Reservations
KLRS has an online booking system managed by the Arctic Institute of North America.
Please visit our Reservations page for more information on the booking process, user fees, seasonal operations schedule, and our facilities.
Waivers
All visitors to KLRS are required to sign a standardized waiver form for their visit. Forms can be downloaded below and submitted electronically ahead of time to klrs@ucalgary.ca, or completed at the time of visit.
Please note that forms for anyone below the age of 18 require a signature from a parent or guardian and so MUST be completed in advance of your arrival.
Permitting
Permit Applications
Most research activities in the Yukon will require a permit from the Yukon Government and consultation with local community members and First Nations. Any projects within National Parks, Territorial Parks, or other specially designated areas will require additional permitting and consultation.
Copies of all permits must be submitted by email to klrs@ucalgary.ca prior to or upon arrival.
It is never too early to start the permitting and consultation process. The Yukon Government suggests submission of permit applications occur at least 2 months in advance of the planned project.
Please contact KLRS Management for any support with research permitting.
Yukon Scientists and Explorers Act License
The Scientists and Explorers Act License is the main permitting system in the territory and allows the territorial government to record scientific studies in the territory and ensure engagement with the First Nations.
Scientists and Explorers Act Licenses dating back to 1982 are described in the Arctic Institute of North America's ADA: Arctic Discovery & Access database.
Parks Canada
For all research within any of the national parks in the Yukon a separate permit from Parks Canada is required. This allows the federal government to record scientific studies in the parks. The closest park to KLRS is the Kluane National Park and Reserve.
Research and Collection Permit System
Community Consultation
KLRS is situated within proximity to several First Nations communities and research in the region often occurs within the traditional territories of these Nations. Consultation with local First Nations communities is required in the permitting process if studies occur within their traditional lands. Below are the First Nations communities closest to KLRS. If you require any assistance with the consultation process KLRS staff are happy to assist.
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations
The GeoYukon platform provides information in a Yukon Government Geographic Information System about mineral and land tenure, mining and land use activities, energy resources, First Nations Traditional Territories and Settlement Land, and parks and protected areas. It also provides base maps and imagery.
Renewable Resource Councils
Kluane First Nation: Dän Keyi Renewable Resource Council
Dankeyirrc@northwestel.net / +1 (867) 841-5820
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations: Alsek Renewable Resource Council
admin@alsekrrc.ca / +1 (867) 634-2524
Yukon First Nations 101
Yukon First Nations 101 (YFN 001), a self-paced course run by Yukon University, may be of interest to visitors to KLRS. It is available online and on-demand and has been developed to teach participants about the history and culture of First Nations in Yukon. KLRS is located on the traditional lands of the Kluane, Champagne and Aishihik, and White River First Nations.
Accommodation
KLRS has 10 cabins for the use of visitors and staff. Of these, seven have vehicle access, while the three along the beach are only accessible by foot. Each cabin has space for two to six people. Single beds, mattresses, top sheets, and pillows are provided.
Visitors must bring their own sleeping bags and/or blankets.
Cabins are heated with wood stoves and feature 12VDC solar powered lights and USB charging ports.
Transportation
Pick up/Drop off
We encourage all users to book transportation with local shuttle services, such as Who What Where Tours.
Subject to availability and capacity, KLRS may be able to provide transportation to the local Kluane area and Whitehorse (see KLRS user fees). Please inquire with station management at klrs@ucalgary.ca well in advance of your stay.
Vehicle Rentals
Rental vehicles are available at the Whitehorse airport from Driving Force, in town from Budget, and in the Whitehorse community of Porter Creek from K & K Truck Rentals.
Directions
From Whitehorse follow signs for the Alaska Highway West, towards Haines Junction. Continue for approximately 2 hours until you reach the Village of Haines Junction. Turn right to continue on the Alaska Highway towards Fairbanks (you will see the RCMP detachment across the road and the Top Spot gas station to your right). Continue for approximately 40 minutes (60km). The entrance to KLRS is a gravel road immediately off the highway. Signs direct you 1km from the turn. Continue along the gravel road until you come to a stop sign. This is the entrance to an active runway so beware of aircraft. Continue across the runway, pass both sets of orange cones on the right, and turn right. The KLRS parking area is located to the right of the tree grove in front of the flag poles.
Note: Last gas option leaving Whitehorse is Goody’s Gas approximately 15 minutes outside Whitehorse. The next gas station is not until Haines Junction. The last opportunity for gas before arriving at the station is Haines Junction.
Suggested Things to Bring
- Sleeping bag
- Shower towel
- Shower soap and shampoo
- Shower shoes or sandals
- Headlamp
- USB phone charger cable
- Personal medications
Please contact KLRS Management for a complete gear list or to discuss specific group or individual needs.
Meals
The mess hall is the main communal area at KLRS with space for up to 40 people. All meals are prepared by our Red Seal Chef and Assistant Cook. Vegetarian/Vegan options are available and most food allergies—including gluten free—can be accommodated. Please let KLRS staff know of any dietary requirements AHEAD of your visit.
The kitchen area in the mess hall is off limits to visitors, but there is storage space and a fridge available for any personal food items or beverages you wish to bring.
Please Note: Food is not permitted in the cabins to avoid attracting bears and mice.
Typical Meal Times
- Breakfast: Served 07:00 – 09:00 daily
- If you require an earlier breakfast to fit your field schedule, please let the KLRS kitchen staff know.
- Lunch: Served 12:30 – 13:30 daily
- Bagged lunches are available for field excursions. Please let the KLRS kitchen staff know if you require a bagged lunch a day ahead of time.
- Dinner: Served 18:00 – 19:00 daily
- If you are going to be late for dinner, please let the kitchen staff know and a plate will be left for you in the visitor fridge to be re-heated in the microwave.
- Snacks, tea, coffee, etc.
- Self-serve (24 hrs)
Washhouse and Laundry Facilities
There is a centrally located washhouse with four showers, eight sinks, and four toilets, divided into men’s and women’s areas. Visitors are responsible for bringing their own personal toiletries and towel.
A washing machine, clothes drier, and laundry soap are provided for use of clients staying at KLRS.
Silver City Airstrip
KLRS is located on an active air strip with both fixed wing and helicopter air traffic.
After leaving the Alaska Highway at the turnoff to KLRS, you will come to a stop-sign. This is the Silver City gravel airstrip. Obey the sign and STOP – turn the music off. Look left, right, and up and listen for aircraft landing or taking off.
Do NOT proceed if there is any aircraft movement on the strip or if there are any aircraft approaching the strip or in the air in the immediate vicinity.
Once clear, drive directly across the strip, staying outside the runway markers, turn right on the far side of the strip and proceed along the trees to the KLRS parking area.
Please do NOT drive diagonally across the airstrip to KLRS.
The pilots thank you!
Medical Facilities
Nearest Facilities
The nearest medical facility to KLRS is the Haines Junction Health Centre, located approximately a 40-minute drive away. The facility is open Monday to Friday from 8:45 am to 5:15 pm, but a nurse practitioner is on call 24 hours/day for emergencies. A doctor visits the facility 3 times a month for a day. There is a limited pharmacy available at the health centre so if you require medications other than basic pain killers please ensure that you bring them with you.
Travel Insurance
All out of territory, Canadian, visitors who require the use of the Haines Junction Health Centre are subject to associated charges if they do not have health insurance coverage or a valid federal health card. These charges are $359 for being seen by a nurse and $173 for any lab tests. All non-Canadian visitors will be charged $718 per visit and $359 for any lab tests regardless of whether they have insurance coverage in their own country. Please ensure that you obtain appropriate travel insurance for your visit to avoid any medical expenses.
On Site First Aid Facilities
KLRS is equipped with several First Aid Stations equipped with level 3 first aid kits, AEDs, and eye wash bottles. The locations of these kits will be reviewed during your orientation briefing upon arrival at KLRS.
First Aid Kit Locations
- Mess Hall
- Walter Wood Building
- Project Hut
- Steele Lab
- Old Mess Hall
Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Locations
- Mess Hall
- Old Mess Hall
EyeWash Stations
- Walter Wood Building
- Steele Lab
- Old Mess Hall
- Mess Hall
For emergencies in areas where there is not a First Aid Station there is a portable AED and first aid kit located in the Mess Hall and Old Mess Hall.
A backboard and stretcher are located in the Operations Room, along with additional first aid supplies.
EpiPen’s are on site but are intended solely as a replenishment source for anyone who has had to use their own. Please consult KLRS station manager if a replacement EpiPen is required.
Internet and Communications Internet
KLRS provides visitors with internet access via satellite, which has limited bandwidth and, therefore, strict limits regarding internet usage. Please note the following requirements to make the limited bandwidth available to everyone:
- Update your computer’s and smart device’s (e.g., phone, tablets) operating systems, anti-virus software, and all applications before arriving;
- Disable all automatic updates prior to connecting to KLRS network;
- Check the size of attachments:
- before downloading (do you really need it?)
- before sending, compress all files, especially photos
- Deactivate “auto sync” to Dropbox and other similar online services;
There is public Wi-Fi available at several locations in Haines Junction.
KLRS Telephone
There is no cell (mobile) phone coverage at KLRS. The station operates a landline connected phone primarily for AINA/KLRS business and emergencies. Phones may be made available to visitors for short calls but timings may be subject to operational needs. Please ask a KLRS staff member if you require the use of the phone. Most newer cell phones have Wi-Fi calling options, which may be switched on ahead of arrival to KLRS.
In emergencies, family and friends can contact you on the station phone +1 (867) 841-4561.
Cell Phones
Locally to KLRS, there is cell coverage in Haines Junction, Destruction Bay, and Burwash Landing. Depending on the type of mobile device you have, you may be able to obtain cell coverage within (approximately) a 10-minute drive of KLRS towards Haines Junction.
The main cellular provider in the area is Bell Mobility. Consult your cellular provider prior to your visit to determine whether your provider is compatible with Bell Mobility service areas.
Bear Safety
Please review the You Are In Bear Country safety information provided by Parks Canada.
Payment
Following your visit you will be sent an invoice for your stay. Please log into your reservation account to make payment by credit card. If you are unable to make payments by credit card, cheques made out to the Arctic Institute of North America are accepted and may be mailed to:
Arctic Institute of North America
ES1040 – 2500 University Dr. NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2N 1N4
We appreciate payments being made within 30 days of the invoicing date.
Reporting
Following your visit to KLRS, AINA will follow up requesting additional information that can be included in our Annual Report and in KLRS informational material. AINA wishes to ensure continued support for the station and also profile the researchers who use our facility by showcasing their work as appropriate.
The information you provide will improve the station and allow us to celebrate the success of the students who work at KLRS. Project leaders will be provided with a template that requests the following:
- A brief report summarizing your activities, including (for example) research objectives, field school objectives, any preliminary findings (similar to what is required for the Yukon Scientists and Explorers Licence);
- Photos, video, or other media that can be used by AINA in annual reports online and for other purposes;
- Notifications and links to (or electronic copies of) any publications resulting from your work at KLRS, including notifications of successful thesis defense, and feedback on your stay.
- This information should be sent to ada@ucalgary.ca
For over 35 years AINA has maintained a publicly accessible KLRS bibliography of all publications produced as a result of our research support. Your information will help to keep this current and useful.
This information should be submitted to arctic@ucalgary.ca.
Collection of personal information
Your personal information is being collected under the authority of section 33(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Alberta). It will be used for station evaluation and improvement purposes.
If you have any questions about the collection or use of your personal information, please contact the Arctic Institute of North America, which manages this website, at arctic@ucalgary.ca, +1-403-220-7515, Arctic Institute of North America, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, ES-1040, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.