So Skagway

Lemme show you where Skagway is

Apparently right by my left boob.

This little town has about 1,000 people in it...except during cruise ship season, when it doubles, in order to handle the more than 900,000 tourists.  It is the gateway to the Klondike and Yukon - all those places where gold was found up here.  No gold was ever found in Skagway...that's why it's the gateway.  The name Skagway comes from a Tlingit word that means "the wind blows all the time."  Skagway is home to the White Pass & Yukon River Railroad, a narrow gauge line built specifically for the gold rush stampeders.  It was finished in 26 months...about 14 months after the gold rush was over.  There were two trails leading up the the gold fields back in 1897: the Chilkoot Pass and the White Pass.  Both were treacherous, ridiculously long, and lawless...kind of like TSA lines.

That's Skagway in the valley behind us.  You can see our ship just over Joe's head to the right.

We took an excursion that got us on the train and up to White Pass Summit...which is in Fraser, British Columbia.  The scenery is amazing...but it was so foggy, we really didn't get to see much of it.  And now we know why they call it White Pass...it's literally in the clouds and fog.

Back in the states!

After our train ride, we unleashed our inner child and went panning for gold.  Yippee!  Our claim produced about $17 worth of gold flakes.

I'm rich...I'm a happy miser.

Lunch and a beer later, we were back in Skagway and on our own.  Yep, time to shop, visit the local brewery, and soak up some of the local culture.

The historic saloon (which used to be a brothel) The Red Onion has a line of bedpans all along one wall.  I just might use this DIY decorating idea someday.

Anyone remember Rainier Beer?

Our flight at Skagway brewing.  Yummy!  

It was time to call it a day and head back to the ship.  

Later this evening I'll be back to tell you about Glacier Bay.