As I start this entry, it's not even sunrise yet and I captured the above image on our way into Skagway. It's very much like cruising in the Norwegian Fjords, yet very different at the same time. Both places are filled with rugged beauty. But in Alaska, one also comes to see the wildlife here. I'm not much for whale watching. But I am interested in seeing the salmon go upstream to spawn. And Alaska has much of that at this time of year, and we'll be seeing the salmon run in a few days.
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Skagway was the gateway to the Klondike gold fields, many miles away in Canada. It has a rich history, yet now exists for the summer tourist trade. In 1997, I took an Alaskan cruise out of San Francisco and visited the Alaskan ports of Skagway, Sitka, and Ketchikan, as well as viewing the Hubbard Glacier. This time, I wanted to make sure I got to Juneau and Glacier Bay. (Note: Glacier Bay will be tomorrow's destination.) And I was glad to be able to do so this time around.
The Lynn Canal (not an actual canal) is beautiful at this time of year, with calm waters and snowy mountains on both sides. It's a wonderful setting for cruises going in to and out of Skagway. For years, the only way to reach Skagway was by ship. Now, it is one of a small number of towns able to reach the mainland by land. Today's shore excursion, The White Pass & Yukon Railway runs on tracks laid to reach the gold fields over 100 years ago.
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After a forgettable breakfast in the dining room, we left the ship to look around Skagway before our trip on the White Pass and Yukon Railroad. (WP&Y RR) This railroad is 125 years old, and it is an amazing feat of engineering for its time. Built for the Klondike gold rush, it was built by many laborers who rushed to Alaska in hopes of getting rich quick. (Only a mall percentage of the people who made it to the Klondike ever made enough money to be rich, and an even smaller number of these laborers kept their wealth after leaving the Klondike. (Note: Frederick Trump, the Orange Snowflake's grandfather, owned the Arctic Restaurant and Hotel, an establishment that offered fine dining, lodging and sex in a sea of tents. Read into this what you will.) The WP&Y RR has an interesting history, and it is the main reason I had to visit Skagway again.
Around noon, we walked over to the waiting area for our excursion, and before we knew it, approximately 600 people were waiting for the train. We didn't get moving until 1 pm, but RQS later said the wait was worth it - there were some spectacular views on this route. (Both of us think the Flam Railway in Norway has more awe inspiring views. Sadly, we will not be back in Flam anytime soon.) Although we got some good photo opportunities, we couldn't capture the views properly due to 2 things: (1) It's impossible to do some of these views justice because they could never be reproduced on a large enough screen, and (2) the train was moving too quickly for us to set up shots properly. We were back in town by 3:30 pm, and on the ship by 4 pm.
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After a couple of hours passed, we got ready for dinner. When the clock struck 7, we went downstairs for dinner and asked for a table waited on by our favorite waiter. This meant we'd be at a shared table, opening us up to new people and new conversations. And we were not disappointed. We met a nice couple from California with whom we had a great chat. It was a nice way to close out a long day.
