First off, the mosquitos have now all hatched from their steroid based nurseries ... and they are huge!!! The good news is that they are usually easy to whack before they start eating. On to playing tourist .....
Whitehorse history is all about the gold rush also ... when the stampeders got to Lake Bennett, they built boats and headed down the Yukon river toward Dawson City. Below is part of the route they took. At this point in the river, the channel narrowed, making for rapids and dangerous water.
At Miles Canyon, a small town named Canyon City developed where boaters would unload their supplies to have them moved several miles over a wooden tramway, while their boat was piloted by a specialist hired to navigate the narrows and rapids. Because of the dam built downriver for power, the water level here is about 6-8 feet higher than it was when the stampeders were coming through.
Here's an old picture of the tramway workers, ready to unload the hundreds of boats.
The trams were pulled by horses along the rivers edge over wooden pole tracks. Once around the rapids, assuming their boat made it, they would repack and sail off again.
Then it was off to the Yukon Transportation Museum, highlighting different types of vehicles used in the Yukon/Alaska area, from dog sleds to paddlewheels to float planes.
The White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad used to travel right down the center of Skagway's main street, as pictured here. The tracks have since been moved off Broadway a couple of blocks.
Other types of White Pass and Yukon transportation included supply wagons ...
and sleds during the winter. Buffalo blankets and foot warmers were used to keep the passengers from freezing in the 40 below temperature for the 20 some miles to the Road House where they would stop for the night. If the pain killer medicine in the bottle froze when placed outside, the mail and passengers were delayed until the temperature rose.
One of the best sites in Whitehorse is this paddlewheel, the Klondike. It has been fully restored and is a beauty. It's a MUST see!! This year there is no charge ... apparently the Canadian government used to give tours and charged in order to pay the guide's salaries. Since they aren't giving tours any more, the entire ship is free to wander.
This is the paddlewheel ... and it's BIG!!! The draft on this ship is only one meter due to the shallow rivers it traveled.
Steaming down the river ...
There was freight of every kind ... wood for the steam boiler, sacks of ore (ore was placed in gunny sacks for ease of loading and transport), furniture, shortening, beer, powdered milk, everything imaginable .. and passengers.
The upper deck is quite plush considering the freight stored below. A large pantry provided food for the chef to prepare for passengers and crew on a wood stove.
The main salon was twice this size with chairs facing out for the view.
While the tourists ate on beautiful china, the Captain piloted the boat from this small wheelhouse. Apparently he didn't leave this area often, as his bed was in the corner. I'm assuming the colors kept him awake however .....
If you were standing on the deck, this would be the view you had as you headed up or down the river.
There are so many more pictures, but not enough space. We ate lunch again at the Klondike Rib and Salmon ... why mess with a good thing. Today however, I had hot bumbleberry pie with ice cream. It was DELICIOUS!!!
A quick stop at the quilt store was followed by dinner with Patty and Dan's Skagway friends Bev and Charlie, who live here in Whitehorse ... with the 40 below weather!!
Today we are off on another adventure .... heading to Tok.
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