27 Skagway to Hyder
Leaving Skagway the road gains elevation rapidly with awesome views along the way.
The water tower for the steam locomotives (also a station).
The first major stop for the stampeders was Lake Bennett which sits atop the mountains we just drove up at the top of the Chilkoot Trail and Trail of 98. They sat at the Southern end of the lake until Spring when they crossed the lake, entered the Yukon River and traveled by water to the gold fields in the boats they built while waiting the thaw. At the Northern end of Lake Bennett is the town of Carcross.
Some of the old houses from the 1898 timeframe.
A locomotive used in the gold fields in this area.
Now for a bit of history. The main players in the Yukon gold rush were the three people who first made the discovery; George Carmaack, Skookum Jim, and Tagish Charlie. The later two and Kate, wife of Carmack are buried at Carcross. The people at the visitors center would not tell us where the cemetery is located stating that we needed permission of the local Native tribe since they are trying to avoid further vandalism. We stumbled across the cemetery on our own.
On the North side of Carcross is a small desert.
We returned to Whitehorse to refill the fridge and visit a museum we had missed earlier. In ancient times, Berengia was a region comprised of parts of what is now the Yukon, Alaska, and Siberia. It is the land bridge what animals and people crossed to enter into North America.
Carole with a giant beaver.
Harry getting instruction on how to use the atlatel, a launching device for spears. Luckily there was a food store closeby.
From Whitehorse we headed South to the historic mining town of Atlin.
This steamshovel which was used for gold mining supposedly worked at the Panama Canal project.
A boat used to move people across Atlin Lake a hundred years ago.
Along the Cassiar Highway heading South.
This gets us to Hyder Alaska, perhaps the best known place for grizzly bear viewing. Lots of them there fishing, see them next installment. Hope you enjoyed this.
