Skagway

Skagway is the most charming of all the cities, the little boomtown that could still manages to stay alive, 150 or so years later. Period buildings are still up, board sidewalks, with the classic frontier look. Unfortunately as it is with most ports on Alaska, it is over run with the ubiquitous “shops” that “cater” to the cruisers. Frankly, the store I found the most interesting was the shop that catered to the ships crews…if you ever wonder what sort of things would make them “feel at home” just stop in and have a lot…it is categorized by regional areas. They also have an internet café and sell international phone cards. I’m willing to bet money they do brisk business, perhaps even more than the tired “gold by the yard” stores!

For Skagway, we decided to take the Steam Train up. They are nice enough to pull the train up very close to where the Mariner docked, so we didn’t have to walk very far. The train chugs up the grade (literally) and you either marvel or shake your head at the dogged hubristic tenacity of man that forced its way up the gorge to reach the Gold of Yukon…in fact, many people and beasts of burden didn’t make it, and the real gold was made by the more wiler of the opportunists, the merchants! (same holds for the situation down in California for the Gold Rush of ’49…those who really made the money were the folks that sold stuff to the prospectors). The train ride up is spectacular, and it is well narrated. Once you clear the treeline, the landscape is pretty barren and almost could pass off as the moon. There is small pause here while the steam train waits to come back down (usually the train headed towards Yukon Canada roars on by). All in all, a pleasant three hour ride with lots to see and take in…and that gentle rocking of the car certainly induces a quick siesta!!

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