While we didn't stay in Alaska, we took a day trip to Skagway over the White Pass. It's a road that runs near the Chilkoot Pass that the Yukon Gold Rushers used to seek their fortune. That picture we've all seen of the string of people going up the snowy stairway... that's Chilkoot. An amazing change of scenery going over White Pass. From the rolling carpets of pine forest to craggy, volcanic rock and stunted trees among thousands of ponds and little lakes. Stunning stuff. Down the pass into Skagway and the little waypoint town. Seems like now it's mostly a trap for the Cruise ship tourists, but there's a great museum there about the gold rush and a cool little bar/saloon called the Red Onion. Oh yeah, they've also got a Starbucks and a Radio Shack. Since it was a day trip, running without luggage through the pass was pretty fun, though even up there the landscape lends itself to being more straight than curvy. We did have a bit of an off on the way home however. There were a couple folks walking their dog along the side of the highway, and the dog didn't like the bikes one bit! In an honorable attempt to protect his owner from the big mean motorcycles, the dog ran into the street to fend us off. Unfortunately, the dog was not on a leash and ran into Evan's path. He managed to stay up through the impact, and only sprained his ankle a little, but the poor dog didn't make it. If you're a dog lover, pour one out for our lost friend. And keep your dogs on leash near roads!!!
After making it home and icing the ankle, we had a fantastic dinner of fresh Salmon, and roasted vegetables out on the patio. Abosolutely delicious! Thanks again to our fabulous hosts for another great meal!
Tomorrow, we check out the town of Whitehorse! -MGates
Ahh. yes, that's too bad about the dog, but glad no one else was hurt! A dog ran out in the street once, as he didn't like my big mean Honda Accord either, and in exchange for crushing in my passenger door, all he got was a bloody lip!
ReplyDelete