We were up and out by 8:20 this morning...the bus was scheduled to pick us up at the office at 8:30, so we thought we should be a little early. Beside Steve wanted to take a few pictures of the inside of the office...it is a lovely log building...
...and their collection of military vehicles from the Alaska Hwy days...at the RV park entrance...
The bus picked us up shortly after 8:30 and after a couple of stops for other passengers, we were on our way. Our first sightseeing stop was Emerald Lake...the bus pulled over at a viewpoint and we all got out for pictures (and to stretch out legs)...the colour of the lake is stunning! Of course, pictures never seem to do justice...
Our next stop was at Carcross...it used to be called Caribou Crossing but eventually got shortened to Carcross.
Not a lot there but an interesting place nonetheless...
The S.S. Tutshi...unfortunately this is all that remains after a fire destroyed her in 1990. If you'd like more info...here is a great website...Steamboats
After a 20 minute break, we were back on the bus and continuing our journey to Fraser, BC where we are catching the train. This is a picture looking back at Carcross from the highway...
Spectacular scenery...
We arrived at Fraser, BC just as they were bringing in our train engines...
After the bus driver told us what car was ours (#366), we were on our way to board the train...
We grabbed a seat on the "scenic side" of the train and then Steve went out to get a couple more pictures...
And here is the start of the train ride through the mountains to Skagway, Alaska! Too bad it is so cloudy...I can only imagine how spectacular the scenery would have been had we had blue sky and sunshine! (unfortunately, some pictures have a glare from taking them through the train window)
This is the Canada-United States Border...the old Northwest Mounted Police Post...
The original trail of 1898..a primary route from Skagway to the goldfields...can you imagine traveling by foot on this trail? Anyone wanting to go on the trail had to have 1 ton of provisions to sustain them for 1 year before the NWMP would let you pass. Talk about Gold Fever!
Steve went outside a few times to take pictures...
The ocean in the distance...but still a ways to go before we are in Skagway...
Inspiration Point..."Seventeen miles up into the mountains from Skagway, you'll have an unparalleled view of Lynn Canal, Mt. Harding and Chilkat Range. Favorite for early photographers"
The back end of the train just exited a tunnel...
I believe this is Heney Station..."Named for Michael J. Heney, WP&YR contractor. Freight was transferred down a steep tramway to waiting packhorses at White Pass City in the Valley below to be carried to the Summit." We actually made a brief stop here to pick up some hikers who had camped overnight on the trail...
Bridal Veil Falls flows 6000' from it's source...way above those clouds...
Black Cross Rock..."On August 3, 1898, a blasting accident buried two railroad workers under a 100-ton granite rock. The black cross marks their resting place."
Buchanan Rock....this has been a sightseeing attraction for over 70 years. The sign on the canyon wall was painted by the Buchanan Boys Tour Group brought from Detroit each year to visit Skagway, circa 1920-30...
Skagway, Alaska! We're almost there...
Crossing the east for of the Skagway River; nearby Denver Glacier Trail, a favorite local hike, leads to the base of the glacier. This donated WP&YR red caboose "cabin" can be rented through the U.S. Forest Service...
The maintenance shops where the railroad repairs and restores its engines and rolling stock...
We arrived in Skagway, Alaska at 1:00 (Yukon time...Alaska has it's own time zone-one hour behind) and after a US Customs Officer came through and looked at our passports, we disembarked. We have two hours to have lunch and explore the area before we catch the bus back to Whitehorse.
We started walking down one side of the main street, Broadway...the Red Onion is suppose to be a good place to eat...
A very cool building...its the Skagway Visitors Center...the front exterior is covered with sticks.
We were almost at the end of the business area when we came across the Skagway Brewing Company. Lunchtime! We were told that this is the best place in town to eat and to stay away from the Bonanza Bar & Grill...It was very busy but we finally managed to get a seat up at the bar...best Halibut & Chips!
A couple of fellows in period costume trying to entice tourists into their show...
This is the National Parks Center...
We walked down to the waterfront...that's the Alaska Ferry Terminal down on the right and the cruise ship dock on the left...thankfully only two ships in today...
Time to head to the terminal where the bus is waiting for us...
Our picturess are a little on the blue side because the bus windows are tinted...
See the water pipeline on the right...
Single span bridge...
This is where we caught the train at Fraser on the way to Skagway. This is also where Canada Customs is...an officer came aboard the bus, looked at our passports and collected the declaration forms...
I believe this is Bennett Lake...
We stopped at Carcross again...and took a better look at the S.S. Tutshi exhibit...
Carcross Desert...the worlds smallest desert...
The bus dropped us off at the RV Park just before 6:30...what a great day!
Very nice place!
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