The Yukon River Company | Life at the edge of the frontier

[Yukon River Wilderness]

The Yukon River Company is the oldest commercial company within Yukon River Wilderness and operates as the premier wilderness outfitters in the nation. Our services span the entire spectrum of outdoor needs, including hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and wilderness exploration. Our services are exemplary matches for parks service individuals, gold prospectors, scientific and weather researchers, cartographers, firefighters, nomadic peoples, forestry service personnel, loggers, ranch hands, eco-tour operators, wilderness lodges, kayak and canoe operators, fishing and hunting guides, mountaineering expeditions, base camp operators, fur trappers, tanners, explorers, homesteaders, and all individuals who live on the brink of the frontier.

We know there are new frontiers just waiting to be explored, and we can't wait to be your complete wilderness outfitter.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

My fellow explorers,

It is with great honor that I represent the Yukon River Company to you today. Our company was founded in 1829, the golden age of exploration, with the idea that a great world awaited at the edge of the frontier. While we know this world has seen a great technological and educational advancement over the last 185 years, we also know that the age of exploration is yet alive and well. We are certain there are still new frontiers waiting to be explored and encountered by a new generation. We are committed to preserving this wilderness and bringing you interactions that are safe, superior, simple, and sustainable so that countless generations can likewise enjoy their exploration expeditions.

It is therefore with great responsibility that we invite you to join us in the out of doors. We want nothing more than to bring you an enjoyable experience in the wilderness, enjoying God's gift of creation to its fullest extent. Now is the time to reconnect with nature and to experience life at its greatest as the explorers of the 1800s so too did. And we would love to be your wilderness outfitting super store, supplying every need you may have as you venture into the great unknown. We have been taming the wilderness since 1829; let our field experience be your guide as you embark on your own expeditions.

Beyond just our expertise, we are committed to helping you experience the wilds to the absolute fullest extent. Our series of workshops and trainings will keep you informed and give you new ways to interact with nature. In various ways we give back to our frontier communities, with public service and conservation efforts to ensure that our legacy can continue for ages to come. Our ways of giving back to the community have helped our company remain relevant for our first 185 years; we have no intention of changing things now.

The Yukon River Company is not a place for the faint of heart; the wilderness never has been. But we are confident there is a new generation of explorers ready to live life at the edge of the frontier.

Continuing the age of exploration,

Asaph Shackleton
Chief Exploration Officer, The Yukon River Company

[Yukon River Wilderness]

The Yukon River Company was founded on the idea of exploring new frontiers. Our history begins years before our official start. In 1771, George Vancouver, a young explorer destined for greatness, joined the crew of one Captain James Cook. Under Cook's now infamous tutelage, the crews of the Resolution and the Discovery explored vast areas of the Pacific.

Vancouver went on to a special exploring career in his own regard, not content to rest completely in the shadows of Cook. In the years just before the turn of the 19th century, the now famous Vancouver expedition was commissioned, sending Vancouver to chart the Pacific Northwest, including its Northern shores. Here, from the shores, Vancouver first laid eyes on Denali, the tallest peak in the nation. It was certainly a majestic sight to see, and it plays a crucial part in our story, one that will be revealed in detail after a bit of the other side of the back story.

Around this same time, Russian Captain Nicholai Alexandrov set forth to explore new lands east of Russia, and to establish colonies under the Russian-American Company charter documents that had been filed to further exploration and fur trading. Alexandrov, whose father had sailed with Vitus Bering, knew of the rich furs available along the shores of what is now Yukon River Wilderness, especially those of the Stellar Sea Lion, a species that had been first documented during the Bering expeditions. And so it was that there, along the Southern shores of this Northern clime, that New Archangel, a new Russian colony, was founded in 1791. It was in New Archangel where Vancouver met Anastasia Baranov, and it was here that biology took its course. Anastasia found herself pregnant with Vancouver's child, a male who would be named Josiah and raised on this edge of the frontier.

Josiah Vancouver, raised in this atmosphere of exploration, would take the Vancouver expedition to new heights. Intrigued by the possibility of finding his own virgin lands to chart, Josiah headed to where his father's expeditions had ended—north, past the coastline and into the interior of what is now Yukon River Wilderness, spurred on by his father's recollection of these mountains perpetually covered in snow within the interior of this land. But the challenges of an overland expedition were much more multiplied than those of oceanbound journeys. As Josiah soon learned, this was a harsh and unforgiving land, nearly one million square miles of untamed wilderness. Though Josiah could not know the sheer size of this land then, he soon found out first hand indeed just how vast its borders were.

Josiah pushed further, deeper into the interior of the land, looking to establish fur trade to rival that of the Russian-American Company. Knowing that it was only a matter of time before more explorers started coming, Josiah set another plan in motion. And this was the founding of The Yukon River Company in 1829. Founded, as noted, to establish fur trade, it would also provide the basis for outfitting new expeditions deeper into the interior. For a European man, Josiah had much experience with the indigenous peoples of the area, and this lent well to his endeavor. Josiah was able to work very closely with the Alutiq, Tlingit, Haida, Tsmishian, Eyak, Yupiq, Inupiaq, and especially the Athabaskans located more in the interior, learning great things as to how to supply future expeditions. Though it was a harsh land, Josiah had discovered a pristine people, and with the help from these people groups, The Yukon River Company was operating on the edge of the frontier.

Our company continued to expand to new frontiers as it became apparent that exploration was imminent. The company became the main propelling force in the area's exploration, a catalyst for not only the fur trade, but for charting the nation via cartography, for great missionary work, and even for the Klondike gold rush and the eventual construction of the Yukon River Railroad. New outposts were opening and supplying even greater exploration.

Due to the vast nature of this untamed land, not even the company knew the extent of its reaches for some time. In fact, the company had been in operation for some 35 years before it was discovered that an outpost had been opened on the same river--one outpost had been opened early in the operation at a crucial point on a large river in the interior; the other had opened a few years later at the mouth of what turned out to be the same river. The harsh nature of exploration in this land made it impossible to know that this was the same river that had an outpost over 1400 miles upstream. Such was this life on the edge of the frontier.

Josiah himself not only supplied these expeditions, but pioneered many of them himself. The exploration in his blood was too rich to do otherwise. You've probably seen but did not recognize the famous pictures of our founder, with his gang of explorers in rough country. In fact, the most famous photograph of our founder was an expedition that required creative means to complete; no doubt the image of our founder riding a moose has circulated media many times over.

Today, we know the truth of our founder's philosophy—that despite the advanced technology, the spirit of exploration is alive and well. We are certain that there are countless individuals who live life at the edge of the frontier, and we would love to outfit your expedition and continue the age of exploration. We can't wait to open an outlet on the edge of your frontier, and to help more intrepid explorers to enjoy the wilderness in any way possible.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

The heart of the Yukon River Company's history is in hunting exploration. In the early days of our existence, we established amiable trade with the Inupiaq, Yupiq, Athabaskans, and other indigenous groups, learning trapping secrets from them and using the great natural resources of this land to help supply exploration expeditions. The Yukon River Company quickly became the leading supplier of furs in the area, expanding with contracts to several trappers in the area.

Today, we continue our tradition of being a well-respected furrier, and we are dedicated to sustainable species harvesting so that this trade may last for generations to come. Fur clothing remains the natural alternative to synthetic materials. It also almost universally outperforms their man-made counterparts. And who can resist the majestic fashion sense of a fur jacket or hat? You are sure to find furs for every occasion within our selection.

We are also looking for experienced trappers dedicated continuing the sport. If you are an experienced trapper, we encourage you to send notice to our management detailing the type and number of furs which can be made available. Photograph samples are encouraged. We may very well place your services under contract to help supply our demand.

Subsistence hunting hits very close to home for anybody on the edge of the frontier. The Yukon River Company is your home for all things needed to supply your hunting trips. We supply a great number of rifles, shotguns, and hunting caliber pistols, complete with a full array of ammunition. We have a full line of scopes and optics available to ensure that your aim is true even at great distances. For those who enjoy a closer proximity hunt, we also supply many manufacturers of bows, crossbows, and hunting knives. Of course, you will never be left out in the open with our blinds and tree stands. And we have got all of the decoys and lifesize shooting targets that you will ever need, as well as time tested and proven game calls. If that isn't enough, customers are more than welcome to test out their potential equipment at our on-site field simulation shooting ranges.

While we are some of subsistence hunting's biggest advocates, we understand that trophy hunting also plays a large role in life at the edge of the frontier. There is no better way to commemorate your trophy kill than with taxidermy services from The Yukon River Company. Our taxidermists are some of the most skilled in the industry, averaging twenty years of experience in the field and continually receiving training in their craft. We've also got all of the supplies for the do-it-yourselfer, and offer basic taxidermy workshops at each of our locations.

In addition to our taxidermy services, our locations provide on-site tanning for pelts, hides, and leathers that are brought in. This process ensures that your hard earned goods do not spoil and may be used and enjoyed for years, either in use for making your own furs and clothing or for other purposes such as rugs and blankets. Again, our tanners have years of experience in the field, and offer fundamental tanning workshops at each location.

Of course, often the most important part of any hunt is the meat itself. The Yukon River Company supplies all sorts of meat processing items, including smokers, dehydrators, canning equipment, and meat grinders and slicers. You'll love our selection of brine mixes, seasonings, and wood chips. Alternatively, you can leave a few instructions with our meat processing crew, and we will be happy to process all of your meats, either as full processing safe for keeping on pantry shelves or as specialty cuts carefully wrapped in butcher paper ready for your freezer. And of course, we can prepare your meats as all types of sausage, chorizo, meatballs, or any other way imaginable.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

In addition to our more land based operations for hunting, we also offer a full line of enjoying nature's bounty through our fishing gear. We carry rods suitable for small fish such as lake trout up to huge ocean fish such as halibut or marlin, and everything in between. Whether you are doing some lazy-day lake floatcasting, working the riverbanks with your flyrod, or dipping your hook in the deep sea from the deck of the boat, we have all of the things to make your trip successful. We carry a great number of flies, lures, and general tackle, with a reel to match any proficiency. Waders, boots, vests, hats, and gloves are just the beginning of our fishing clothing inventory. Be sure to sign up for our fly tying workshops which happen at every location, bringing local varieties sure to bring in the catch of the day.

What good is a catch if you can't land it? Our quality nets are the perfect way to ensure that your catch of the day doesn't escape. From landing nets suitable for bringing in a king salmon, to set and gill nets that can be set for larger catches, to dipping nets that can take the constant wear and tear of a fight, even large scale fishing nets suitable for use on a commercial fishing boat, our nets are certain to please. Made from the highest quality materials, we take great care to reduce tangles and increase strength and efficiency.

We understand that there is a bounty of resources in our earth's water sources, and we would hate for you to miss out on any of it. That is why we carry gear to help procure these as a food source as well, including crab pots, lobster, crayfish, and shrimp traps, and clam guns and shovels. We even offer a number of fishing spears and equipment for those who wish to take their sport to another level. Whatever your desire, we can outfit your expedition.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

At the Yukon River Company, we understand that the wilderness doesn't necessarily end where the trail does. Our company came about because of the exploration opened up by waterways, namely the Yukon River. In this still mostly untamed land, riverways act as highways of the land, connecting most major areas of habitation to resources and each other, especially as there are still very few roads here. It would therefore simply be an incomplete exercise not help you explore your wilderness via waterways.

Our company supplies a full line of canoes suitable for river and lake travel, each patterned after traditional watercraft built for centuries by the people who originally settled the southwest interior of this land. Our craftsmanship matches the meticulous design and handiwork employed in the original plans. We also have kayaks, patterned for swift travel not only along the riverbanks and lakes, but also for appropriate work in the open ocean. These small vessels were championed by the indigenous settlers along the Southern and Western shores of our nation.

For those who require the versatility of the kayak but need the carrying capacity of a larger boat, we also supply a small amount of umiaks, which are essentially large kayaks suitable for up to thirty individuals, and particularly useful in very cold environments where whaling or other oceangoing hunting is needed.
Everybody knows of the fame of whitewater adventures down raging rivers located in the wilderness. With our white water rafts, you'll be shooting the rapids like a pro, all with an amazing backdrop. Whether you are looking for a bit of fun or the easiest way to pack your belongings downstream, we have a large supply of rafts in stock to suit your needs. Additionally, for those who need the convenience of taking your raft with you along the trail, we offer a selection of lightweight but hardy packrafts.

For those who would like a more modernized version, our locations supply modern boats suitable for the area. Locations along the interior stock boats suitable for exploring the rivers, with relatively smaller area and shallower hulls. As we get closer to the seashore, our selection expands to include ships suitable for use riding the waves.

Of course, we supply all the things necessary to make such a water expedition possible. Wetskirts and drybags are a must for essential storage. Meanwhile, oars and paddles, both of natural and engineered material, are available for all of our canoes and kayaks, including the straight-edge single blade typical of many canoe designs and highly tuned double bladed paddles with large wings for use in kayaks. Naturally, we can't expect the larger and more modern boats to be propelled with just oars. We also carry a large number of boat motors, with varying amounts of power. We have the proper means to propel any and all of the watercraft that bear our name.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

The Yukon River Company understands the importance of the first line of shelter in the wilderness. There is no use adventuring out into the wilds if you can't trust your clothing to hold up to the elements while keeping you protected. Whether you need clothing and footwear to keep you warm or cool, our rugged brand of clothing will do the job, and keep you plenty dry to boot. Our brand of hunting camouflage is perfectly matched to many environments so that you can get as close to the prey as possible. We carry shirts and pants made of canvas, wool, and other strong materials that can take the full abuse suffered on the edge of the frontier. Synthetic jackets and snowsuits give a large layer of insulation from the brutal conditions. Hats and footwear suitable are uniquely engineered for the unforgiving harshness of the wilds particularly experienced within Yukon River Wilderness.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

When it is time to hit the wilderness for any activity, we are ready to outfit your expedition. Camping trips are often the easiest way to get into wilderness mode, and are a form of recreation that most individuals can enjoy with little investment or worry. Often times a recreational campsite becomes the base camp for other activities occurring in the wilderness such as fishing or hunting.

When you need a backpack or day pack for your adventures, our supply will prove to be excellent. Lightweight yet incredibly sturdy, our packs have been designed to hug your frame, making them less cumbersome while still providing a great deal of mobility. And storage will never be an issue. Our packs have been field tested in multiple environments, so we know the best places on each frame to hold various equipment such as campstoves, which are also housed at each location.

When it is time to bunk down for the night, we've got all the options to keep you covered. A large variety of sleeping bags will keep you warm; we've even got sleeping bags engineered for the coldest winter nights in the interior of Yukon River Wilderness, where temperatures have been known to drop to eighty degrees below zero. Additionally, inflatable and composite sleeping mats will make your night comfortable. For those on a longer trip, we have strong, balanced, and cozy cots useful for even the longest stays.

And in what structure will you place all this bedding? We supply a great number of proven tents for all expeditions. Whether you need a small tent that is lightweight, portable, and suitable for one person, or you need a tent that can fit all of your friends and family, you won't be disappointed with our selection. All of our tents are designed to be rugged and strong, holding up to weather extremes often found at the edge of the frontier. And with our award winning research, we are determined to bring you tents that are incredibly quick and easy to set up and disassemble.

As your camping trips turn into longer, true expeditions, we even carry our own line of canvas wall tents that can be outfitted with a wood stove for heating and cooking. These wall tents are great for longer stays where building a cabin might be impractical, but also allow for ease of disassembly and transportation to a new site. They are wonderful additions to teams that need the freedom of nomadic relocation but a more permanent location than a typical tent can provide.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

When it comes time to maintain your life at the edge of the frontier in a more permanent way than our tents can provide, we have ready to build cabin kits available which can get you outfitted for the long haul. Our cabin experts will consult with you on your needs to establish a cabin that will meet your needs while still offering unprecedented access to the wilderness.

One of the most important things our team will consult you on is the use of a foundation to keep your investment on the best footing possible. With the range of climates typical in Yukon River Wilderness and the world beyond, sometimes a plain concrete foundation will not serve its purpose. In the northern regions of our nation, typical foundations cannot work due to the ever shifting permafrost. Under such conditions, we will use a pier-based foundation, with your cabin placed on stilts piled deep into the ground. In other locations, a concrete foundation will work just fine. If you need assistance laying a working foundation for your cabin, for an additional fee, our team can come to your site for construction assistance.

We understand that most often your site will be remote. As such, we absolutely offer full delivery of your cabin kit to your location, as long as there is a suitable landing strip available for air based deliveries or shoreline access for water based deliveries. We also offer limited delivery via the Yukon River Railroad or similar railways to locations nearby their service areas. We will even send out a team of cabin construction experts to build your cabin on location at an additional charge.

Of course, our cabin kits are relatively easy to assemble if you should choose to carry out the final construction yourself. Our cabins are pre-assembled at each of our outlets, and then numbered with a simple to follow pattern so that there is no doubt where each of the logs should be placed. All of our cabins use only 10 inch logs which meet a five star energy rating even in the extreme interior of Yukon River Wilderness, which can see winter temperatures drop to eighty degrees below zero. It is a simple construction concept—thicker logs give better insulation. Our thicker logs give much better value to our cabins than the six and even eight inch logs used by most of our competitors. And all of our logs are three sided, meaning they are flat on three sides. This makes for the easiest possible construction while still allowing a natural finish for the outer walls.

All of our cabin kits come with everything that will be needed, including walls, windows, doors, hardware, front deck, flooring, and a metal roof suitable for most any climate that will last for ages. To add to the usable square footage of our cabins, each cabin's floorplan benefits from a half loft area suitable for sleeping or storage; the front half of the cabin extends to the roofline with cathedral windows that will let in a ton of light and allow you to take in the view you have always dreamed of. Your choice of a cast iron wood or pellet stove is part of every plan, giving you heating and cooking options for any location. We would also be more than willing to help you establish your cabin with a full off-the-grid setup, with solar or wind (and geothermal, where feasible) electrical options and rainwater catchment tanks with plumbing. We will be more than happy to provide a design that accommodates a composting toilet or a full flushing toilet for areas close enough to civilization to be on a septic system. For the cabin purists out there, an outbuilding is certainly possible, allowing for more usable space inside. We can even add a connecting walkway between an established cabin and a new addition.

Our base cabin kit prices are listed below. Delivery, on-site construction, and set up for off-grid options are extra, prices to be determined as each purchase conditions will vary.

Prospector Cabin Kit $19,200 NSD
16'x20' (320 square feet)

Fireweed $23,100 NSD
16'x24' (384 square feet)

Solstice Cabin Kit $27,860 NSD
20'x24' (480 square feet)

Sourdough Cabin Kit $41,100 NSD
24'x30' (720 square feet)

Aurora Cabin Kit $47,520 NSD
24'x36' (864 square feet)

Homesteader Cabin Kit $58,320 NSD
30'x36' (1080 square feet)

Looking for a size not listed here? These are our base kits, but custom sizes can be made available, even to the point of a large wilderness lodge. Looking to outfit a large number of cabins, either for recreational use or for a number of families? We'll be happy to provide a discount on multiple kits. Let us know your needs for a custom quote. Please note that custom orders will experience a delay in availability.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

At the heart of our home nation and our company lies the idea that the age of exploration is in fact alive and well. We know there are new wilderness frontiers that are begging to be explored. We make sure you have access to as much of the outdoors as possible with a wide range of services.

It is difficult to imagine where our company would be today without the services of skilled map-makers. It was essential to have cartographers as personnel on every early expedition. Even in this age of great information, there is still a need for experienced cartographers so that you can plan every detail for your life at the edge of the frontier. At each location, we have just this trained personnel ready to join your expedition as an expert in the field. Additionally, each location has a staff of wilderness guides ready for hire, all familiar with the area and versed in survival techniques. Whether you are embarking on a trek of just a few short days or adventuring out for a full blown wilderness expedition, our professional staff can bring new confidence while bringing you to lands you thought were inaccessible. Of course, all the gear you could need for such an expedition is right at your fingtertips while in our stores.

Our services also extend to the realms of mountaineering. Why do individuals climb mountains? Because they are there. Why do individuals continually turn to the Yukon River Company to help them with their mountaineering adventures? Because we too are there. In a land so full of mountainous peaks, it only makes sense to turn to the experts in the field. You can get geared up for your climb at any one of our locations, hire our professionals to serve as your base camp monitors, or even ask about using one or more of our professional mountaineer guides to help you ascend the full heights of the peaks in the area. Whether you are performing a single out and back trip up a smaller mountain or ascending the unparalleled heights of Denali, our team brings the experience you can count on for a successful climb.

Our company was crucial to the development of the Klondike gold rush, and we continue to be involved in mineral exploration to this day. Our locations supply a fair amount of traditional gold pans ready for the river bed. For the more serious prospector, we supply a full line of sluice boxes sure to separate the gleam from the stream.

Of course, this begs the question of how we get to various locations for cartography, mountaineering, and backcounty tours. We have you covered! We supply a full range of ATVs, four wheelers, and snowmachines ready for purchase or rent at each location so that you can get to all the places you would like to go. If you aren't quite sure where to explore, our locations offer full ATV and snowmachine tours. If you would prefer a more traditional means of traveling the backcountry, our dog sled teams are available during the winter months to give you the full experience of the explorers of the 1800s.

And of course, what exploration services would be complete without the availability of bush plane flying? Our experienced bush pilots will consult with you on the best method of accessing your remote hunting and fishing sites, mountaineering treks, wildlife viewing, extreme eco-tourism, gold prospecting, scientific research, and general wilderness drop off points. With all types of landing gear, including rugged fixed wheels suitable for land operations, ski platforms suitable for glacier and snow operations, and float pontoons suitable for water operations, our team of bush planes will get you as close to your desired drop off point as possible, and arrange for a meeting place and time for your safe and timely extraction. Our bush planes can also be hired for cargo deliveries. For those in areas too remote to access our stores, just give us your order and we will fly it in; bush deliveries are welcome at the Yukon River Company!

[Yukon River Wilderness]

Our company offers a wealth of information available as in-store and in-field trainings. These trainings are designed to assist individuals with techniques for hunting, fishing, boating, mountaineering, homesteading, and all types of services with which our company is involved. Not only do our trainings and workshops get people more informed about the passions they share, but also provide more ways to interact with those passions. All of our workshops are designed to increase familiarity with life at the edge of the frontier, and are created to further increase wilderness safety and sustainability.

Another way our company gives back to our frontier communities is through the Parks and Forestry services. Because of the nature of our company, our employees are required to maintain a great amount of field training each year. We know that often times when budget cuts happen, the Parks service is one of the first to suffer. We would be happy to contract with your local community to help make our training needs and your Park Service needs coincide. Since we are already on location in the field, there is a high probability that we can offer viable service for a fraction of the cost of a government funded Parks Service.

An additional thing the Yukon River Company does to give back to the community is in scientific research. Remote areas have for many years been the center of such wildlife, plantlife, geologic, and weather monitoring and testing. Our very own foundation, the Yukon River Foundation, invests in important field research opportunities throughout Yukon River Wilderness and even on a global scale.

Closely tied to our research efforts and also funded under the Yukon River Foundation are our efforts in conservation. We are committed to helping fragile sites and species to regain their natural vibrance, while also preventing established sites and species from becoming endangered. Every year we pick projects that help animals, plants, and their environments so that the wilderness will be available for generations to come. We plant trees, reestablish shore lines, reintroduce critical species into their natural habitats, create trailheads and maintain trails, perform wilderness cleanup of man made materials, and many other tasks. Our employees even operate as volunteer firefighters when the forests, park lands, and wilds near our stores come under attack by encroaching blazes.

Without a doubt, operating exploration services and supplying exploration products comes with a great risk. Life at the edge of the frontier can be a harsh and unforgiving place, and countless individuals are placed in harm's way each year due to unseen circumstances such as weather or injury. One of the ways our company gives back to their frontier communities is to organize teams of search and rescue operators who voluntarily go in to difficult situations to help others get out alive. We rely on our bank of field experts and caring individuals from the community to make this happen. We are committed to ensuring your safety and will face our own peril to bring you out on the other side.

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The Yukon River Company is headed by Chief Exploration Officer Asaph Shackleton. Exploration is in the Shackletons' blood; it was Asaph's great grandfather Ernest Shackleton who is now known for his polar exploration of the Antarctic and for grueling survival against all odds when his ship the Endurance was crushed in the ice. With Antarctic exploration accomplished, the Shackleton family soon refocused their attention to the Northern latitudes of Yukon River Wilderness, where Asaph has spent his entire life interacting with the wilds. Asaph recently completed his doctoral degree in Wilderness Leadership and Conservation from Klondike University, and has led a number of wilderness expeditions all over Yukon River Wilderness and throughout the world. Our Board of Leaders voted by a 75% margin to install Asaph into his position in June 2012 due to his ongoing detail toward scientific research, education, and conservation, and for his well established field expertise.

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OPEN YUKON RIVER COMPANY STORES
Nations interested in opening one or multiple Yukon River Company stores are asked to fill in the following application. Due to the expense of new locations, and to the nature of operating near wilderness locations, requests for inordinate locations will be denied or selectively chosen.

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[color=#921205]Invitation to open locations[/color]
Interesed party name (please designate Mr./Ms):
Interested party title:
Location of Yukon River Company store to be opened (please fill out one application per form):
Please describe this stores setting in detail (2-3 sentences minimum).  Be sure to include access to outdoor activities and number of square miles of wilderness directly accessible from this location:
Proposed local leadership officer, name and qualifications (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Other notes/comments:

WILDERNESS GUIDES
Parties interested in contracting with the Yukon River Company to have one or more or or experienced wilderness guides lead your expedition are asked to fill out the following form.

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[color=#921205]Wilderness guides[/color]
Interested party name (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Number of people expected in expedition:
Expected length of expedition, in days:
Please describe remote area to be explored in detail (minimum of 2-3 sentences:
Please describe the purpose of this expedition:
Other notes/comments:

BUSH FLIGHTS
Parties interested in securing a flight to a remote location are asked to fill out the following form.

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[color=#921205]Bush flights[/color]
Interested party name (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Number of individuals to transport:
Please describe cargo to transport:
Nearest civilization to destination, name and number of miles removed:
Please describe the terrain of the destination in detail (minimum 2 sentences):
Please describe destination landing areas:
Length in days between drop off and extraction, if applicable (insert N/A if no extraction is necessary):
Other notes/comments:

ORDERS
Parties interested in ordering supplies from one of our locations are asked to fill out the following form. Bush orders are welcomed at the Yukon River Company.

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[color=#921205]Orders[/color]
Ordering party name (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Company name, if applicable:
Type and quantity of items to order:
Delivery information:
Nearest civilization to delivery location, name and number of miles removed from delivery location (this information is used to determine shipping costs):
If this is a remote location, please describe suitable landing operations for bush craft, or other considerations such as nearby railways or waterways:
Other notes/comments:

SUPPLIERS
Parties interested in supplying our company with products or services that can assist individuals in the wilderness are asked to fill out the following form.

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[color=#921205]Supplier Request[/color]
Contact name (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Contact title:
Company:
Storefront link:
Please describe what products or services your company can provide to the Yukon River Company:
Why should we choose your products:
Other notes/comments:

WORKSHOP/TRAINING PRESENTATIONS
Parties interested in presenting a topic for a workshop or public training are asked to fill out the following form.

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[color=#921205]Workshop Presentations[/color]
Interested party name (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Proposed name of workshop/training:
Please describe your qualifications to teach this subject:
Would this workshop/training be held in store or in the field:
Please describe field conditions needed for workshop, if applicable:
Please describe any needed materials for this workshop:
Length of workshop:
In how many locations are you willing to give this workshop:
Other notes/comments:

EMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS
We are always seeking experienced field guides, pilots, trappers, tanners, cabin construction workers, and other individuals with wilderness experience. Parties interested in applying for a position with the Yukon River Company are asked to fill out a cover letter detailing what position you are applying for and your qualifications. Given our company's history and notoriety, positions with our company are very competitive. Consider your cover letter your first interview for the job; as such, incomplete cover letters or those lacking enough determining information will be rejected.

PARKS SERVICE ASSISTANCE
Parties interested in having the Yukon River Company take over a portion of your Parks Service employee duties are asked to fill out the following form.

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[color=#921205]Parks Service application[/color]
Contact name (please designate Mr./Ms.):
Contact title:
Location of assistance needed:
Number of square miles to be placed under Yukon River Company parks jurisdiction:
Please describe the parks and general duties of your Parks Service Employees in detail.  Be sure to include accommodations for potential rangers (minimum 4 sentences):
Other comments/notes:

CONSERVATION/RESEARCH REQUESTS
We are committed to extending conservation and scientific research as made available in the wilderness . The Yukon River Foundation funds a number of such projects each year on a world wide scale. Parties interested in receiving conservation and research assistance are asked to fill out a cover letter describing the site location, scope of the project, and type of assistance requested, including any monetary values. Projects to be selected are considered very competitive; as such your cover letter will act as the first interview for your project. Incomplete cover letters or those which do not identify enough determining information will be rejected.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

[The Recon Empire]

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To Yukon River Company:

Greetings! I am writing to you on behalf of the Legion Corporation, and we see great potential in growing the Yukon River Company into something much more. The Legion Corporation proposes a deal that would benefit both parties. We wish to offer a capital investment of $1.5 billion dollars in exchange for 15% of Yukon River Company. We believe this capital investment is critical and key to expanding your operations further, and to push your business even greater. The Legion Corporation, being a successful conglomerate in its own right, believes it can bring Yukon River Company to the success that you desire, and we hope to do that with our wide range of contacts that can bring business to the Yukon River Company.

Some incentives, should the deal be agreed upon, will be as follows:

Legion Insurances will be happy to provide all of your clients with a complimentary Legion Basic Travel Plan for the entire duration of their travels with your company. This will ensure their risks and securities be managed, giving them a better comfort and security while they have fun. The plans are widely covered, ensuring that all their needs be met.

Legion Constructions, seeing that Yukon River Company lacks a proper headquarters, is happy to construct a corporate headquarters for Yukon River Company, and the Legion Corporation is happy to sponsor the construction of the entire corporate headquarters. This will allow your administrative department to grow significantly and handle the growing business.

Legion Hypermarkets will be happy to merchandise the products of the Yukon River Company at our hypermarkets. As it is the hottest and most popular general retain chain on GE&T, we believe your publicity will be met. Legion Hypermarkets will purchase, as usual, at the price of which your products are sold at, and will not compromise your income.

Last but not least, The Legion Foundation is our private non-profit foundation aimed at developing creative and original ideas and solutions. We see great potential in Yukon River Company being one of its pioneers of its kind, hence the Legion Foundation is willing to grant an additional $500 million without contract donation to the Yukon River Company to develop itself.

We hope you will consider through these offers, that are beneficial not to you only but to us as well, and we want to help you reach your goals. Thank you and we hope to hear back from you again!

Sincerely,

Mr Benjamin Crawford
Director of Acquisitions and Investments
The Legion Corporation

[Yukon River Wilderness]

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Life at the Edge of the Frontier

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Sent from: Asaph Shackleton, Chief Exploration Officer
Deliver to: Mr. Benjamin Crawford

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Mr. Crawford and all fellow explorers at the Legion Corporation:

It is with great honor that the Yukon River Company has received your request to purchase a percentage of our company. It is no small deal indeed to have such a willing and interested investor seeking to assist our company. However, the Yukon River Company is sorry to bring you the unfortunate reply that your request has been denied. At this point in time, the Yukon River Company desires to remain fully under our own ownership, as we have for 185 years of our history. While your offer is substantial and offers a chance to jumpstart our international operations, our company has performed quite admirably within Yukon River Wilderness for the better part of two centuries, and we have no doubts that it will continue to do so on a global scale with our recent expansion.

However, this news does not indicate disinterest in a partnership with the Legion Corporation. We have noticed the recent growth of Legion Hypermarkets, and would be well pleased to offer some of our popular products at such a store. For Legion Hypermarkets to carry our entire line would be quite impractical, however, as the Yukon River Company is a superstore in and of itself. But our more popular tents, sleeping bags, camping gear, and clothing items may be wonderful additions to your offering. Note, however, that our other items such as hunting gear may not be fully appropriate for your particular setting. Should this proposal suit your needs well, we will be more than happy to fill out a reciprocating application at Legion Hypermarket's storefront page.

We look forward to your response with great anticipation.

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Continuing the age of exploration on the edge of the frontier,

Asaph Shackleton
Chief Exploration Officer, The Yukon River Company

[The Recon Empire]

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To Yukon River Company:

Greetings! We understand your concern, and we will respect your decision. Nonetheless, we hope the Legion Foundation grant can continue, as we strive to nurture potential in areas of arts, education, business and creative solutions. If agreeable upon, we can continue to donate the aforementioned NS$500 million to aid your growth as a business company. This can be thought of as an incentive for the hard work on your storefront, or an opportunity to widen your publicity.

In regards to the Legion Hypermarket proposal, we are happy to offer your products onto our hypermarket shelves. As it is booming right now, we are open for products to be added in, and we look forward to seeing your application there!

Once again, thank you very much, and we hope to hear back from you regarding the Legion Foundation donation as well as the Legion Hypermarket applications.

Sincerely yours,

Mr Benjamin Crawford
Director of Acquisitions and Investments
The Legion Corporation

[Yukon River Wilderness]

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Life at the Edge of the Frontier

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Sent from: Asaph Shackleton, Chief Exploration Officer
Deliver to: Mr. Benjamin Crawford

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Mr. Crawford and all fellow explorers of the Legion Corporation:

The Yukon River Company is pleased to hear of your amiable response regarding our company's position. As to the point of offering a sample of our products at Legion Hypermarkets, we are excited to be featured within your stores, and will be filing a reciprocating application post haste. It is with great honor that our products will make their way to individuals who are ready to experience the fullness of the outdoor setting.

Regarding your point of the Legion Foundation's generous offer to allow the proposed $500 million dollar grant to remain, we must respectfully decline. With our own Yukon River Foundation in place to support wilderness conservation, education, and scientific research, we understand the importance of such a large grant amount. We feel it would be quite irresponsible to accept a grant as a business when we know there are much more worthy causes available, notably those you have mentioned in the areas of arts and education. However, we have a solution which may meet your persistence. We would be well pleased if some of this grant money was made available to high school and college aged students. A portion could be allocated to those in inner cities who do not have great access to the outdoors to be able to attend immersion conservation activities in an effort to increase awareness; another portion could be allocated for college students who are actively studying wilderness conservation or outdoor leadership so as to continue the important work that our company started so many years ago. Given the importance of preserving natural areas for all future generations to enjoy, we feel this option would be the best possible use of your foundation's available grant money.

Again, we thank you for contacting the Yukon River Company, and we look forward to a majestic partnership.

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Continuing the age of exploration on the edge of the frontier,

Asaph Shackleton
Chief Exploration Officer, The Yukon River Company

[Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego]

Invitation to open locations
Interesed party name (please designate Mr./Ms): Mr. Bastien Cruz
Interested party title: Supreme Senate Representative
Location of Yukon River Company store to be opened (please fill out one application per form): Cape Horn
Please describe this stores setting in detail (2-3 sentences minimum). Be sure to include access to outdoor activities and number of square miles of wilderness directly accessible from this location: Cape Horn, as the only thing close to a city within our nation, has great access to the wilderness. Being located in the extreme southern hemisphere yet north of Antarctica, it is a harsh land of volcanoes, mountains, and low temperatures. Hiking, guanaco hunting, fishing, camping, and kayaking between some of the islands is quite popular, as well as ATV tours. This location would serve as the only location in the nation, and therefore be host to around 60,000 square miles of terrain with few areas of civilzation.
Proposed local leadership officer, name and qualifications (please designate Mr./Ms.): Mr. Santiago Alvarado, local hunting guide for the Cape Horn Mercantile, a local sporting goods store which does not really meet the full needs of our population
Other notes/comments: None.

[Yukon River Wilderness]

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Life at the Edge of the Frontier

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Sent from: Asaph Shackleton, Chief Exploration Officer
Deliver to: Mr. Bastien Cruz

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Mr. Cruz and all fellow explorers of Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego

It is with great honor that the Yukon River Company has received your request to open one company store, to be located in Cape Horn. Reviewing your application, we note several positive things going for a potential Cape Horn location. We note that there is already a population who enjoys venturing into the wilderness, with a number of outdoor activities at their disposal. Furthermore, it appears that such a location would have at its ready a large amount of land waiting to be explored, as well as a climate conducive to a need for rugged products. Additionally, the presence of the successful yet underwhelming Cape Horn Mercantile is of substantial news since it requires that individuals already frequent their business. All of these factors add to a high likelihood that a Cape Horn location would prove to be successful.

As such, we are happy to inform you that your application has been approved. We will begin site selection and construction of the building proper as soon as possible. We also have made note of your recommendation of Mr. Santiago Alvarado to be placed in a local leadership position. Along with other candidates, Mr. Alvarado will be strongly considered for such a role given his field expertise as a hunting guide in the area.

We look forward to sharing the responsibility and joy of the great outdoors with your customers in the near future.

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Continuing the age of exploration on the edge of the frontier,

Asaph Shackleton
Chief Exploration Officer, The Yukon River Company

[Auckland Islands]

Invitation to open locations
Interesed party name (please designate Mr./Ms): Mr. David Enderby
Interested party title: Chancellor of Auckland Islands
Location of Yukon River Company store to be opened (please fill out one application per form): Port Ross
Please describe this stores setting in detail (2-3 sentences minimum). Be sure to include access to outdoor activities and number of square miles of wilderness directly accessible from this location: The Auckland Islands are a harsh sub-Antarctic environment, full of mountains, bogs, Southern Rata forests, and many wilderness activities. It is a cold and unforgiving climate much of the year. Port Ross, as the only substantial civilization, will be a wonderful jumping off point for many activities, including hiking, ATV rides, fishing, and bird hunting. There is also a vibrant opportunity in sea hunting expeditions. To give an idea of the need for rugged gear, the Auckland Islands are home to many historical shipwrecks, and former governments had gone to the extreme of establishing "castaway cache" points on the islands, with gear needed for extreme survival included. The Yukon River Company will slip into the role of present day "castaway cache" and survival/outdoors outfitter.
Proposed local leadership officer, name and qualifications (please designate Mr./Ms.): Mr. Sawyer King, park ranger serving Giant's Archway National Park
Other notes/comments: Thank you

[Servinta]

Workshop Presentations
Interested party name: Mr.Igor Hattica

Proposed name of workshop/training: The Other Side of the Mountain (Native Mountaineering and Survival)

Please describe your qualifications to teach this subject:Igor Hattica Is a former Servintan Peoples Army Tsargetn and native Rook (an ethnic minority) who hails from the Fraucon Mountain ranges to the far north of Servinta.Born and raised in the traditional ways of his people he is an accomplished atlatl hunter and tracker who honed his skills when he was conscripted into the army.He was first deployed with the Servintan Expeditionary Force to the far east to in the mountainous jungles of Great Minh, where he furthered his experience in trapping and hunting by working with he local Great Minh rebels as an adviser.Soon the war escalated and he was force to take an active role as a sharpshooter for his unit until they became surrounded in their defense of Hill 132, where they were overrun and had to escape by trekking through the mountains for two weeks (his native knowledge of mountain survival and navigation was essential in getting them back into the jungle roads.) until they were picked up by a retreating convoy.He was honorably discharged from the military but continues to provide expertise on the subject of mountain warfare and survival to the army, he also hosts several private classes and trips to his lodge in the Fraucon to educate people on his peoples culture and the art of survival.

Would this workshop/training be held in store or in the field:Either options are acceptable (But there is no exception for field experience and he enjoys getting out in the wilderness)

Please describe field conditions needed for workshop, if applicable:

• 1. A mountain (of course) but he will only bring inexperienced participants up to 15,000 feet elevations, any further is territory for more seasoned individuals to attempt.
  
  
  Or
  
  
• 2. If a mountain is not in the general area or if such mountains are deemed too dangerous then a large formation of rocks or cliff will suffice for practicing climbing and cliff camping.
  
  
  Or
  
  
• 3.Climbing walls can be accepted but these are artificial and are usually used for practical application of skills before going out and doing the real thing

Please describe any needed materials for this workshop:

• Mountain boots
• Cold weather clothing
• A food supply (MRE's are a wonderful source of protein during the mountaineering trip, hunting is intended to be the main source of food for the training and class portions),
• Rifles and ammunition (semi-automatic is preferred as they do not require two hands to fully operate.)
• Climbing gear (ropes,hooks and such)

Length of workshop: 12 to 16 days (for training and classes), 17 to 21 days (for classes and full mountaineering trip)

In how many locations are you willing to give this workshop: Any location is good for him as he likes to travel and put any new mountains he can under his belt.

Other notes/comments:Does not like to talk about the war!!!

[Yukon River Wilderness]

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Sent from: Asaph Shakleton, Chief Exploration Officer
Deliver to: Mr. David Enderby

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Mr. Enderby and all fellow explorers of Auckland Islands:

It is with great honor that the Yukon River Company has received your request to open one company store, to be located in Port Ross. Reviewing your application, we note several positive things going for a potential Port Ross location. We note that there is already a population accustomed to a harsh climate, and with a history of life on the edge of the frontier. Your history as a shipwreck location shows just how daunting this location can be. And this is exactly the type of land we cater to most with our locations. We also note a population with access to many natural features of the land, and several ways to enjoy these features. A strong need for our rugged gear, combined with a strong desire for individuals to use such gear, strongly suggests that a Port Ross location would prove to be successful.

As such, we are happy to inform you that your application has been approved. We will begin site selection and construction of the building proper as soon as possible. We also have made note of your recommendation of Mr. Sawyer King to be placed in a local leadership position. Along with other candidates, Mr. King will be strongly considered for such a role given his field expertise as a park ranger within the Giant's Archway National Park.

We look forward to sharing the responsibility and joy of the great outdoors with your customers in the near future.

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Continuing the age of exploration on the edge of the frontier,

Asaph Shackleton
Chief Exploration Officer, The Yukon River Company

[Yukon River Wilderness]

+++

Life at the Edge of the Frontier

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Sent from: Asaph Shackleton, Chief Exploration Officer
Deliver to: Mr. Igor Hattica

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Mr. Hattica:

It is with great honor that the Yukon River Company has received your request to host workshops titled "The Other Side of the Mountain." Reviewing your application, we note several positive things going for this potential workshop. We have made note of your exemplary qualifications to direct such a workshop, including your time served with the Servintan Peoples Army Tsargetn and the many exploits of your adventures. Of particular interest is your fieldwork in the areas of Native mountaineering and survival. As with all areas of life at the edge of the frontier, these skills are quite likely to be well requested and necessary for those who trek out into the wilderness. These factors strongly suggest that "The Other Side of the Mountain" workshops will prove to be popular.

As such, we are happy to inform you that your application has been approved. We will begin the task of scheduling your site visits and seeking appropriate field locations. Your application notes that you would be interested in hosting as many trainings as our company deems fit, and that workshops could be scheduled for up to 21 calendar days. We would be pleased to schedule you for one 21 day session from October 28-November 18 and to be located near our Klondike, Yukon River Wilderness store where there is ample access to the field requirements you have requested. If this session goes as planned, we will look to schedule your services for other popular locations as well.

We will now begin the process of advertising your training session to our customers to ensure it is well attended by fellow explorers looking to hone their Native mountaineering and survival skills.

We look forward to sharing the responsibility and joy of the great outdoors with you in the near future.

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Continuing the age of exploration on the edge of the frontier,

Asaph Shackleton
Chief Exploration Officer, The Yukon River Company