I had read about the thousands of miners who came to the Yukon during the gold rush, but seeing the pictures, as well as the terrain they endured to get there was incredible. These were rough conditions, sometimes in freezing weather and each of them had an enormous list of supplies that the Canadian Mounties required before the could even start.

There were so many that there was a line up the mountain. Our excursion in Skagway was a bus ride up to the Yukon, the cost was $46.00, our guide was Doug, a true storyteller who made us feel as if we were with the group of thousands who left everything behind in hopes of finding gold.

We drove past dead horse canyon where it’s said that many of the horses who were exhausted by the loads and the walk jumped to their deaths, rather than continue the treacherous path.

We left Alaska and drove into Canada, giving us the opportunity on the drive back to have our picture taken by the Welcome to Alaska sign.

The views were beautiful, hundreds of snow melting waterfalls trickled down the mountains and the weather was gorgeous.

The town looked like something from the old west. It was Sunday many of the stores and restaurants were closed, we did find Skagway Brewery where we had salmon and a reindeer chili dog.

We walked through the streets after and felt like we were in an old western.

It feels as if the town is frozen in the Gold Rush days (until you look up and see the enormous cruise ships and realize you’re still in 2023).