Skagway

Skagway is about the first Alaska you get along the Alcan, and the drive down to the town is amazingly scenic. Lots of ice and snow still up here. The road is pretty steep in spots, as you drop all the way back to sea level.

     

Wow, this is like nowhere else on Earth, vast rocky fields dotted with lakes and rivers, with the mountains towering over it all.

  

Passing through the US customs station, I’m in Alaska! Just before Skagway is the turn-off for Dyea. It’s a small camping area near the old town site of Dyea (gold rush town, now long gone) and the foot of the famous Chilkoot trail. The road is dirt, and a bit challenging!

  

The campground is very rustic, and feels very Alaska-like.

I meet back up with Dennis and Carol, and Sue V. joins us for a couple days. We take a walk through Skagway and have lunch at the brewery. Skagway is a big cruise ship port, and there are 4 ships docked there most of the time. Lots of tourists: the population swells to over 10,000 with 4 ships in! Here are a few pix.

        

That afternoon, I ride the bike out to the Chilkoot trail, and then to the abandoned town site of Dyea. There’s not much left out here. Some mossy old wood planks, and a few remnants of what was a thriving town during the gold rush.

     

That evening, we sat around a campfire and did that camping thing. The next day, we had tickets to ride the train up the old narrow gauge railroad line that runs between Skagway and Whitehorse. We met up with Dana, Sue, Charlie and Margaret at the train station. It’s a neat ride, and some amazing scenery…. don’t miss it if you visit!

     

After the train, we all posed for a moment, then went to an outstanding Thai place for dinner. Yumm!  So long, Skagway! Time to head down the road.