Skagway (Day 4)

We arrived in Skagway, Alaska before we got up.  We were allowed to disembark at 9 but we had breakfast first.

Skagway is a cool little Gold Rush town that is now, from what I can tell, a summer tourist town.  They never had a fire like other old cities so original buildings are still there.  Although we learned that they move them around as needs of the town require.

Main Street is only 8 blocks long.

Another famous 'Red' saloon, this time the Red Onion.

Storefront covered in driftwood

Bronze prospector.  Even the statue looks like he lost his fortune

We stopped in at the National Park centre (to use the bathroom to be honest) and discovered that they offer FREE walking tours every hour.  We were in time for 'The Ladies of Skagway tour so we joined the walk.  Walk is mostly inaccurate. We traveled exactly 5 blocks in an hour.  But great leader and interesting history/stories.  Apparently, I was so enraptured by the discussion, I only took three pictures.

This is the 'red light' district

The Moore house, first building in Skagway.

This time we were docked close to town so we nipped back to the boat for a very quick lunch before we did our one and only 'shore excursion' the White Pass train ride.  We had to use up our onboard credit somehow.  Plus, I love a train ride.  Here are a million pictures of our 3.5 hour ride to the White Pass.  We crossed the border into Canada, just.  But we didn't get off the train so no passports necessary.

We were in the middle car, 205, which as good because we had the tour guide in our car.  Everyone else got her reading the script over the PA.  We got extra commentary of her actual views and observations.

We followed the Skagway River.

The 'platform'.  Lots of competion for space outside
on the way up, I had it to myself on the way back down.

a glacier in the distance

That looks like fumes from a volcano.
Just a cloud.

Lots of wildflowers along the track.

The river from way above

Very cool trestle, no longer in use

The original Chilcoot trail that the gold rush prospectors
followed over the pass into the Yukon and fortune
(or more likely financial ruin or death)

The border

Welcome to British Columbia, Canada

The Trestle, you can see in the picture
why it is not in use anymore.

More trail

This is actually a 'room' you can book through the Park Service
$35 a night if you are interested

Gold Rush graveyard

back to the depot.

Then a quick stop at the Skagway Brewing Company for a beer (actually a flight of beers) because we kept hearing about the Spruce Tip beer.  It was very good but not so sprucy. 

We actually stopped at the Red Onion first but they didn't have the Spruce Tip

The Spruce tip is the one on the left.

Then back to the ship for dinner and an 8pm departure.

Goodbye Sgakway.  We liked you best.