The weather gods have remained kind to us and blessed us with perfect weather to ride the White Pass and Yukon Route and witness more breathtaking scenery. We sailed into Skagway in fog, but it soon lifted to reveal a beautiful morning.
Skagway marks the most northern point of the Inside Passage and its picturesque setting is framed by the deep waters of Taiya Inlet and the rugged Coast Mountains. The small town has tried to preserve its history and the downtown area looks much the same as it did in the gold rush era with its broad streets and turn of the century shop fronts and saloons.
Skagway became a lawless bastion of gold seekers, painted ladies, con artists and gamblers preparing for the long trek toward the Klondike gold fields. Gold was discovered in 1896 and once the tens of thousands of gold crazed hopefuls arrived in Skagway they still had a further six hundred miles to travel over treacherous trails and waterways to reach the Klondike.
The construction of the railway known as the White Pass and Yukon Route, begun in 1898, made this journey much easier, though the zenith of the Klondike gold rush had passed by the time it was completed. Travelling over the route makes one wonder how those men forged their way with only pick axes, shovels and dynamite to complete it in a mere 26 months. Thanks to their triumph over challenge yesterday, today we enjoyed a journey of a lifetime.
We were told that sometimes this journey can be made encased in cloud and rain, but we were very lucky as today was the clearest day in four weeks. We were afforded spectacular views of snow capped mountains set against clear blue skies, lush green mountainsides etched with waterfalls and deep gullies, and glimpses of the past in headstones, old bridges, tunnels and remains of the famous trail of '98. We reached the White Pass summit, which marks the border between U.S. and Canada, in glorious sunshine. The return journey back down to Skagway was just as spectacular.
We spent a pleasant few hours strolling around the town before heading back to the ship for our sunset cocktails and evening meal. Tonight we discovered a new restaurant which overlooks the ocean and is open 24 hours. I don't know how we had not found it before, but it provides another pleasant option for dining with a view.
As we are ready for a rest we are really looking forward to the sea day tomorrow.