STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS
PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER
You'll see spectacular beauty as you traverse dangerous mountain passes, and you'll hear a lively commentary on the daring souls who explored the region, in search of adventure and riches.
All aboard, as the train pulls into the Skagway station for a trip into Alaska's wilderness -- still chilly in summer. |
All heads are turned toward spectacular scenery. |
But they did!
We followed in their footsteps -- the easy way on a recent trip to Alaska with several days in Skagway.
SKAGWAY IS on Alaska's panhandle, a compact city in the state's southeast, along the popular cruise route the Inside Passage. It's home to early gold-rush-era buildings, carefully preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. There's the Red Onion Saloon, established in 1898 as a bordello for lonely miners and today a popular downtown saloon. This colorful and lively place houses a museum that preserves the seamy history of the town.
Picturesque Skagway is home to sled dogs and mushers, beer makers, glass blowers, fishermen and wood carvers. |
IF YOU HAVE not been to Skagway, you'll want to make this stop, even if for only a day on a cruise. You'll traverse the famously steep Chilkoot trail and see sweeping mountain views during your climb toward Canada.
Sure, there's plenty to do in Skagway if you're here for several days: dog sledding, gold rush history and an interesting main street with restored buildings. But this time, we left colorful Skagway behind, to climb a steep grade past gorgeous falls, gulches, canyons and riverbeds still white with winter's snow, heading to White Pass Summit the international boundary between the U.S. and Canada.
As spring comes, the mountains green up and on the curves, passengers can view the impressive length of the train. |
A lively commentary describes the building of this legendary railroad and the brave men who cut grade on Tunnel Mountain and other foreboding hills to accommodate determined, even frenzied gold miners.
THE HISTORY dates to 1896 when George Carmack and two Indian companions, Skookum Jim and Dawson Charlie, found a few golden flakes in Bonanza Creek in the Klondike. Although their discovery barely filled the spent cartridge of a Winchester rifle, it triggered a stampede for riches. The Klondike gold Rush was on.
A detail of the massive snow plow used by the train in winter. |
NOT ALL miners thought to bring proper horse feed or treat their faithful pack animals with care. Some of the work took place in dead of winter when heavy snows blocked the 16-degree turns and temperatures plunged to minus 60 degrees.
Snow melt provides gushing streams; the train tour offers stunning views of the gullies and ravines on the route. |
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Safely back from a thrilling rail ride, "Keller and Cookie." |
On our return back towards Skagway with its quaint pastel buildings, we took a last look at the Sawtooth Mountains and admired the bright colored flora: golden arnica, pink fireweed, purple monkshood, scarlet columbine, lavender geranium, white yarrow and the deep red berries of the mountain ash.
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All eyes are on the horizon as an orca pod is spotted. |
We're in Skagway now and thanks to a cancellation, were able to book this trip. On our way now. Terrific timing. Thanks.
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