Skagway - Gold Rush here we come

Friday, September 11, 2015
Skagway, Alaska, United States
The historical area of Skagway where the cruise ships park near is well preserved from the early 1900s. The first gold rush settlement and buildings from the late 1890s were not made to last only to service the gold rush crowds. They were replaced as things calmed down in the next few years and as the railway to the Yukon over White Pass and into Canada was completed. This core of historical Skagway is largely preserved even if most of the buildings are tourist shops or Gold Rush National Park buildings or other museums. As our Steam Train over White Pass did not leave until noon and our ship arrived at 7 am we had breakfast and visited the town.

The National Park buildings tell the story of those days and what amazing hardship so many went through to get so little . Only a very small percentage of the ones heading to the gold fields ever left with much money and even a smaller number left rich. That is the miners the scammers and those who supplied the miners with supplies made the money. It was something to see the size of the recommended list of items to bring to stay a life for one year for each miner. Yet when you think about it given the hardship of transport it only made sense to have a years supply with you.

On the train they were saying because of the harsh trail and conditions that at one time the number of dead horses along the Skyway river averaged one dead horse for every 60 feet. It was so bad at times that the river was poisonous to drink. Another tail was told about the river of miners going over the White Pass trail before the train was finished. During the good summer months there were so many on the trail that if you had to get off the trail for any reason it might be hours before you could find an opening to get back onto the trail . Such was the call of gold in the late 1890s.

The Steam Train itself was fun and while the weather was not perfectly clear there was no rain and the clouds opened up at times to reveal the mountains in the background. It was a real steam engine from the early 1900s with old reconditioned passenger cars which were quite comfortable with a restroom and small areas outside where you could get better pictures than through the windows. I am somewhat at a loss of the best words to describe the broad views we had going up the pass. The grade really brought home the struggle the miners must have had. The train had to really work at times on some of the grades. When the train turned the right (or wrong) way you got veiled by the black smoke of the steam engine. The best way I could describe the experience was thinking of the time I went to the casinos in Reno in the 80s and the cigarette smoke hanged in the air with a similar wonderful smell (:

We had time when we arrived back to the ship to visit the town some more . One thing we have found in a tourist town at the end of the tourist season you get some great deals. We got many items at 40 to 50% off. Christina found any number of scrapbook sets and stickers and had a hard time deciding what to get. Marge found some jewelry and many varieties of salmon, venison, ox, and moose jerky that she enjoyed. I also was able to find some good deals getting the jacket in Juneau and a nice sweatshirt on the ship at 75% off as they get ready to reposition to Australia so they wanted to clear out Alaskan goods. So spectacular scenery and good deals not bad.

Excursion Details: "ALL ABOARD" THE STEAM TRAIN ADVENTURE 

 This is the world famous White Pass Scenic Railway with a touch of class.

On this beautiful excursion you will:

-         Imagine 100 years ago coming to Alaska on an exclusive cruise ship to take one of the most adventuresome excursions of it's time… Skagway's White Pass & Yukon Route - the "Scenic Railway of the World ."

·         Now imagine arriving today and going first class all the way, a champagne toast at the Summit and all the while being pulled by one of White Pass’ authentic steam engines.

·         At the Summit you will receive a brass ornament of certification, certifying your entry into one of the most elite clubs in Alaska, the "White Pass Summit Club". Each membership is uniquely numbered and registered.

·         During this 4 hour excursion, your personal attendant will give you a full commentary of the history of the Klondike Gold Rush and describe how this railroad became an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

·         Experience the breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites from the comfort of vintage parlor cars.

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2025-02-06

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