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Edward H. Barker
Falls Church, Virginia

�����ԹϺ��� Adviser: Upon making a few phone calls to Kluane National Park and outfitters in Whitehorse, I found that very few people have heard of Mount Barker — no offense to your grandfather. If park officials don’t know much about the climb, it may be difficult to find anyone who has intimate knowledge of the mountain. That said, Mount
Barker is described in The Kluane National Park Hiking Guide, by Vivien Lougheed (New Star Books, Vancouver). You may want to pick up a copy of the book to do some research before you begin your trip.

After digging around a bit, the park ranger finally found some information on Mount Barker and told me that it is accessed by the Shorty Creek Trail in Kluane National Park. If you start in Whitehorse, you need to drive 100 miles to Haines Junction, and then another 34 miles to the Mush Lake Road turnoff. From there, you’ll need to drive four miles down a dirt road where
you’ll find the start of the Shorty Creek trail. Right now, the only outfitter that offers transportation to the trailhead from Haines Junction is Paddle Wheel Rentals and Tours (867-634-2683). The Kluane Park �����ԹϺ��� Center (867-634-2313) doesn’t open until June, but it can help you try to organize a ride as well. According to park rangers, May is the best month for
climbing because it has the most reliable weather. The average temperature in July is 54 degrees, but the weather is very unpredictable so be prepared for anything. You’ll need to register with the park and have a license to climb as well. For information on park details, call Kluane at 867-634-7250.