Skagway, AK 7/29/2014

On the road again Tuesday July 29

We hiked through the Klondike Gold Rush National Park's Dyea Historic town site. 

It was a boomtown during the Gold Rush and the start of Chilkoot Trail.

Skagway Bay in the distance

We were treated to a visit by a grizzly.

 He wasn't having any luck catching fish so we pulled ourselves away.

 Famous Onion Dome Hotel and Red Onion Saloon

We took a Ranger led walking tour.  First home built in Skagway by William Moore was a log cabin.  He also built a sawmill and began the construction of a wharf in anticipation of the ships that would land there.  He anticipated the discovery of gold in the Yukon.  

Supplies needed go to Dawson.  Hiker would carry 1/3 of the load part way and return for the other 1/3.  Then the last 1/3.  One would usually work in conjunction with another so one would hike and the other guard.

150 lb. bacon 400 lb. flour 25 lb. rolled oats 125 lb. beans 10 lb. tea 10 lb. coffee 25 lb. sugar 25 lb. dried potatoes 2 lb. dried onions 15 lb. salt 1 lb. pepper 75 lb. dried fruits 8 lb. baking powder 2 lb. soda ½ lb. evaporated vinegar

12 oz. compressed soup 1 can mustard 1 tin matches (for four men) Stove for four men Gold pan for each Set granite buckets Large bucket Knife, fork, spoon, cup, and plate Frying pan Coffee and teapot Scythe stone Two picks and one shovel One whipsaw Pack strap Two axes for four men and one extra handle

Six 8-inch (200 mm) files and two taper files for the party Draw knife, brace and bits, jack plane, andhammer for party 200 feet three-eights-inch rope 8 lb. of pitch and 5 lb (2.3 kg). of oakum for four men Nails, five lbs. each of 6,8,10 and 12 penny, for four men Tent, 10 by 12 feet (3.0 m × 3.7 m) for four men Canvas for wrapping Two oil blankets to each boat 5 yards of mosquito netting for each man 3 suits of heavy underwear 1 heavy mackinaw coat

2 pairs heavy machinaw trousers 1 heavy rubber-lined coat 1 doz heavy wool socks ½ doz heavy wool mittens 2 heavy overshirts 2 pairs heavy snagproof rubber boots 2 pairs shoes 4 pairs blankets (for two men) 4 towels 2 pairs overalls 1 suit oil clothing Several changes of summer clothing Small assortment of medicines

• 150 lb. bacon
• 400 lb. flour
• 25 lb. rolled oats
• 125 lb. beans
• 10 lb. tea
• 10 lb. coffee
• 25 lb. sugar
• 25 lb. dried potatoes
• 2 lb. dried onions
• 15 lb. salt
• 1 lb. pepper
• 75 lb. dried fruits
• 8 lb. baking powder
• 2 lb. soda
• ½ lb. evaporated vinegar

• 12 oz. compressed soup
• 1 can mustard
• 1 tin matches (for four men)
• Stove for four men
• Gold pan for each
• Set granite buckets
• Large bucket
• Knife, fork, spoon, cup, and plate
• Frying pan
• Coffee and teapot
• Scythe stone
• Two picks and one shovel
• One whipsaw
• Pack strap
• Two axes for four men and one extra handle

• Six 8-inch (200 mm) files and two taper files for the party
• Draw knife, brace and bits, jack plane, andhammer for party
• 200 feet three-eights-inch rope
• 8 lb. of pitch and 5 lb (2.3 kg). of oakum for four men
• Nails, five lbs. each of 6,8,10 and 12 penny, for four men
• Tent, 10 by 12 feet (3.0 m × 3.7 m) for four men
• Canvas for wrapping
• Two oil blankets to each boat
• 5 yards of mosquito netting for each man
• 3 suits of heavy underwear
• 1 heavy mackinaw coat

• 2 pairs heavy machinaw trousers
• 1 heavy rubber-lined coat
• 1 doz heavy wool socks
• ½ doz heavy wool mittens
• 2 heavy overshirts
• 2 pairs heavy snagproof rubber boots
• 2 pairs shoes
• 4 pairs blankets (for two men)
• 4 towels
• 2 pairs overalls
• 1 suit oil clothing
• Several changes of summer clothing
• Small assortment of medicines

Store that sold supplies.

Dyea and Skagway to Dawson.  Dotted red line were trails to Lake Bennett.

1897 city of 5,000 tents

 Looking down the Chilkoot Trail

Martha Louise Black from Chicago was coming to Alaska with her husband.  But he backed out at the last minute.  She came anyway.  She hiked the Chilkoot with her brother.  When she arrived at the top she  was "tired, faint, hungry and cold."  She went by boat down lakes and Yukon River to Dawson.  She later ran a sawmill.  At 70 she was elected to Parliament,

At the age of 21 Jack London was an unknown when he arrived in Dyea.  He climbed the Chilkoot Trail and described the agonies and dangers of his journey.  His books of the Yukon made him a fortune.  Smoke Bellows and A Daughter of the Snows.

Three Roadtreks parked in Skagway.  Tom & Linda's, ours and didn't meet the other owners.

I grow astibles at home but they are not as beautiful as in Alaska.

The weather is moderate and so perfect for them.

At the Skagway Museum:  Newspaper article that caused the Gold Rush

Train buried by snow.

Duck bill quilt.  Duck bill feathers were preserved with salt,
a techniques learned from the Tlingit women.
Studded with peppercorns to deter moths.

Skagway cemetery.  Frank Reid is famous because he shot Soapy Smith, a con man.

Interesting building on our scenic ride to the Dyea (free) campground.