Buzz
Arriving in Skagway at 7 in the morning after an overnight train journey from Juneau – the capital of Alaska. It's summertime, and this town, with its population still under a thousand, is bustling with tourists.
Skagway is adored for preserving the untouched charm of a Western-style town amidst the snowy wilderness. Surrounding the streets with wooden sidewalks are majestic, snow-capped mountains and lush green forests.
Tucked away in a deep-water fjord, Skagway is known as the first stop for prospectors before venturing into the gold mines of Klondike (located in Canada). The gold rush era may be long gone, but the intense dreams of wealth still cast a spell on this land.
Go Eagle Watching
Derived from the local indigenous language, the name Skagway symbolizes 'moving water' as it lies within a narrow glacial valley, often experiencing strong winds.
In 1896, the discovery of gold in Klondike triggered a gold rush that completely transformed the gateway town of Skagway. The population soared to 30 thousand, making Skagway the largest municipality in Alaska.
Despite numerous ups and downs, today the town thrives through tourism, hunting, fishing, and salmon farming. Local tour companies offer enticing programs like a 6-hour snowshoeing tour through the forest, a 12-hour mountain climbing tour, an 8-hour eagle and whale watching tour, and more.
On the first day, we decided to purchase the eagle and whale watching tour for $98 per person.
The passenger boat for whale watching slowly cruised along the coastline amidst pristine white icebergs floating on the emerald waters. After about 40 minutes of sailing, everyone stared out at the sea, but no whales were in sight, only numerous black and white seabirds soaring and diving, sometimes covering a vast area of the sea.
Perhaps the scenery was too spectacular, as no one complained when the boat docked without spotting any whales! People disembarked and boarded a bus for eagle watching, hoping for better luck this time. After an hour of driving through mountains and forests, the bus stopped at an information station by the roadside, showcasing pictures and information about the wildlife in the cold region.
Following the guide, the group walked closer to the mountain and used telescopes to look at the top to spot eagles, as these birds often perch in the highest places. Looking up at the mountain, I only saw a white dot without a clear outline of an eagle. The guide insisted that it was an eagle perched on the mountain top, and the white dot was the bird's head!
People snapped pictures of the mountainous scenery and the white spot on the mountain top before heading back. On the way, the bus stopped at the headquarters of the Eagle Protection Society, allowing tourists to visit a small museum filled with stuffed wildlife and enjoy complimentary smoked salmon.
The local salmon delicacy was truly exquisite. On the way back, to our surprise, we spotted three eagles perched on a cluster of trees, easily visible without the need for binoculars. So, we were content with the first day!
The “Dead Horse Trail” Route
The most enticing attraction in Skagway is the White Pass. The White Pass and Yukon Railway were once a crucial part of the gold mines in the past but are now reserved for summer tourism.
Although the train is convenient, it makes few stops at scenic viewpoints and only goes to the Canadian border before returning. Hence, we opted for a high-speed bus tour of the Yukon, retracing the historic horse-drawn trail.
On the bus, the entire group crossed the Canadian and Alaskan border to reach Carcrossing in the Yukon territory, Canada. Dubbed the 'Dead Horse Trail,' the White Pass route was a treacherous winter trail in the past.
To reach the gold mines, many had to resort to eating dead horse meat, some went insane, and others succumbed to illness and death. Consequently, the Canadian authorities mandated that those entering Canadian territory via this route must carry one ton of provisions to prevent starvation during the harsh winter.
In the summer, the Dead Horse Trail boasts breathtaking landscapes, with majestic snow-capped mountain ranges flanking the pass on both sides.
Many places still bear the traces of the gold mines. Finally, the mountain pass road concludes at a chain of lakes at the source of the Yukon River, such as Lake Summit, Lake Bernard, and Lake Bennett. From Lake Bennett or nearby lakes, prospectors would canoe or boat downstream on the Yukon to the gold-rich areas around Dawson Province, Canada.
By bus, we arrived at the last stop near Lake Bennett and Narest, the settlement of the Tagish tribe with a population of fewer than 300 people. After lunch with grilled meat and sourdough bread, everyone participated in a sled dog ride.
This is a fascinating mode of transportation for the locals: training dogs to pull a four-wheeled sled through the pine forest. The dogs in this area are highly intelligent and robust; if not allowed to pull a sled for at least a few hours every day, they become lethargic and susceptible to illness.
Each sled has a lead dog guiding the way. Apart from understanding commands from the owner and adapting to their temperament, the lead dog embodies the qualities of a captain – intelligent, courageous, authoritative, responsible for the safety and well-being of the dog team, owner, and passengers.
This dog knows how to react, even changing direction to avoid unexpected obstacles on the trail... The dogs running behind completely trust and unquestionably follow the lead.
Our sled owner shared that he has to train the dog team to run several tens of miles every day, even in the midst of snowstorms. Once, during a snowstorm, the lead dog decided to turn back. No matter how the owner commanded, it refused to continue. Upon returning, it turned out to be a severe and deadly snowstorm.
In addition to the sled dogs, there are local wildlife farms here, such as the long-haired miniature horses and a few small museums about Alaska's wild animals. With limited time, we had to head back early as we still planned to visit Emerald Lake and the Carcross Desert on the way back.
Emerald Lake is stunning, while the Carcross Desert is actually a series of sand dunes with green vegetation. The guide explained that the desert used to be a frozen lake, and as the lake dried up, the exposed lakebed turned into sand dunes due to winds blowing from nearby Lake Bennett.
Before the trip, many couldn't imagine that there is a desert near the Arctic. It just goes to show how fascinating the nature of Alaska-Canada is; perhaps, this is the timeless gold mine of nature!
According to Doanhnhansaigon.vn
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Reference: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourJanuary 11, 2016
