Back to Alaska?

August 6th was our 29th wedding anniversary which we spent traveling, shopping, setting up camp at Conrad and exploring the small town of Carcross. We celebrated with a delicious dinner at The Bistro in Carcross. When the young ladies at the restaurant found out it was a special occasion, they treated us to a delicious dessert on the house; such a kind gesture and a blessing for us!

The Conrad Campground is off the Klondike Highway 10 miles south of Carcross and is very close to the border shared between the Yukon Territory and Bristish Columbia. As you drive Highway 2 south into British Columbia you're traversing a famous and historic route from Skagway, Alaska over the White Pass to Whitehorse, Yukon.

White Pass, also known as the Dead Horse Trail (elevation 2,864 ft) and is the mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains on the border of the U.S. state of Alaska and the province of British Columbia, Canada. It leads from Skagway, Alaska to the chain of ribbon lakes at the headwaters of the Yukon River (Crater Lake, Lake Lindeman, and Bennett Lake).

The White Pass trail was one of the two main passes used by prospectors during the Klondike Gold Rush. The White Pass was an easier route to Lake Bennett than the Chilkoot Trail a few miles to the west, but it harbored a criminal element that preyed on the cheechakos (newcomers to the Klondike). These con artists were believed to be members of the infamous Soapy Smith gang from Skagway, Alaska. In 1898, Smith was killed at the famed Shootout on Juneau Wharf and his gang were run out of Skagway and the White Pass.

So many horses died during the gold rush, the trail became known as the "Dead Horse Trail". The trail ended at Lake Bennett, where the prospectors built or purchased rafts or boats to float down the Yukon River to the Klondike gold fields near Dawson City.

Our ultimate destination for our Wednesday, August 7 day trip into Alaska was the historic town of Skagway. We had booked tickets on the famous White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad for the 2:30 PM trip up to the White Pass summit and back. The White Pass and Yukon Route (W.P. & Y.R.) is a narrow-gauge railroad original built between 1898 and 1900 through White Pass. Today, tourists from all over the world book trips on the W.P. & Y.R. to see the historic route from the Klondike Gold Rush era. Before our train ride we walked the Broadway of Skagway. Four cruise ships were in port so the town was awash with tourists. After walking around a bit we stop in a bakery/coffee shop. We got hold of Alliance RV back in Elkhart, Indiana to try and determine the best course of action for the broken leveling jack. Customer service was extremely helpful and we now have a plan to execute when we get back to the rig.

But for now, it's time to enjoy a beautiful sun soaked Alaskan port of call.

We took the WHITE PASS SUMMIT EXCURSION to experience this unique railroad that symbolizes accomplishments in adventure and pioneering – of triumph over challenge. We relaxed in a vintage passenger coach and retraced the original route to the White Pass Summit, passing Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch. We enjoyed a breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles and historic sites. From the train we could see the original Klondike Trail of ‘98 worn into the rocks, a permanent tribute to the thousands of souls who passed this way in search of fortune.

The train ride was spectacular and we finished the experience with a wonderful seafood dinner on the Skagway waterfront before returning to the truck and driving back to Canada back up the Klondike Highway. The day in Skagway gave us a chance to decompress and enjoy ourselves. Tomorrow we'll get the trailer reconnected to the truck.