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08/08/2007: "Scagway and the Tracy Arm"

Yesterday it was Scagway and a trip on the White Pass Yukon Railway. We toured the town a little but the rain put a damper on things. The train ride was beautiful as we climbed the same route that the gold prospectors did at the turn of the century. Thousands made the trek and only a handful struck it rich. One valley was so treacherous that they estimate they lost over 1,000 horses. The stench reached fifteen miles back to the town of Scagway.

Today we woke to the ship cruising into the Tracy Arm. This is a beautiful narrow fjord that has a depth of 1,000 feet and mountains that jut upwards from the sea. At the end is a beautiful glacier. Much of this reminded me of Yosemite Valley with beautiful waterfalls that crash down off the granite cliffs that were glacier carved. Eagles in the air and humpbacks in the water were a special treat. However, according to the captain and our naturalist on board, the weather was the highlight. It was so sunny and clear (one of only 10 days a year) that we were seeing mountain peaks that they hadn’t seen for several years. It was a truly spiritual morning.

Tomorrow we head out early in Ketchikan for a nature hike through the Tongass National Forest.

Replies: 1 Comment

on Wednesday, August 8th, pam said

WOW! The scenery is just beautiful....I was supposed to have gone in May of 2007, to the Alaskan Cruise, but it got cancel. Enjoy every moment of it. Mother Nature is Beautiful....