Better put on a sweater, it’s getting cold out there. You’ll feel it every time I roll down the window to take a picture. Those look like glaciers and lots of snow on those mountains.
The land is becoming quite desolate as we approach the US border, don’t you think?
Snow and melting snow.
Where’d those clouds come from? Do you think it might be snowing up ahead?
This is the border. Time to get out your passports, and please help me look for those snowplows.
Well they were just clouds after all. Here we are in downtown Skagway. How would you like to camp here by harbor?
We can watch the cruise ships come and go and the thousands of passengers disembark and invade the town every day. The good news is they leave again about 6 p.m. every evening and we have the town to ourselves.
I have an announcement to make. Roe has reached a milestone in his life. He has now peed in all 49 of the states on the continent, as well as 2 provinces and the Yukon Territory in Canada. No dog biscuits, please, he’s watching his figure…gotta stay in shape to do it all again.
All hooked up, want to tour the town? Here’s Carol in the train station, cuddling up to a big bear. The newspaper we picked up in there says, “Welcome to Skagway, Alaska “1,000 miles north of worry.’ Did you know that Alaska is celebrating 50 years of statehood this year?
Costumed tour guides in these yellow buses will take you around to all the points of interest…for a price I’m sure. Most people are walking; Skagway’s not that big. Walking ok with you? Behind the bus is the Red Onion Saloon…a saloon/brothel in the Gold Rush days.
Today it’s a saloon/museum. The sign speaks for itself. I think we’ll pass.
Ooh Karen, we’d like to buy you this, but alas, the store is already closed.
Since stores are closing and we’re all hungry now, so we’ve decided to eat out and tour the rest of town tomorrow. Alaskan seafood is appealing. I’m having grilled halibut and clam chowder.
I’m taking Roe and Maggie for a morning walk in the little park next to the campground. Pullen Creek runs through this park. The sign says that of the 5 kinds of salmon in Alaska, 3 of them spawn here in Pullen Creek. This project is helping that process I guess. You can see the tiny salmon jumping inside the netted areas.
Do you all know the 5 kinds of salmon? If you think of the fingers on your hand, it’s easy to remember: Chum rhymes with thumb, and the pointer reminds you of Sockeye salmon, ‘cause that’s the finger you’d use to sock someone in the eye. The tall middle finger is for Chinook or King salmon, ‘cause it’s the biggest. The ring finger is for Coho or Silver salmon, if you imagine a silver ring on it. And of course Pink salmon is represented by your pinkie finger.
Had your breakfast? Let’s take a walk around town before it gets too crowded with cruise ship passengers. If you don’t feel like walking, here’s another alternative.
The cruise ship at the dock looks like it’s ready to sail right down State Street! The domed building on the right is the oldest hotel in Alaska.
The high cliffs above the town have been used as billboards since the 1890’s.
Look at these old buildings.
Old cars and trucks too.
This building was originally built for the short-lived 1st Bank of Skagway in 1897. Then it became a saloon and headquarters for “Soapy” Smith, the most infamous con-man during the Klondike Gold rush until his death in a shoot-out on July 8, 1898. After his death it became a restaurant, then was used as a storage shed for hook & ladder hose. It was purchased by an individual who made it into a Soapy Smith museum and ran it until his death in 1942. It has now been taken over by the National Park Service and is being restored as a museum.
Another house being restored by the Park Service…
I call this a musk ox, but I guess natives call it Qiviuk. Everything in this store is made of it’s fur. You’ll want to feel the very soft sleeve of a sweater until Ron points out the price tag of $1500.00. Then you’ll drop it fast. We won’t see any of these animals in the wild this trip. They live in the far north, and although we think we’re pretty far north, we won’t be going THAT far.
I’m sick of looking in stores, let’s just read some signs around town.
If you can’t figure out the one on the left, read the one on the right.
Choo choo…the White Pass Train is ready to go! Look at that steam engine. This train had a significant role in the building of the Alaskan Highway at the beginning of World War II. It carried soldiers and supplies to the summit for transport to Whitehorse. Today it carries tourists over the same route.
Now that you’ve seen the town, how about a hiking trail? Put on your hiking boots and bring some water. Mosquito repellent isn’t necessary here. First we have to find the trailhead. According to the map, we go by the airport where small planes come and go all day long.
On the other side of the street helicopters come and go…on tours, I would guess.
Stop and read this sign about the Dolly Varden fish.
Be careful crossing this bridge. Roe is walking very gingerly because the metal bridge has spaces/holes that could catch his toe. You might get dizzy if you look down through the bridge at the rushing water below.
Aha! I knew I was going to Yakutania Point, but I didn’t know about the other trail to Smuggler’s Cove. That sounds intriguing…let’s do both!
The trail is a little rocky…glad you wore your hiking boots.
Nice view from Yautania Point…
To get to Smuggler’s Cove you have to climb up and down a few rock steps, and then a few more…
And around this huge boulder.
And voila! Here we are! The name Smugglers Cove dates back to the gold rush when the importation of liquor into Alaska was prohibited, and the cove was a popular place to land illegal cargo out of sight of customs agents in Skagway.
Back in town the clouds have given way to blue sky. It’s going to be a lovely evening…all night long. Hope you don’t have trouble sleeping with the lights on.
carold
