7 June 2007
June 7, 2007 - Day 12 in Alaska - Skagway & White Pass Railroad
Posted by Darrell under: Alaska; My Journal .
Check out our pictures from Skagway.
We got up early today. After grabbing a quick breakfast, we drove over to the airport. For $370 at Skagway Air, we purchased 2 round trip tickets from Juneau to Skagway. At 8:30 am our plane departed for Skagway and about 45 minutes later we were on the ground again.
This isn’t your conventional airline. There are no security check points or flight attendants. We were 2 of just 4 passengers on the 5 seater plane. Other than the passengers, the tiny plane was loaded with cargo. It was a scenic, if bumpy, ride - and kind of an adventure in itself. Caleb and I both enjoyed the flight and somehow Caleb was able to sleep during it.
Once in Skagway, we were surrounded by tourist. It felt like thousands of tourist had descended on this tiny town and the same cruise line stores dotted the landscape. After walking down the street, we decided that we would fill our day with a show and train ride. We went first to the Days of 98 Show which is in its 81st year. It is a live show about one of Skagways original houligans - Soapy Smith. It was entertaining and probably a bargain at just $16 for a ticket.
After the show, we grabbed a quick bite to eat at Sweet Tooth Saloon. Then it was off to catch our train - the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. We road the train from the depot in Skagway up to the top of White Pass which is 20 miles and 2800 feet higher. It was a beautiful day and some of the scenery was breathtaking.
Huge waterfalls, deep valleys, snow capped mountain peaks, glacial river, old RR bridges, and more. On the way up we saw a black bear munching on grass which excited all the passengers on board. At the top we actually crossed into Canada (Yukon Territory) and shortly thereafter, the train stops, the engine switches ends of the train, the seat backs flip over and you are facing the opposite way and on your way back down.
On the journey down we saw a huge brown bear. It was awesome! It didn’t seem to be bothered at all by the train rumbling by. The entire trip took about 3 hours and was worth the time. Caleb and my tickets cost $147 which seemed like a lot for a 3 hour ride - but where else are you going to take a passenger train up into the mountains?
We finished our train ride in time to make the last flight from Skagway back to Juneau. This was another small plane and bumpy ride. The only other passenger during the first part of the flight was a glacier pilot hitching a comp ride back to Juneau. We stopped in haines and picked up another passenger - a land surveyor on his way home to Juneau. This filled up the plane and off we went from Haines to Juneau.
Upon arrival back in Juneau, I talked to my bear hunt outfitter (Keegan McCarty of Ocean Point Adventures) and made arrangements to have my meat and hide shipped back to me in Missouri.
Caleb and I have one more day in Alaska. We still haven’t decided what to do with it. Stay tuned.
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