Excerpt from Tombstone Traveller's Guide from CPAWS Yukon

Over the centuries people have been drawn to the Tombstone region for many different reasons. Two First Nations travelled here to hunt, camp and trade. For the Han – now known as the Tr’on dek Hwech’in – their seasonal travels took them from the Yukon River to the Blackstone Uplands. The Gwich’in travelled all the way from the Peel River country to reach this region.

Today other people also travel here to experience the striking scenic beauty of the area. They come to spend time among the soaring peaks, sharp mountain ridges and jewel-like lakes that distinguish the Tombstone Range. On the rolling tundra of the Blackstone Uplands, visitors can experience a landscape usually found much further north in the arctic.

The Blackstone Uplands mark the southernmost reaches of Beringia, and scientists come from far and wide to study the natural history of this region. During the last Ice Age, glaciers never covered this vast northern area. Beringia created a refuge for many plant and animal species, some of which are now known to occur only in this region. Rare plants, unusual insects and species found at the northern or southern limits of their ranges are found in the Blackstone Uplands. It is a landscape of unusual interest and beauty.

Tombstone Ice Photo by John Meikle

This guide book is designed both for people travelling the Dempster who want to spend an extra day or two exploring the Tombstone region, and for wilderness travellers who want to make more extended journeys into the backcountry. We provide information to help people plan trips into the area, and to travel safely once they have arrived at the park. Please do your part by travelling with minimal impact and keeping the campsites, trails and waters clean.

We hope that sections on the area’s cultural history, geology, flora, fauna and permafrost features – among others – will help travellers appreciate the uniqueness of the Tombstone Mountains and Blackstone Uplands. The beauty of this subarctic wilderness needs no further explanation.

With this book we honour Elders Joe and Annie Henry and their family, who, along with many other Tr’on dek Hwech’in, have long valued the protection of the Tombstone Range and the Blackstone Uplands. We honour too Robert Frisch, who explored these mountains and alpine meadows with great enthusiasm and passed his knowledge and love of this place on to others.

Without the vision and determined conservation efforts of the Tr’on dek Hwech’in, future generations of Yukon people would not have an enduring natural legacy to enjoy. But, as this guidebook goes to press, the job is not yet done. Without a clear government decision to secure the future of the Tombstone park, mining and industrial roads could still permanently scar the land.

This book is dedicated to the protection of one of the most beautiful places on earth. May the wild spirit of these mountains remain with us forever.