Road Trip 2010: Days 19Teslin to Skagway, AK

Monday, June 28
Teslin to Skagway, AK

A short trip from Teslin down to Skagway. We made it a little longer with frequent photo stops and three stops in and around Carcross.

We left Teslin heading north on Yukon Highway 1: The Alaskan Highway and turned onto Yukon Highway 8 at Jake’s Corner. Along the way, we stopped often for such things as photographs, cinnamon buns, photographs and tea.

First the obligatory scenery:

Just some place along the road north out of Teslin

Just some place along the road north out of Teslin

Johnson’s Crossing was the cinnamon bun stop and, if I had my way, I would kidnap the baker for she turned out a great cinnamon bun and what looked like super turnovers. (We didn’t sample the turnovers but she had just pulled a tray of apple turnovers and another of blueberry turnovers from the oven and although the warm cinnamon buns sent out a lovely aroma it was a close contest as to which smelled best.) Sorry. The cinnamon buns got et before I could photograph them.

Jake’s Corner was a stop for Terry to get a refill on tea and also to photograph their stuffed polar bear.

Polar Bear at Jake's Crossing

The trip over Highway 8 was of a different nature as it passed through a relatively developed area with several small towns and lake communities. But it still had some gorgeous scenery!

Somewhere along Route 8 between Jake's Crossing and Carcross

Somewhere along Route 8 between Jake's Crossing and Carcross

In the Carcross area, our first stop, just north of the intersection, was the Carcross Desert: the smallest official desert in the world.

World's Smallest Desert

View from the World's Smallest Desert (Carcross)

The second was the Caribou Crossings wildlife museum. (So poorly signed was the center, that I missed it as we drove past and then had to make a K-turn with the trail in tow on a winding, hilly road. An action I do not recommend, BTW!) I’m glad I did get back there, however. Otherwise I'd never know what a Stone Sheep looked like.

Largest Polar Bear belongs to the Caribou Crossings Wildlife Center

Stone Sheep at Caribou Crossings Wildlife Center

Not only is their collection of stuffed and mounted critters exceptional, but they have a small kennel of Alaskan huskies that they use to demonstrate the training of sled dogs. They even offer short rides on their wheeled training carts. One of the caretakers of that portion of the center is Michelle Phillips who raced in the 2010 Iditarod as a rookie. She finished 27th and was the third rookie to cross the finish line. She happened to be there when we stopped and took time out from her duties to talk to us and pose for a picture.

Michelle Phillips, Iditaroder

Future Iditaroders?

The third stop was in the town of Carcross itself where Terry had to get two stamps on her Klondike Gold Passport.

The Scenery going through the White Pass down the Klondike Highway toward Skagway wasn't too shabby, either.

Bove Island from the Klondike Highway

The Twisted Forest as seen from the Klondike Highway

Getting through the American customs along the Klondike Highway was a snap. We were nearly the last of the Good Sam rigs to make the passage and…well…maybe they were just getting sick of seeing us. It went something like this: “Your passports please. I see you’re with Good Sam Club.” “Yeah, there are 23 of us and we’re nearly the last.” “What license plates do you have on your rig?” “Pennsylvania.” “Very good. Enjoy your stay.”

US Customs on the Klondike Highway heading into Skagway

We were perfectly within the time limits set by our leader for arrival, too. We got to the campground at around 12:30 and he wanted us to arrive “No earlier than 12 noon. No later than 1:30 PM” All those others who were early—and that was nearly all of them—got in anyway. Out campsite (Pullen RV Park) is right on the docks—if we were any closer, we’d all need boating licenses—and adjacent to the rail station.
We had the afternoon to walk around town and do some window shopping—which is what I did. Terry went with a couple of the other women and did a little serious shopping. I just took in the crowds from the cruise ships anchored in the harbor.

After dinner—and after the cruise ships pulled out, our group walked northwest to the other side of town to take in a show: The Days of ’98 with Soapy Smith. But that’s another post.