Murray Lundberg is a cruise consultant, cruise ship speaker, writer and photographer. With his wife and several animals, Murray lives on forested acreage at the edge of Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s Yukon Territory. Many weekends are spent at a cabin in the little village of Carcross, about 60 km south. Monty and Kayla are the Alaskan huskies who live with him, and are his companions for most expeditions into the backcountry (they have their own Web pages at “Everything Husky!“).
I’ve been active in nature and heritage conservation efforts since the late 1970s. In 1985 I visited the Yukon and Alaska, flying my own small plane, and fell in love with the country – five years later, I moved to Whitehorse. I’ve travelled extensively, conducted educational tours throughout the Yukon, Alaska and the western Northwest Territories, and have been a regular speaker on cruise ships in both Alaska and the Caribbean since 2005. I’ve written a local mining history, Fractured Veins & Broken Dreams, a smaller book about the Alaska Highway, and a guide to South Klondike Highway. I have also edited several Northern titles including “Mackenzie Breakup” and “The Life and Times of Digger Cook”.
Heavily involved in community affairs, I was an Auxiliary member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police from 1994-1997, and have served on several community boards including Block Parents, the Whitehorse Heritage Advisory Board and the Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race. I also served as an elected member of the South Klondike Local Advisory Council while living full-time in Carcross for several years.
A self-described “late bloomer,” I returned to school at the age of 41, and graduated with honours from Yukon College, in the field of Northern Justice and Criminology.
I came to the conclusion a few years ago that I was born a Northerner, it just took me 40 years to get home! The more of this amazing land I see, the further I want to explore, and the Internet now allows me to share that passion.
HELLO MURRAY FROM WORCESTER UK.
HAVE RECENTLY FOUND YOUR WEBSITE AND ITS VERY INTERESTING.
I LOVE READING ABOUT WILDERNESS PLACES AND THE HISTORY OF THE GOLD RUSH IN THE YUKON.
VISITED FRIENDS IN SMITHERS B.C. ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO-THEY EMIGRATED TO CANADA AS PHYSIOS ABOUT 25 YEARS BACK AND NOW RUN A SMALL FARM.HOPING TO VISIT AROUND THE YUCON AND A BIT OF ALASKA WHEN WE COME OVER AGAIN.THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE IN THE NORTHWEST IM SURE -SO IT WILL BE A PRETTY LONG VACATION NEXT TIME.HAVE VISITED LAPLAND ALSO AND WE LOVE THE DOGS VERY MUCH.MY WIFE IS DISABLED BUT ENJOYED IT THERE ANDWE BOTH HAD A GREAT A SKIDOO RIDE.
BEST WISHES
Hello Murray,
It’s been a while, hope all’s well.
I’ve a treat for you and Northern History buffs, a YouTube posting of a documentary that I made about Poole Field:
see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGUARzoxyxw&NR=1
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9CYmkbs8vQ
Cheers, NEKagan, Albert Faille Wilderness League
Have you ever been to Fort Selkirk ? My family lived there about 1905…. Their name was Swinehart…. I understand there is a Swinehart homestead there ? But it is so difficult to get there…Boat trips have been cancelled…. If you know of a website where I can see photos of Ft. Selkirk I would like that….
Hi Susan,
The Yukon Heritage Branch has a good history with many photos posted at http://www.tc.gov.yk.ca/973.html I may have some photos of the Swinehart property in my collection – I’ll see what I can find.
Murray
I visited Whitehorse on business trips a few times in the last few years from my base in southern BC. An interesting place to be sure – sad to say I never had the opportunity to explore outside of the city limits (unless you count the airport!) but I plan to re-visit and explore what I have been told is truly a beautiful part of the country.
Where was the photo taken on the Home page?
LS
Hi Leo,
Welcome back – in a virtual sense. I hope that you get to do some good exploring the next time you come up. There are about a dozen home page photos that display in a random rotation, so I have no way of knowing which place you saw. They’re from all over the north, though, including Alaska, Yukon, Greenland and Iceland.
Murray
Hi, I stumbled across your site and think it’s marvelous–the sort I can really get into, about rambling about the North. I live in Fairbanks and can certainly relate to your post about being tired of winter already and wanting to drive down to Fall. Skagway is such a nice little community (especially in the fall when most of the tourists have left).
I’m a rambler myself and have been tramping about the back roads of Interior Alaska for going on 30 years. I even make it over to Canada occasionally.
Keep on rambling!
Ray
Hi Murray – I work for the National Weather Service with primary responsibility, to develop training for the FAA. I came across your web site and would like to use a few of your pictures in the training. Would this be possible?
Hello, Murray. I recently found your blog and it’s nothing short of beautiful and so well done. I’ve added you to my links. Beautiful work and a real joy to read. Thank you!
Hi Murray, I just rediscovered your blog in looking back at some email between my niece and me. She set my blog up in ’09 and patterned it after yours, I remember looking at it then, but blogging was so new to me that I didn’t look at it any further. I went through Whitehorse in ’09 and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent there, had supper at the Klondike Rib and Salmon BBQ and took in the vaudeville show next door after that. Have enjoyed looking at some of the pics in your blog and saying “hey, I’ve been there”. I just got my blog up and running again after being confused about it for over a year. With regards to computers I can easily get confused. I generally just put it away and hope it heals itself, this time had to get a pro to help out. Now that I know your blog is there, will be reading it some more. Stay warm up there, temps here have been in the upper 70′s today.
Tom
Hi Murray!
I work for virtual marine training company in Victoria and would like to use your pilot vessel in the picture for presentation. Can iI have your permission?
Thanks,
Given
You’re welcome to use that photo for your presentation – I’d be happy to send it in a higher resolution I’ve sent you an email as well.
Murray
Hello Murray,
I found your cycle blog last night, actually about 3 A.M. and spent the rest of the night wandering through it. Without a doubt, the best blog I’ve ever seen on the subject. I’ll becoming your way from NYC on ’92 Low Rider about the second week of June on a solo trip Ive been planning over the last couple of years. I got a chuckle out your remark about being 60 and still riding around in the middle of nowhere, because I’m leaving NY on 5/30 and returning on 7/13, the day before my 74th birthday.
There’s two cycle videos on my site, http://www.quntaproductions.com, POL TREk about a trip to Las Vegas and Canadian Maitimes, self explanatory, you might find interesting. Check out the “happening now” page for this coming trip plan. I’ll be posting information about the equipment and plan for the trip on the blog in the next week or so and would be greatfull for any advice or comment you care to make.
In the meantime, I expect to read every thing you’ve posted about riding in the Nortth Country. I’d like to stop by and say hello when I pass through your post code if it’s O.K. withn you.
Thanks again for the great blog.
Bob
Hi Bob,
I keep trying the URL you posted but it’s still dead. Thanks for your post, though – I hope you have a fabulous trip. If you get up Whitehorse way, pop me a note.
Murray
Hi Murray,
The website has a typo in my previous comment. It should be http://www.quantaproductions.com Sorry about that. I’m putting a link to your blog home page on my blog, so hopefully you’ll get a few more hits from my immediate family and the two friends I still have. I’m putting up the tour plan with the as I write this and will have up by the end of the day. Thanks for answering and comments.
Bob
Enjoy your site-great pictures as well! I have driven the Alcan several times and have spent some time in Whitehorse and the Skagway area over the years. I remember my 1st trip from Tx to Ak in 1969, in a 1966 Ford Mustang with my wife and all of our wordly goods (particularly a 19″ black and white tv). 1200 miles of Alcan gravel roads. What an adventure! I love the drive from Whitehorse to Skagway! Last rv trip three yrs ago to Ak–will do again next yr if I can afford fuel! Thanks for the memories!
Hello Murray -
My husband stumbled upon your blog and we have become avid readers and fans! We are moving to Carcross the first week of July, and I’m sure we will probably be meeting you sometime in the future.
You’re an amazing photographer, and it’s great to see all of your interests and reading about the places you’ve been. Looking forward to meeting you!
Nadine & Geoff (soon to be Northerners).
Hello Murray,
Very interesting blog! Great fotos!
I would like to ask you a question regarding the Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake. I visited Watson Lake and the famous Sign Post Forest in May, learning that Carl K. Lindley made the first sign: “Carl K Lindley – Danville Illinois 2835 miles”. As a travel writer I am currently working on an article about the Sign Post Forest. Is it known how he came to this number?
Sincerely
Reinhard Tiburzy
Hi Reinhard,
Interesting question. I’ve never seen any comment about where Lindley got his mileage from, but mileage charts weren’t uncommon in both tourist publications and military reports – it would be simple to add on a couple of numbers to get to Watson Lake and Danville from major points. His number is accurate, as Mapquest says that the mileage is now 2736 miles, and the shortening of the Alaska Highway since that time would be about 100 miles.
Best regards,
Murray
Hi Murray,
Sorry I missed you while going through Whitehorse on the 20th of June, but I was trapped in Fort Nelson for four days behind that mud slide and road closure. I had to move right along in order to meet my wife in Anchorage. The whole story is on the blog. Anyway, reading your blog really helped me plan this trip, so many thanks. Maybe next time.
Regards from Ketchican enroute Bellingham,
Bob
About that date, it was actually the 13th. Tine really gets screwed up When you’re having fun.
Bob
Hello Murray,
I am working on a book about American fireboats. Since I would like to include those of Alaska, is it possible to obtain a good quality image of yours showing Ketchikan’s “Harry Newell” at the dock. This would be credited as you indicate. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Wayne Mutza
It certainly is, Wayne – I’ll send you an email this afternoon, as I’m just heading out to Skagway for the day. I may also have other Alaska fireboats – I’ll do some digging.
hey Murray and Kathy now i have had a chance to see llok at yourblog and it is truly great. Loved the coverage of the Legendary rhine and Moselle cruise. Fantastic. Notsure about my bewildered looking face on the walk through the red light district. Keepupthe good work and look forward to your nextblog. all the best tony
Murray,
I feel so bad that a comment I made caused you to take the photos down of me while I from when I worked on the bowl this past summer. I didn’t mean for you to do this. Also, I checked with the vice president of operations and he said that it was ok for you to post the photos. Any publicity is good publicity. The fact that you were offering positive information about the Alaska Native Heritage Center is welcome. Furthermore, the photos you posted are from your own personal collections and you are free to publicize them in any fashion you choose. Please forgive my ignorance and accept my apologies.
I enjoy your website and you show sensitivity and pride in your posts. Your photos are very high quality and in good taste. Thank you for visiting me this summer. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is dedicating, naming and blessing the finished Frog Feast Bowl on November 29. The following link will take you to the announcement of the Feast Bowl Dedication ceremony. Please take good care and be well.
Sincerely, James Williams
Announcement Link: https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/559156_2473876543997_31462745_n.jpg
MailerDaemon sent back my e-mail to both the MWL & the murray@ addresses. Have you a different one, now you are, not-working-for-anyone-else-but-working-just-as-hard-doing-your-own-thing?
THINKING of YOU at CHRISTMAS
(should have been an insert here of the Christmas Star)
and wishing you a very Happy New Year!
I have stayed up very late catching up on those Winter photo trips of yours. Looking at them has me shivering and I see how you go sun-searching. So different! It is New Year’s Eve and the odd firework is still popping. At present our weather is doing as the weatherman tells it and we are having plenty of sunlight & heat. Christmas Day was a bit showery, but we still enjoyed it. This is Brendan with his sister, Catherine’s first Pavlova (NZ traditional Christmas dessert; I always make Christmas puddings but we tend to eat them another day!) Cath’s Pavlova was scrumptious, as stunning as it looks.
John, Michelle & Cameron are coming home in February, one of the aims being to give Cameron a real NZ beach holiday. We have this part of the visit all sorted for Pauanui & Mt. Maunganui. As well as time in Auckland, they will visit Rotorua for two days. All of us will be at Pauanui in the Canadian log house (extremely spacious) owned by Cath’s f-in-law, then later, after the Rotorua trip, Paddy & I will join them at the Mt. The holiday will begin and end at home in Auckland. Great excitement.
Our very Best Regards that 2013 will be a year of good health, good fortune, lots of fun and the energy to keep up with it all and get the best from every day. I have ‘retired’ – haven’t noticed yet as have been very busy. Keep thinking I may change my mind once Summer’s over & the family has departed, but we’ll see!
(should have been a photo insert here of our NZ Christmas Day dessert: Catherine’s First Pavlova. It was a stunner.)
Hi Murray,
Great photos. I was wondering if you could send me the picture you took of me standing beside my bike to brekboughton@yahoo.ca.
Thanks a lot,
Brek
Will be relocating to Whitehorse from Yellowknife this June, and I’ve been searching for driving/destination advice…tickled to have found your website, and looking forward to Whitehorse.
Karen
I’m pleased to hear that I’ve been able to help, Karen. I hope that you enjoy Whitehorse as much as I have for the past 23 years
Murray