Over the White Pass Summit

Thursday, May 21, 2009 – Day 21

We left Skagway this morning at about 08:15 am, it was slightly overcast when we left but as the morning progressed it got sunny and warm.  Driving up the White Pass was not nearly as bad as driving down it.  The diesel engine just powers up these mountains even with a 10,000 lb fifth wheel behind it.  (But an economy car, it is not!!)

Just breathtaking scenery, even at the summit with it’s “moonscape” look.  The few little trees that survive up there are twisted and deformed by the wind and the heavy layers of snow. 

The descent on the Whitehorse side was not nearly as severe.  Ice is just starting to break up on the mountain lakes and the poplar are just starting to leaf out. We stopped briefly in the small town of Carcross, YT.  (The name derives from Caribou Crossing.)  Apparently, herds of caribou cross the river at this natural ford, although we didn’t see any today.  The only reason it has any significance is the fact that it was a staging area for men and equipment building the Alaska Hwy during World War II.  We also made a stop to see “Janet’s Lake”, actually it is called Emerald Lake.  We had mentioned it in an earlier post and it was just as stunning as it was when we passed it on our way to Skagway.

We stopped in Whitehorse to get some groceries at Super Store and decided to have lunch in their parking lot.  We got some fuel and we were on our way along the Alaska Hwy towards Haines Junction, YT.  We stopped to photograph the last original wooden bridge built during the construction of the Alaska Hwy.  The Alaska highway does not follow the original highway in many places and that includes this bridge.  Despite it’s age it still appears to be in fairly good condition.

We arrived in Haines around 4:45 PM PDT, and we are camped at a place called Kluane RV Kampground.  Basically an unpaved parking lot with electrical and water hook-ups.  Their sewer system is still frozen.  But we have a grand view of the Kluane mountains outside our window and as I am writing this at 10:50 PM, I can see that the sun is hitting the highest peaks; leaving the lower part of the mountains in shadow.

We had a decision to make today. Should we continue towards “mainland” Alaska via the Alaska Hwy or turn south towards Haines, AK for a side trip. We had camped beside a  couple who come up from Florida almost every year to Haines.  We also spoke to another couple as we were fuelling the truck, who were just returning from Alaska, headed home to Oregon.  They said that they liked Haines better than any other comparable sized town in Alaska.  Our decision was made.  Next stop Haines, Alaska!