Cut-off Dawsonites not worried as they wait for the Yukon River to freeze

This river is unpredictable. Right now it looks like this. But earlier this month, this was the scene. When people see ice chunks, they think it won't be long before the river freezes over. One long-time West Dawson resident says he was optimistic. Just a little bit surprising to see any of that. And for days on, and then a steady rush for with temperatures that were just around like barely minus five on average. And just we were wondering if that ice was just going to last forever or not. And of course it didn't. And so... We were a little bit hopeful for a while, but there was no significant cold inside, so we knew that was just likely going to be a short-term thing. Weiser says the weather has been unpredictable over the past few years. Some years the river would be frozen by now, and others not until January. The unpredictability prompts him to stock up for himself, plus more. I'd say most people can be pretty much ready from six weeks, I'd say, on average. Personally, I try to get all I need until Christmas, and not being able to cross at Christmas is pretty unheard of. So I'm good until Christmas, I'd say, but after that, the good stuff will probably be gone. Downriver on the remote sister island, freeze-up is different for Lou Tayak and Gary Masters. According to the couple, the river freezes here in town long before it does where they are. That's why they say they make sure they're more than fully prepared for the long haul. We grow our own pigs and chickens. So we've just finished slaughtering all the chickens, we've still got the pigs to do but the weather's got to be colder because we haven't got the freezer space so we've got to freeze it outside. So they're obviously quite large pigs now so meat wise we're fine. I've got the veggie garden so you know we're not going to starve through lack of potatoes or anything. When the river does finally freeze, they say they're met with another challenge. They have to make their own crossing. Oh, last year, there were huge areas, weren't there, that spent ages to ice over. And we were trying to skirt around one of these. Gary drilled a hole. And I was about 20 foot back from him. There's this almighty crack and the weirdest sound I'd ever heard. And the whole. Floor of like ice just vibrated and it's like retreat, retreat, we'll go a different route. Everyone I've spoken to, whether in West Dawson or Sister Island, say it's still way too soon to worry about anything just yet. In the meantime, they say they're just going to enjoy the nature, the solitude and the disconnect from the hustle and bustle of town. Chris McIntyre, CBC News, Dawson City.