to Skagway, Alaska

Mateius, Scott, Janet, Paul, Denise, Zaaron

Thursday, May 9th we left aboard a 45 passenger Gray Line bus at 9:00 am for Whitehorse.  This bus stopped often for pictures of the group.  This picture was taken at Emerald Lake, Yukon.  We were a captive audience for the training that went on most of the 535 km (332 miles).  Arrived Whitehorse at 5:00 pm.  Again we stayed at the Westmark Hotel, meeting in the dining room for dinner.  Rooms and dinner were complements of our employer.

Emerald Lake

Friday the 10th of May we had training all day with the Whitehorse group. Today I got to use a fire extinguisher for the very first time.  How exciting.  At least I learned to point at the base of the fire and move from side to side.  Then we got to learn how to attend to “presentations”.  A “presentation” is when someone is sick on tour.  The kit contains something that acts like kitty litter and a 3” plastic shovel, as well as gown, mask & gloves.  Hope I’m not around at that time.  Lunch was provided by our employer, training finished at about 3:45 pm for Jeanne and earlier for Gordon.

At Emerald Lake

Just north of Carcross - all sandy

We went for a walk and had supper at Pizza Hut.  Not great!

Saturday, May 11, with passport in hand, we boarded the bus for Skagway, Alaska.  It took longer to clear customs than had been planned, so upon arriving in Skagway there was only time to grab a quick bite then we boarded the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway for a trip to the Summit of White Pass.

Carcross

Leaving Yukon

In 1897 when word reached the outside world that gold had been discovered along the Yukon river, people fled their jobs and homes headed for the gold fields.  “Why not”, you ask, when North America was in a depression and the “Portland” had just docked in Seattle with 68 miners and nearly 2 tons of gold.

Alaska

The quickest route from the west coast was up the inside passage to Skagway,  hike 45 miles over the mountains to Lake Bennett, then float down the Yukon River for 555 miles to Dawson City and the gold fields.  Two trails led over the mountains - The Chilkoot Trail north of Skagway and the White Pass beginning right in Skagway.  Both trails were a long hard climb because the 

Cruise Ship at Skagway

Northwest Mounted Police would not let anyone into Canada without a grubstake consisting of:

Skagway River

400# flour, 50# cornmeal, 50# oatmeal, 35# rice, 100# beans, 40# candles, 100# sugar, 8# baking powder, 200# bacon, 2# soda, 36 yeast cakes, 15# salt, 1# pepper, 1/2# mustard, 1/4# ginger, 25# evaporated apples, 25# dried peaches, 25# evaporated apricots, 25# fish, 10# prunes, 50# dried onions, 50# evaporated potatoes, 24# coffee, 5# teas, 4 dozen tins condensed milk, 5 bars laundry soap, 60 boxes matches, 15# soup vegetables, 25 cans butter.

This was not all, there was a steel stove, a gold pan, 3 

Railway visible from Highway

nests of granite buckets, a cup, plate, fork, 2 spoons, 2 frying pans, coffee pot, pick, hand saw, whip saw, whetstone stone, hatchet, 2 shovels, 3 files, draw-knife, ax, 3 chisels, 20# nails, butcher knife, hammer, compass, square, Yukon sled, 200 feet rope, 15# pitch, 10# oakum, canvass tent.  And then there was clothes - 3 suits of heavy underwear, a mackinaw coat, 2 pairs mackinaw trousers, heavy rubber lined coat, a dozen pair wool 

Train following us

socks, 1/2 dozen pair mittens, two over shirts, 2 pairs snag proof rubber boots, 2 pairs shoes, 2 pairs blankets, 4 towels, 2 pair overalls, a suit of oilskin clothing, 5 yards mosquito netting.

and it would take many trips over the pass carrying 150 to 200 lbs each trip.  On the Chilkoot Trail snow would bury the cache under feet of snow.  Hopefully your marker was high enough so you could find your cache when you got to the top on your next trip.

$10 M of British financial backing and a gutsy Irish Canadian named Michael J. Heney who said, “give me enough dynamite, and snoose, and I’ll build you a railroad to hell.”

First of two tunnels

Many stampeders arriving in Skagway without funds to put together a grubstake went to work for the railway.  Altogether 35,000 individuals engineered and constructed the 110 miles of international railroad  - White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in two years, two months and two days.  The difficult and extreme conditions was a feat of epic proportions.

On August 3, 1898 tragedy struck when blasting dislodged a 500 ton piece of granite, crushing two workmen and their pack horses.  The massive boulder became their tomb.

Sights from train

Leaving Glacier Station the train starts up it’s steepest section with a 3.9% grade gaining 206 feet in elevation for every mile of track.  Because the track twists and turns the engineers used a narrow gauge track.  Standard gauge is four feet, eight and one half inches from rail to rail.  Narrow gauge is just three feet.  

Blasting grade and laying rail on Slippery Rock was done in winter with men dangling on ropes on icy walls of granite.  Shifts were usually only one hour before they were too numb to continue and had to be replaced by warmer workers.  Wages - $3.00 per day.  Total of 450 tons of blasting powder was used to complete the railway.

Sights from train

From Slippery Rock the next real challenge was Glacier Gorge, a 900 foot chasm.  In 1901, the 1,200 foot wide gorge was spanned by the famed Steel Cantilever Bridge. At the time, the 215 foot high structure was the tallest railroad bridge of its kind in the world and was one of the reasons the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad was designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a title shared with the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower and the Panama Canal.  Thank goodness the bridge retired in 1969.  It still is there, and still is beautiful, but we didn’t travel over it because todays engines are too heavy.  I was really fascinated by the bridge, knowing that the rotary snowblower weighed something like

Cantilever Bridge

There are two tunnels on the rail to the Summit which is as far as we went, due to snow conditions.  We want to come back to Skagway and take the train when the flowers are in bloom and the world is adorned in shades of green.  It certainly was a highlight in our lives.  How interesting.  When we boarded the train we were in the first car.  As we were proceeding we could see many cars behind us as we turned the sharp corners.  Arriving at the summit, the engine was unhooked and taken to the other end of the trail where it was hooked up and we became the last car, so going down we could see the engine way in the distance followed by many cars.

After returning to Skagway we had a few minutes to kill before the company BBQ, so instead of getting off train at station we went to the dock where the guests from Holland America’s Volendam exited.  Got a few pictures of the ship.  Quite a sight, and Holland America have mid sized cruise ships.  Can’t imagine what a full sized one would look like.  The ocean was a smooth as glass.

Cantilever Bridge

The company BBQ was held in the repair shop and was well attended by Dawson City, Whitehorse and Skagway staff.  Food was good.  There was to be a baseball game but it was too cold and wet. Company shuttle took us back to town when we wanted to go.  We didn’t stay long after supper as we wanted to walk around and see more of Skagway.  It looks like a nice little place - filled to the hilt with jewelry stores - EXPENSIVE jewelry stores.  It was raining so we didn’t spend as long as we had wanted to.  We hope to get back there before coming home.

Sunday, May 12  was a travel day, a very long day.  We left Skagway at 9:15 am and arrived Dawson City at 10:25 pm  It is 715 km or 444 miles between these two points.  We stopped twice in Whitehorse and a couple of other times just to change drivers or a bathroom break, although they were not much fun because most of indoor plumbing is still frozen.

View from last car

Monday, May 13 was a day off, so I spent the day doing laundry and cleaning and going through the last bin of uniforms.  Janet even suggested that I wash some of the shirts I had discarded because they were dirty.  I washed eight shirts - all I could get in one washer load, and salvaged one.  She said it wasn’t worth the time.  We have a washer and dryer in the house but every time the brake comes on in the washer I think the house has fallen in.

Looking down the tunnel

Gordon went with Paul, the logistics manager, and did the gold field run.  They discovered the road was washed out, so they only got to King Solomon’s dome and had to retrace their route.

More train behind

≈ 

The grave of the two workers

Skagway Cemetery

Cruise Ship in Skagway

Yukon River south of Dawson

Water over Highway north of Carmacks

Sun in sky 8:30 pm

Can't really tell how high the sun really was.  I was taking pictures out of the bus window on Sunday evening on our way home.

Signing off for now.  Wishing you all a wonderful week.

Gold Field Tour

Sunday, May 5th we actually saw the sun for a good part of the day, and the snow banks on the deck and roadways diminished noticeably.  Dawn, a native driver, told us to watch a certain valley on the side of the mountain.  When the snow is gone from there the river will break up.  

I went for a walk around 3:00 pm and then Janet and I went for a long walk at 5:00.  It is hard to realize the time because at 9:20 pm  the sun was still quite high in the sky.  We must be clock watchers all the time or it is midnight before we know it.

Janet, Paul & Denise at King Solomon's Dome

Monday, May 6th we met at the office for 10:00 am and began rearranging the office partitions etc. around 11:00.  Broke for lunch at 12:30 and all the managers had to be back by 1:00 for a conference call which didn’t come thru until 1:30.  I was asked to be back at 3:00 pm.  My job was to vacuum the office as things were moved out.  Around 4:00 Saralee said she needed two more jeeps.  I went with Scott and Denise to get them.  I liked driving the jeep.  Around 4:30 Paul & Scott took off in one jeep and Denise, Janet, Nikki and I took the other to see how the  jeep tour roads were thru the gold fields.  I wished I had been in the front seat but I was glad Denise was driving because there were some spots that were a bit hairy.  Soft shoulders and deep gorges!  She is a fantastic driver.  She is also in charge of the raft tours.  It will be a day or two (maybe week or two) before  guests would be turned out upon those roads.  WE got back to town at 6:45 pm.

Jeeps we took on Gold Field Tour

On the jeep tours, the guide is by himself in the lead jeep and guests drive their own jeeps, usually four to a jeep.  It was fun, I got a few pictures but most were out of the back window as we were driving by.  Paul said they would take Gord and I and do some stopping at the old sites, and we could probably go to places that are not on the tour.

Nikki, Janet, Paul, Scott & Denise at King Solomon's Dome

Tuesday morning was not as bright and sunny as Monday morning, but each day a bit more of the snow is disappearing.  The ice bridge across the Yukon River still has a bit of traffic on it.  We met at the office again this morning at 10:00 am.  Scott, Denise, Nikki and I were sent to the Visitors Centre to watch the videos on Dawson City gold rush.  I was then sent home to go through the six large bins containing uniforms, to itemize them as well as checking on the used ones to make sure they were decent.  

Our Gold Field Tour Driver Denise

I was to be back to the office by 2:00 pm as we were going to the Museum.  As it turned out, Gordon arrived at the office and he was headed to the house.  Saralee sent Scott and Paul to help Gordon unload the freezer.  I just stayed home and helped Gordon a bit but mostly I went through bins.  Completed five of them.  The last one will have to wait until we get home from Skagway on the 12th.

Gordon’s training went exceptionally well.  He is really excited about the tours.  Looking good! 

Our first day of training is 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Wednesday, May 8.  Thursday we go back to Whitehorse for training there and in Skagway May 10 - 12.  We then return to Dawson on Sunday.  Just my luck the river will go out while we are away.

Gold Field Tour

More Gold Field Tour

Janet, Paul & Denise at King Solomon's Dome

Saturday, May 5, 2013

Polar Bear

Saralee, the boss; Janet, the Guest Services Manager, and myself were planning on leaving Whitehorse around 10:00 am.  Well, things do have a habit of changing and we finally pulled out of Whitehorse at 1:30 pm. Groceries had to be purchased, lunch eaten and vehicle fueled.  

Sheep

We arrived in Dawson City around 9:00 pm.  Didn’t seem that late as it was still light.  It was a long drive from Whitehorse, but Saralee kept us in stitches.  Of course, Janet certainly added to the hilarity by informing us she had purchased, for the sum total of $100 plus $50 shipping, a GOLD BUCKET - not a gold PAN but a BUCKET.  We laughed so hard we thought we would wet our pants.  I really don’t know how Saralee kept the van on the road at times.

Wolf

The house is the Bonanza Bed & Breakfast.  There is a three bedroom house in the front which Gordon and I will be sharing with Janet; and there is a three bedroom unit at the back of the house which is shared by Paul, Denise and Scott.

Paul is the logistics co-ordinator, Denise is in charge of river rafting, and Scott is doing jeep tours.  Paul and Denise were here last year.  Scott is new.

There is a door between the front of the house and the back which can be closed off.  The “kids” seem really nice and willing to help.  Of course, Saralee told Gordon he is not to unload the deepfreeze - the young kids can do it, that’s what they are for.  And true to her word, they were right there to help us unload last night, leaving their supper.  After helping unload Janet & I two of them went with Saralee to help her.

Life was getting pretty boring for me staying in that hotel.  It was so unpleasant walking because of the wind, but I did.  Yesterday morning at 8:30 am I walked a couple of blocks to Shoppers Drug Mart and had to pass six natives standing across the sidewalk.  As I approached one of them took of his hat and knelt on one knee with his hat open and his other hand in a pleading position.  I just looked at him and laughed and said, “you’re kidding, you can afford to smoke so you don’t need my money” and just walked by.  There was no one else around and I was a bit nervous.

Moose

Dog Sled

Gordon’s first day of training was in a room down the hall in the hotel.  There was a lot of stuff they went over - like helping people who are motion sick. I guess the bus drivers are responsible for cleaning up after their passengers - unless they do what one driver did which was drive off leaving a woman in a walker along side the road.  The husband said nothing about his wife not being there, and the driver didn’t do a physical count.  Oh Oh!  

First Nations Beaded Bag

More bead work

May Day Tree, Whitehorse

The second day was a driving test.  He had to drive between pylons and tell instructor, Ethan,  just where he was between the two.  He said 12” on right  and 24” on left.  They got out and measured and it was dead on.  Ethan was very impressed.  All those years of having to place his loads in the EXACT spot paid off.  he afternoon was spent back in classroom.

It was very hot in the house last night.  Both Janet and I were concerned that we may be cold but not so.  I stepped outside this morning, was going for a walk and take some pictures but it was raining and the steps looked as if they were covered in ice.  No one else was awake so I didn’t want to risk slipping and getting hurt.  As I got out of the van last night I stepped on some ice and toppled over into a snow bank.

While in Whitehorse Gord and I went to the museum.  They have a nice display of local animals.  Took some pictures there.  On our return we stopped in front of City Hall and took picture of the May Day tree.  I ask someone if it was usually in bloom on May 1st and they said no, not until mid June.  It is a nice looking tree naked!

We are hearing of little episodes from other years.   I am sure this is going to be a very interesting summer, and we will experience our own bits of things.

Our Dawson Digs

Deck of Dawson Digs May 4.13

We spent the afternoon dunging out the office on main street.  Bringing  things to the house we are living in, the kids house behind us, and to Saralee’s place.  It is a big job getting things opened up after winter.  I met Niki who I will be working with at the sales office.  She is from Ontario and worked here a few years ago.  Dawn is a native and she is a part time driver.  We met a couple of other people today but I can’t remember names or duties.

I was going to buy a pair of rubber boots in Whitehorse and we decided we wouldn’t need them, the sidewalks would be clear of snow.  HELLO, or Saralee would say, REALLY?    There are no sidewalks except those right along the highway - only MUD.  If I am walking to work I will have to roll my pants up or they will be filthy.  This is a learning experience that is for sure.

We were all cold and tired so about 4:30 we went to a restaurant for lunch.  It has rained  here all day and I heard someone say that we are expecting -13 C.  That won’t help the river situation any.

Tomorrow is our day off so we can get our houses in order.  We are pretty good on our side of the doors, but there was so much stuff brought in to the kids place.

Saralee came over around 6:30 to bring some stuff.  She said Ethan said Gordon did a knock out on his test narration

and they said he would have no trouble doing the narration.  Talking to him this evening he said he felt real good about training so far.

9:30 pm and it is snowing and daylight.  Will sign off for now.

Friday, May 3, 2013

We have been sitting in Whitehorse since Sunday waiting for the roads to open, the snow to melt and the weather to warm up.  However, that wasn't happening fast enough for Saralee, so she flew from Dawson to Whitehorse the one new driver, Kevin, so he and Gordon could take their training here where the buses could be reached.

Kevin pulled his trailer to Dawson and the RV park had to bulldoze a spot for him to park.  It isn't the permanent spot for him, they couldn't get to that site.

However, it is +5 C here this morning with only a 28 km/h wind.  What a balmy day.  The driver training began yesterday and will continue until at least Sunday.  Kevin will go to Dawson City with Gordon as I am leaving Whitehorse with Saralee and Janet, the Guest Services Manager, this morning.  It has been so cold we haven't wanted to do much touring.  Walked to WalMart which is about 1.5 km on Wednesday.  It was windy and snowing a bit.  However, coming home we were walking into the wind and it was snowing hard.  We got as far as Superstore and decided to get some change and catch a bus.  The lady at Customer Service said we should take a taxi because we could wait forever for a bus.  We waited 20 minutes for a cab and then decided we could have been home so struck out and walked.  It was a bit chilly by the time we arrived at the hotel.

The company is picking up part of our food bill.  We went to the restaurant and was pleasantly surprised to find their share was 75%.  As of May 1st company is picking up 100%.  Yesterday while Gord was on his lunch break we went into the restaurant and shared an order of chicken fingers.  Six big pieces with lots of fries.  The waitress brought it to us on two plates as we had said we were going to share.  Then last night we stopped in for dessert only.  We waited and waited and waited and finally it arrived.  Then the manager came by and said that because we had to wait so long it would be on the house.  She just laughed when we told her who we were working for.  She responded, "we will treat you just like any other of our hotel guests."  Food is good, but I'm tired of restaurant food!

Must sign off for now as we will be leaving in an hour.