the Territory’s natural hot springs. The Takhini Hot Springs are just a few minutes outside the town of Whitehorse. Every single eyelash, nose hair, and chin hair will frost over and make you look like a monster.

Snow Pants

Sometimes my husband makes fun of me for wearing snow pants to go grocery shopping. But the good thing about the Yukon is the fact that people don’t really care what you wear. I like having that extra layer of warmth, even if I have no plans to venture into the snow.

And don’t Bother Bringing…

Makeup

Temperatures below -20 F will do strange things to your mascara. I’m not sure why, but when your eyelashes frost over, your mascara will wind up all over your face.

Sunglasses

At times, sunglasses are good to have. But when it’s brutally cold, unless you have a fancy and very expensive pair of sunglasses, they will just fog up and make seeing impossible. If you don’t mind not being able to see, sunglasses can in fact help to keep your eyeballs warmer. It’s your decision.

Click here to read about more of my adventures in the Yukon!

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