Skagway * Sixtyexpress

Alaska

Skagway is a deep water port that provides access to materials needed by the Yukon population . It is also to ship ore to other ports. It was built in the gold rich era and has maintained it historical appearance. There are wooden sidewalks in front of all the shops. Being Sunday, they are mostly closed. Sorry retail therapy on another day.

Gold is discovered in the Klondike. To get there you catch a boat to Skagway, then you can choose…….walk and climb the Chinook trail or travel a longer but ‘easier’ path through White Pass. Which will you choose ? Before you decide , you need a bit more information. You are going to carry in 1 tonne of supplies to help you survive the winter. The Canadian Mounties will be checking you have enough supplies.You will have to make a boat to cross the river. White Pass will take horses but the path is narrow.

Now decide….or perhaps catch that ship back home.
Not miners ? Can’t afford the steamship? Don’t panic!!!! There are jobs!

They had so many prospectors and horses die that they built a railway. Do you have a head for heights? You would have needed it as they would lower three men down the granite walls on ropes with a drill. Two men would hit the drill while the third held it. When they made a big enough hole,they stuffed it with explosives…added a fuse and scrambled up to he top mighty quick. It’s okay ….you are just going on the historical railway.

Despite the pea soup fog…….the views though fleeting, are magnificent. It certainly gives you a insight into the desperation, foolhardiness or adventurous nature of the people who climbed the pass and settled Skagway.

Now trains may not be your thing so we are taking the vintage Street car( built in 1929 ) for a quick trip around the town. The trip comes with stories of seedy characters who occupied the town. One was Soapy Smith who took money from people by playing on their emotions ( he set up a telegraph office for miners to message family but the messages never left the office. Replies, supposedly from family, always asked for money ,that went to Soapy) He did meet a violent end at the hand of a hero who it turns out was wanted for crimes elsewhere.