5/31/13 - Skagway, AK
Skagway is home to the White Pass and Yukon Railroad, the “Scenic Railway of the World.”
Coming into Skagway
We were told when a ship first comes to this port the crew is sent out to paint the ship's logo on the cliffs. The higher up the painting the more the captain is liked.
More of the paintings on the rocks
Coming into Skagway
Skagway River
Coming into Skagway
On our tour, Pitch Fork Falls
Coming into Skagway harbor
We are docking behind this ship.
View of dock area in Skagway from the ship.
View of dock area in Skagway from the ship.
This building was covered with twigs
On our tour today we went up into the mountains. This is a snow marker for the snow plows. The driver said "White is alright, red you are dead". Meaning you don't want to get to close to the edge.
On our tour, this is the Tormented Valley
On our tour, this is the Tormented Valley
On our tour, this is the Tormented Valley
On our tour, Tutshi Lake
On our tour, Tutshi Lake
On our tour, Tutshi Lake
On our tour, Tutshi Lake
On our tour
On our tour, Tutshi Lake
On our tour, Windy Arm of Tagish Lake
On our tour, Windy Arm of Tagish Lake
On our tour, mountains at Yukon border
Carcross Desert. Carcross Desert is commonly referred to as a desert, but is actually a series of northern sand dunes. The area's climate is too humid to be considered a true desert. The sand was formed during the last ice age, when large glacial lakes formed and deposited silt. When the lakes dried, the dunes were left behind.
Caribou Crossing Trading Post is found just north of the historic village of Carcross in Yukon Territory, Canada. Just 1½ hours north of Skagway, Alaska, and 45 minutes south of Whitehorse, Yukon, on the scenic South Klondike Highway.
These goats were so funny. People would put a treat into the tin can and ring a bell. The goats would pull on the rope until they got the tin up to the wheel and they would get the tin in their mouth and pull it on around the wheel until the treats are emptied onto the floor.
These goats were so funny. People would put a treat into the tin can and ring a bell. The goats would pull on the rope until they got the tin up to the wheel and they would get the tin in their mouth and pull it on around the wheel until the treats are emptied onto the floor.
Brand new baby donkey. He was born about 10 minutes before I took this pictures. He was still getting his legs, so wobbly he hadn't yet taken a step.
Brand new baby donkey. He was born about 10 minutes before I took this pictures. He was still getting his legs, so wobbly he hadn't yet taken a step.
Sled dogs harnessed and ready
One of the different types of sleds
A puppy sled dog
The purpose of having these future athletes at Caribou Crossing is to be socialized to people of all different ages in order to develop into a friendly, confident dog that is able to function optimally as part of a dog team.
Mama and puppy sled dog
Two puppies taking a nap
The purpose of having these future athletes at Caribou Crossing is to be socialized to people of all different ages in order to develop into a friendly, confident dog that is able to function optimally as part of a dog team.
Emerald Lake is north of Carcross in the Yukon Territories, Canada and about 75 miles from Skagway.
The lake derives its bright color from the reflection of white deposits of marl, a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, that lines the shallow lake.
The last ice age, 14,000 years ago, carved the shallow lake bed and deposited the high concentration of calcium carbonate in the water. It came from limestone gravel that eroded from the glaciers of the nearby mountain ranges.
Emerald Lake is north of Carcross in the Yukon Territories, Canada and about 75 miles from Skagway.
The lake derives its bright color from the reflection of white deposits of marl, a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, that lines the shallow lake.
The last ice age, 14,000 years ago, carved the shallow lake bed and deposited the high concentration of calcium carbonate in the water. It came from limestone gravel that eroded from the glaciers of the nearby mountain ranges.
Bennett Lake
The abandoned town of Bennett, British Columbia, historically usually referred to as Lake Bennett or Bennett Lake and the town of Carcross, Yukon are on the shores of Bennett Lake.
During the Klondike Gold Rush, Bennett Lake was where the gold-seekers who had crossed the Coast Mountains from Skagway or Dyea, carrying their goods over the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass, purchased or built rafts to float down the Yukon River to the gold fields at Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. A large tent city sprang up on its shores, numbering in the thousands and offering all the services of a major city.
In late May 1898, the North-West Mounted Police counted 778 boats under construction at Lindeman Lake (located a difficult portage above Bennett Lake), 850 in Bennett and the surrounding area, and another 198 at Caribou Crossing (now Carcross) and Tagish Lake to help transport thousands of goldfield-bound travellers. It was further estimated that another 1,200 boats were built in these areas over the next few weeks.
Bennett Lake
The abandoned town of Bennett, British Columbia, historically usually referred to as Lake Bennett or Bennett Lake and the town of Carcross, Yukon are on the shores of Bennett Lake.
During the Klondike Gold Rush, Bennett Lake was where the gold-seekers who had crossed the Coast Mountains from Skagway or Dyea, carrying their goods over the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass, purchased or built rafts to float down the Yukon River to the gold fields at Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. A large tent city sprang up on its shores, numbering in the thousands and offering all the services of a major city.
In late May 1898, the North-West Mounted Police counted 778 boats under construction at Lindeman Lake (located a difficult portage above Bennett Lake), 850 in Bennett and the surrounding area, and another 198 at Caribou Crossing (now Carcross) and Tagish Lake to help transport thousands of goldfield-bound travellers. It was further estimated that another 1,200 boats were built in these areas over the next few weeks.
Bennett Lake
The abandoned town of Bennett, British Columbia, historically usually referred to as Lake Bennett or Bennett Lake and the town of Carcross, Yukon are on the shores of Bennett Lake.
During the Klondike Gold Rush, Bennett Lake was where the gold-seekers who had crossed the Coast Mountains from Skagway or Dyea, carrying their goods over the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass, purchased or built rafts to float down the Yukon River to the gold fields at Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. A large tent city sprang up on its shores, numbering in the thousands and offering all the services of a major city.
In late May 1898, the North-West Mounted Police counted 778 boats under construction at Lindeman Lake (located a difficult portage above Bennett Lake), 850 in Bennett and the surrounding area, and another 198 at Caribou Crossing (now Carcross) and Tagish Lake to help transport thousands of goldfield-bound travellers. It was further estimated that another 1,200 boats were built in these areas over the next few weeks.
On our bus ride we went to Carcross which is in the Yukon so had to have our passport with us. We got our passports stamped here.
On our bus ride up we came across this bear who was posing for us. He stretched up on a tree and clawed at it. Then he sauntered along side the bus for about 5 minutes. Got some wonderful pictures and videos of him.
On our bus ride up we came across this bear who was posing for us. He stretched up on a tree and clawed at it. Then he sauntered along side the bus for about 5 minutes.
We took a bus up into the Yukon and then a train back from Fraser to Skagway.
Historically, Fraser is a railroad station on the White Pass and Yukon Route railway; unimportant for many years since conversion to diesel locomotives. Currently, the railway uses Fraser for a terminus of tourist train operations, where passengers can transfer between buses and trains.
Just outside of Fraser, where we caught the train.
Just outside of Fraser, where we caught the train.
Taken at the White Pass Summit, this is a picture of the flags of the five jurisdictions served by the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad; United States, Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon Territory and Canada.
Mike on train