You can add your voice to protecting the Moose Mountain Cross Country Ski Trails. May folks have asked us what’s going on with the ski trails. We hope you will find this information useful We simply want Dawsonites to be aware of the situation.

Here’s what you need to know:
The Moose Mountain Cross Country Ski Trail Network lies on the Klondike East Bench
on mining claims owned by Darrell Carey.
There are about 7 kilometres of beautiful well maintained ski trails on the Bench. They
are heavily used by Dawson residents.
There is no alternate location for community cross country ski trails near Dawson. With
the Yukon River to the west, the Klondike River to the south, and the Moosehide slide to
the north, the Klondike East Bench is the only place Dawson residents can go for
reasonably accessible and safe ski trails.
The first non-indigenous trails on the Klondike Bench were created around 1900 in
association with the historic Acklen Ditch – that diverted water from Moosehide Creek to
the Klondike Bench for agricultural purposes. 
Many of the trails within the existing network were in place and used well before the first
mining claims were staked in the late 1980’s.
The current proponent, Darrell Carey, acquired the claims in 1998.
The Dawson Designated Office (YESAB) has assessed four iterations of the Klondike
East Bench Mining Project since 2009.
Each time Dawson residents have rallied behind the trails, strongly opposing their
destruction.

The Klondike Active Transport and Trails Society (KATTS) has made many submissions
to YESAB and the Yukon Water Board over the past 16 years advocating for this
valuable recreational asset in our community.

Over these years and through these iterations, the Dawson Designated Office (of the
Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board – YESAB) has been
consistent in recommending that the ski trails be protected.

In 2022 Darrell Carey made yet another application to the Dawson Designated Office to
mine the Klondike East Bench. Once again, many Dawson residents and KATTS
expressed concerns with respect to the operation’s probable impact on the ski trails.

In 2023 the Dawson Designated Office issued its report on the 2022 Carey application,
again making excellent recommendations aimed at protecting the ski trails for future
generations.

Among other things, the Dawson Designated Office recommended that Carey:

• Maintain a 50 metre buffer between his mining operation and the ski trails,
• With the Government of Yukon and the City of Dawson, jointly develop a reclamation plan for the mined areas, and
• Ensure annual reclamation efforts are successful.

The Designated Office recommendation then went to the Decision Body – which is the
Government of Yukon. The Decision body proceeded to reject or vary 9 of the 16 Designated Office recommendations, resulting in significantly fewer restrictions on the operation and
significantly greater threat to the ski trails.

Among other things the Government of Yukon

• Reduced the no-mining buffer to 30 metres from the trails,
• Minimized the role of the City of Dawson in the development of a reclamation plan, and
• Is not requiring Carey to ensure reclamation efforts are successful (on the theory that standard operating procedures should be sufficient).

Note: it is highly unusual for the Decision Body to reject or vary the majority of
recommendations received from a Designated Office.

Recent Developments
May 16th, 2024 KATTS wrote to the Yukon Water Board saying ‘Your decision regarding
the Water Licence Application PM22-044 will have an immense effect on the health and
well being of the people of Dawson.  It will determine whether the people of Dawson
have access to quality cross-country skiing trails for the foreseeable future.’

January 29th 2025, a Water License was issued, completing the final regulatory step
before mining could commence.

Feb. 25th, 2025, the City issued a Notice of Approved Development Permit to Darrell
Carey to mine the Klondike East Bench. Carey was suing the City and the City felt it had no choice but to issue the Permit.

March 1st, 2025, KATTS asked the City to aggressively advocate for Klondike East
Bench ski trails by closely monitoring Carey’s activity and by urging YG to strictly
enforce Carey’s permit conditions.

March 18th KATTS and a dozen skiers appeared before City Council and urged the City
to do everything within its power to protect the ski trails.
Darrell Carey is currently preparing to mine the Klondike East Bench.
SO – the people of Dawson will have to live with this mine in our community. BUT, by
using our voices, we CAN do our bit to minimize damage to our beloved trails.
KATTS will continue to advocate for diligent scrutiny of this operation. We hope you will
add your voice of support for the protection of our invaluable cross country ski trails.
Dawson City Council does respond to citizen concerns, and numbers really do count!
Please send a message to City Council, cc’ing our MLA, Sandy Silver, Tr’ondek
Hwech’in and KATTS.

Also:
 Contact us for more information at admin@katts.ca
 Speak to one of us when you see us on the street
 Understand the terms and conditions of the Development Permit and walk the
trail system this spring/summer/fall 
 Make note of any problem areas
Thanks, KATTS Board
Sebastian Jones
Kath Selkirk
Tim Gerberding
Cathie Findlay-Brook
Nick Wozniewski
Jeffrey Mackie