The White Pass - Yukon Railroad
The highlight of our Skagway adventure -- a ride on the White Pass - Yukon railroad, the preferred method of travel for gold rush stampeders at the turn of the last century. Getting ready to board in downtown Skagway

The train -- all tourists at this point.

View of Skagway and the Lynn Canal in the distance

Completely untouched nature

The Skagway river -- far down below


The valley opens up

View of another train across the valley

An avalanche hit the railroad just a few days before our visit -- luckily, it was cleared in time

View of the same avalanche from across the way

Approaching the snow-capped pass

Tunnel

Less and less trees as we approach the pass

A bridge no longer in use, but a remarkable feat of engineering in its day

The White Pass and Summit Lake -- the Canadian border and the end of our journey.

Skagway -- Gold Rush central
The town of Skagway, restored to look like 1898. Broadway -- deserted after the cruise ships pull out


Sara -- aka Madam Honey-Do-Me -- gives a tour of the Red Onion Saloon, Skagway's classiest and priciest brothel of its day

The former meatpacking plant -- one of many potentially haunted sites in town

The fireplace of the burnt-down Pullen House, where ghosts are said to sit around the fire laughing at night

Ross helps Holly to the train station

Two huskies chilling out

Skagway at dusk
Hike to Upper Reid Falls
A quick beautiful hike in Skagway -- Icy Lake

Hemlock and Spruce trees everywhere

Fiddlehead ferns -- very popular among the local black bear population

What used to be the northern part of Icy Lake -- a white beach of glacial silt

Reid falls


Tired and a bit sunburnt, but happy to be back at Icy Lake
Ferry ride to Skagway
Riding up to Skagway on the Alaska Marine Highway System -- probably the most beautiful day so far this year. The Taku took us there -

View from the Juneau / Auke Bay Ferry Terminal

A small Alaskan lighthouse

The Chilkoot mountain range

Haines -- small town on the way to Skagway.

Glacial silt meets ocean water just outside Haines

View south from the solarium down the Lynn Canal

Melting snow made creeks into waterfalls

Arriving in Skagway -- the cruise ships are already there.
A walk on the flume trail
A lunchtime walk on the beautiful flume trail -- Cedar cools herself off

Everything's green again

Gold Creek

Staying in shape

Devil's Club

Glad that the workout is over
Shots around town
Spring has finally arrived -- out at Lena Loop

Spruce trees in the rainforest

Bonfire

View across the channel

Sandy Beach

Misty