'Top of my bucket list': Royal hugs thrill Yukon moms

A group of Carcross, Yukon, women have become known for hugs that were seen around the world Wednesday.

They were at an event on Montana Mountain near Carcross to recognize the work of local young people who build mountain bike trails that havebecomeinternationally-renowned.

Also present:Prince William and Kate, and a group of British reporters.

Physical contact between members of the British royal family and the public isusually restricted to handshakes.But William and Kate, between them, hugged three moms and one grandmother.

"You just made the top of my bucket list," Gwen Wally told Prince William after getting her hug.Her sonShane is part of the mountain bike trail crew.

Wally also told the Duke how much she respected his mother, the late Princess Diana, and then paid a similar compliment to Kate.

"You're doing an awesome job, you've got gorgeous babies," Wally said.

The encounterand the hugs were later reported by British media.

• Yukon First Nation to Will and Kate: Help us strengthen our relationship with the Crown

'She's really into all the royal stuff'

Respect and love for Princess Diana was expressed bymany at Wednesday'sevent.

Before the arrival of the royal party on Wednesday, the trail crew's family members reflected on what had led to thevisitand how much it meant to them.

Trail builder Dominic Smith-Johns was mostly pleased that his grandmother Susan James would be ableto meet Prince William.

"It's pretty cool, cause my grandma really likes the Princess Diana and she's really into all the royal stuff back then," said Smith-Johns.

"Now, theircoming here todayhelps me repay her. Usually every morning she made my lunches, and my mom did too. And they bought all my supplies when I needed it, and my grandma got me this bikethat has actually made this mountain accessible for mefor my birthday," he said.

"I really appreciate that too," Smith-Johns said.

"You're welcome Dominic," James responded, "I'm happy you're enjoying the bike.This is just exciting though, and heartwarming. It's just good all over."

Honouring the trail builders

The trail builders are part of the "Single Trackto Success" program,founded in 2005by Jane Koepke and supported bytheCarcross/TagishFirst Nation.

Carcross teen McKenzie Harper-Smarchsaid before Wednesday's royal visitthat it would serve to honourthe current trail builders and those who came before them.

"I feel pretty good that the royals are coming to see the work we did and fixed up, [with] generations of other people working and us working.Now it's just us to finish, and on and onas long as the trails keep going," Harper-Smarch said.

His mom Martina Smarchsaid the program has kept McKenzie focussed, when many other young peoplemake unhealthy choices.

"He's my youngest boy, and I'm really proud of him because he could have started hanging out with the wrong crowd," Smarch said.

"He is not a drinker, he's pretty athletic and I'm grateful for these trails," Smarch said.

Steve McLaughlin, whose son Keonais also part of the trail crew, joked with the Prince that he was wearing his best camouflage,to mark the visitand hunting season.

McLaughlin said the royal visit exposed manyYukoners to a culture they're not familiar with.

"They're [the royals]from another part of the planet.My son served them last night at Kwanlin Dn [Cultural Centre],so he was talking about their accent, and he had a lot of things to say," McLaughlinsaid.

"They're secured all the time, so they're not like our kids where they can just run and play in these mountains."