We drove to Skagway on the 8th. For the first part of the drive it was much like the days before but with no animals. There are fires burning around the state and one fairly close to where we were so the sky was very smoky. As we got closer to Skagway the mountains started to look like those in Glaicier, but more of them. We came down White Pass whichwas an 11% grade. Steep. But the scenery was beautiful. Sub alpine with lake nestled in the high mountains and granite rocks. Very cool. After we got set up (in an RV park I wouldn't wish on anyone) we went into town to look it over and have a beer. There were cruise ships in so it was busy. After our beers the streets were empty because all had returned to the ship. We walked home and got Otto and drove to the old gold miner town of Dyea. This was the staging area for the stampeeders who walked or tried to walk over Chilkoot Pass and the 500 miles to Dawson City during the goldrush. The pass and area are in Jack London's book such as White Fang.
On Thursday morning we got up and Conrad walked down to get our Ferry boat tickets to Haines. We will boat it over. Then after breakfast we went to the trailhead for the Chilkoot trail. We walked up the trail for 2 hours about 2.5 miles hoping it would break out so we could see the mountains but it remained in very thick forest and even swamp where the trailcrew had build high wooden plank walkways.. But we can say we walked in the footsteps of the poor men who attempted the trail. We did meet people who were heading over. It takes 3 to 4 days and is 30 miles over the pass. (I will post pictures later tonight).
Am washing clothes and will have an early to bed since we must be at the boat at 5am.
David had a computer game when he was younger called "The Yukon Trail" which he played over and over again. All the names you are mentioning were in that game (Skagway, Dawson, Chilkoot). It's like you are playing that game for real!! Fun!!
ReplyDelete