The ship anchored last night in the bay about two miles from Skagway. During breakfast we slowly motored to the pier where we would dock. We were picked up in an old school bus for a quick motor tour of the town (900 year round residents) and then dropped off at the White Pass and Yukon Rail Station. Construction on the 67.5 mile route to Lake Bennett was begun in 1898 as a means to get miners and their equipment into the Yukon where gold was discovered in 1896. The line was completed in 1900. The gold rush began in earnest in 1898. Prior to the completion of the rail line gold seekers we forced to hike to Bennett Lake via the Chilkoot Trail which begins in Dyea seven miles west of Skagway. Upon reaching the Canadian Border, about 35 miles in, each prospector was required to have all of their gear weighed. There was a catch. Each prospector was required to have 2,000 pounds of gear and supplies. This is the amount that the Canadian Government determined was necessary for them to be self sufficient for one year. There were no possibility for resupply along the way. So each prospector generally had to make 20-25 trips to Lake Bennett. At that point they made themselves rafts to float across the lake and then down the Yukon River to where gold was discovered. Many died and even fewer made any money.
We did 27 3/4 miles and departed the train at Fraser, British Columbia. Our passports were checked by Canadian Immigrations and we boarded a bus to take us back to Skagway where we could shop for a couple of hours. The trip was great and I would highly recommend it if you ever get close to here. Back in Skagway I had a very ordinary beer at Skagway Brewing and the walked back to the ship.
After lunch we motored for about 90 minutes north arriving in Haines, Alaska, a town of 3,000 permanent residents. There was a fort built here by the US Government beginning in 1902 which was abandoned in 1948. Your tax dollars at work. It is a beautiful location but not much to see or do.
Tonight after dinner we begin our trip southward.
ILYB
One of the original tressels. It has been replaced.
Myron and I getting back to the US.
Snowblower that was mounted on the front of the locomotive.
View from central Haines.
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