July 3, 2000, Monday- the schedule for today included stops at Skagway and at Haines. The former is definitely geared to tourists with as many as five cruise ships that dock in a town of 600 to 1000 people. Eight to ten thousand visitors certainly leave their imprint. Many helicopter tours leave right by the cruise piers. The airport, a paved runway and taxiway, was certainly a pilot's challenge. it's a one way airport, arriving over the open water, and stopping before hitting the mountains behind the town. No missed approaches at this place unless you can climb at several thousand feet per minute. There are four main paved thoroughfares, the furthest one on the left is the runway.
 |
 |
|
|
|
Our Skagway tour event was a narrow gauge train ride from sea level to 3000 feet, the summit into British Columbia. Three diesel engines pulled our 15 passenger cars to the top, with a living history commentary from the train company tour guides, about the 100 years of service on the White Pass and Yukon Route. Skagway was a town of ten thousand people when, in 1896, gold was discovered in the Yukon. The mass of prospectors provisioned themselves in Skagway with almost a ton of provision per person. The Canadian authorities wouldn't let you over the pass without a year's supplies. First came the toll road mule pack rock paths, followed in 1900 with the railroad. Off all the narrow gauge trains we've been on over the year's this was the most spectacular ride with the trains carved into the rock hillside, hundreds of feet about the valley floor. Naturally it included the dark tunnels and the timbered bridges crossing from one side to the opposite canyon wall. Added to the excitement were a few grizzly bears that appeared only the right of way. It was a great trip. The tour narrator pointed out that basketball was the leading high school sport, but away games required about a week or more away from the school building. What usually happens, is that a tournament is held with several games for each team. The students are loaded down with homework, so it's not a free lunch to join a team. We did pass, in the train yard, an old steam engine, number 40, that had been purchased from the Georgetown, CO narrow gauge railroad.
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Upon returning to town, we meandered past the shops and restaurants and finally stopped for a patio lunch. As in all of the Alaskan areas we've been in, there are lots of menu choices, but zero choices for salads. Fresh vegetables don't make it to these places by boat, barge or plane.
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
At 4:30 we departed Skagway and motored the 12 miles south to Haines. By water, a few minutes. With 354 miles between the two towns by road, there is no real vehicular commuting. Haines is a town of two thousand, but much less tourist oriented. Only one cruise ship at a time can be secured at the pier. The main industry is 75 halibut commercial fishing boats. Our tour was a raft float trip through a bald eagle preserve, and we were not disappointed after sighting numerous eagles and their nests. Add a wide, shallow river surrounded by seven to ten thousand foot snow covered peaks, and the views continue to amaze. Add sunshine, yes sunshine today, and it doesn't get much better.
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
CLICK HERE TO: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
