Around Skagway

This morning walked over to the National Park Visitor's Center and saw a movie about the gold rush. Then we did a little shopping and went back for a talk by one of the rangers about the hardships of the people who came to Alaska for the gold rush. Right before lunch we watched a skit by our tour and RV park staff about the shooting of Soapy Smith. That afternoon we took a driving tour of the area around Skagway. First we drove up to the Chilkoot Trailhead.

This is looking up the river toward the mountains that the people on the gold rush had to cross.

The trailhead is located close to the location of the former city of Dyea. It was here that they stocked up on one ton of supplies before crossing the mountains.

Here are Wayne and I at the foot of the trailhead.

Here are some of the members of our group who are in better shape than we are. Most of the miners crossed this area in the winter when the steps were carved out of the ice and snow.

This map show where the trail went. The people going over the trail had to make many trips to get their ton of supplies to the top of the mountain. I would never have make it.

We stopped at an overlook and I spotted this tepee like structure where another inlet of water came in.

Here is another view of the mountains and the glacier.

We stopped at an overlook and could see the fijord and the RV park where we were staying. Look at the row of trees on the left hand side. We are in front of them.

This is a closer view but you still can't see our coach.

Here is a wider view with the cruise ship and the fijord and the glacier.

Next we went up to the miner's cemetery. This is purportedly the Largest Nugget of gold but somehow I think it is a boulder painted gold.

We were told about a waterfall that was behind the cemetery. They didn't tell us just how far behind the waterfall or how high we had to climb but it was worth it.

Time for dinner and then we will go to the Days of '98' Show.