Another Visit to Alaska

 Okay, so we left Alaska, but we went right back into Alaska! After our stop at Jade City, our next stop was Carcross, Yukon Territory. We stayed in the Carcross Government Campground for two nights. Carcross is a good place to stay if you want to take a day trip to Skagway, Alaska. Skagway is a cruise ship town, but the scenery as you drive down to Skagway is unique. Skagway was also one of the starting points for the 1898 gold rush. The town of Dyea used to be just west of Skagway. The site is now part of Klondike Goldrush National Park.

But I digress. Carcross is home to the world's smallest desert! It is actually one square mile of sand dunes from the last ice age. The area receives too much precipitation for it to be a desert.

 Carcross also has the burned remains of a paddle boat that worked the lakes and rivers in the area from 1917 to 1955. During its original restoration in 1990, SS Tutshi burned. The town of Carcross has restored much of what was left and tourists still come to see it. The boat was so much a part of the town, that today community meetings and events are held in the partially restored boat.

Now, the weather didn't cooperate on our drive down to Skagway---it was overcast and foggy and we couldn't see the views. As we approached Skagway, the weather cleared and we were able to see the WP&YR Railroad crossing the trestle over this waterfall.

 Yes, there were cruise ships in port when we arrived in Skagway---four to be exact.

We walked around town, visited the national park buildings, ate lunch and then went to Dyea town site. Not much is left of what used to be a booming gold rush town of 10,000 people. In fact, the ground is now eight feet higher than it was during the gold rush years.

 This false front represents how the buildings were built. Each building had a false front to hide the shack that was the building. Every thing was built in such a hurry that nothing lasted, especially since the gold rush only lasted two years! Much of the lumber was used for fires and rebuilding other more permanent buildings in other areas.

 After visiting Skagway, it was time to head back to Carcross to get ready for another travel day. Our next stop would be Meziadin Provincial Park in British Columbia.