Looking out the train window we could see mountains, valleys, rivers, waterfalls, gorges, rock slabs and glaciers. The construction of this train began in 1898 after gold is found in the Yukon territory of Canada. It was completed in only two years by an army of 35.000 men with 900,000 pounds of explosives. There are two tunnels and many trestle bridges. The route had changed slightly over the years as the wooden bridges were replaced with iron and steel. One bridge has a center span of iron which is still standing but a major wooden portion of it has collapsed. It appeared that we were going to use this bridge as we approached. However it went off to the left as we proceeded on to the White Pass. At the summit was an old log cabin that the Canadian Mounties used to inspect the supplies that the miners were required to bring. These supplies weighed over a ton and so many miners had to take multiple trips up the pass. A trip of 20 miles stretched to 1000 miles if the man carried a 40 pound pack 50 times up the mountain it would add up to 2000 lbs. of gear and food. The snow was still thick at the summit. We went 20 miles in, briefly crossed into Canada and then turned around and returned to Skagway.
Our Chariot awaits
First folks on the train
Our route
The conductor
We immediately start out climb up to 2800 feet
Rugged scenery
Mike and Deb
The first of two tunnels
Everyone goes in
Cool triple waterfall on the other side of the valley
On the edge
Waterfalls to the right
Waterfalls to the left
The train tracks can be seen across the valley
Glaciers here as well
Dense forests all along the ride
Alpine streams cloudy with glacial silt
The train stretches out in front of us
Right on the edge with a long way down
Looking back towards Skagway
A great way to spend your afternoon
Steep
The Canadian Customs House
Constant maintenance is required
We turned to the right and came out the on left track
The snow is peeling away from the cut
Iron is durable, wood is not
the largest iron cantilevered bridge of its time
Crossing into Canada for a brief time.
Ponds of melt water
The plow has already been through here up at 2800 feet.
Day 10 of our Migration
