Owen (the fool with wit) is a big time Canadian hiker.
His favourite Canuck hike is little known Donjek Glacier in Kluane National Park.
On a 2005 adventure during high season, Owen was told there were only 10 people in Kluane’s 22000 square kilometers!
… No signage. No one around but bears, wolves and mountains.
… creek crossings in frigid conditions. Pure good times.
Fantastic Donjek photos and video clips are posted on his unique website: eyecsed.com
eyecsed.com
After my own Tombstone hike in the Yukon this past summer, the Donjek Route appeals. It’s next on my list.
The Donjek is almost a loop if you access the trail off the Alaska Highway at Duke River and finish 11km (7mi.) south of where you started at Copper Joe Creek.
I’ll check these details with Owen:
The 96-kilometre (60-mi.) advanced wilderness trek requires map and compass abilities and good trail-finding skills. It takes you across rolling open meadows, up and down steep ridges and through deep gullies before arriving at the sprawling glacier mass.
Distance:100 km (approx.)
Time:8 -10 days
Maximum Elevation: (7100′) …Note: A route is not a trail. Routes are not marked with signs or maintained in any manner. The route described here is only a suggestion that may help guide you on your trip. It describes only one of many options for hiking to the Donjek Glacier. …
Overview:
One of the most popular hikes for wilderness enthusiasts is the Donjek Route. Rising over the vast alpine of the Burwash Uplands and then descending to the toe of the Donjek Glacier, this hike typifies “pristine mountain wilderness“.
… The route follows creek and river drainage for the most part with some sections along an old road, horse and wildlife trails, and some sections, without any obvious trail at all. Route finding abilities and solid wilderness experience is essential …
If you need more inspiration, Patrick Verheyen also posted photos of his 2003 hike in the region: A walk in Kluane National Park – PBase
Ruth with her pack – larger original
UPDATE: Owen recommends Kluane National Park Hiking Guide by Vivien Lougheed. Check the COMMENTS on this post for more of Owen’s advice.
On Owen’s recommendation, we’ve added Donjek Glacier to our list of best hikes in North America.
besthike.com 
The best resource for hiking is The Kluane National Park Hiking Guide by Vivien Lougheed. Her description of the route differs in some ways from Parks Canada and either way required a lot of bushwacking, creek crossings, etc. The vastness of Kluane is incredibly humbling. Strange how in Banff, etc they have the minimum group of 6 restriction while in Kluane it is maximum of 6. The ranger recommended returning the way we came over Hoge Pass instead of Atlas Pass because of the difficulty in finding the right route. And she was right Atlas Pass was a nightmare to find. If the weather had been bad it would have been a serious situation to say the least. Following the Duke River canyons on the way out required major bushwacking because we never did come across this old trail somewhere at the top. All in all good times every backbreaking day.
Owen
Thanks Owen.
I hope to get up there either summer 2008 or 2009. Will contact you if and when that happens.
I did this route this in 2007 with 2 friends of mine. The park staff will be updating the site with a new route description that we helped proof (I suspect for 2008). I would recommend looking for this updated route description and take Vivien’s as well. Both are good tools to have.
To close the loop, we stuffed a bike in the bushes close to the end of the route and one of us (me) biked the 25 kms back to my truck at the end. Not the easiest ride, but an effective way to get back to your vehicle.
This route will test you physically and mentally. The passes are challenging, but it’s absolutely epic and we didn’t see a single human being other than ourselves the entire time.
Highly, highly recommended.