As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 862. During the summer
months the population is close to 1500. On the day we arrived in Skagway with
three other cruise ships the population was almost 8000.
In the 40's the government purchased each store for one penny each, they now
charge $150k a summer to each tenant. Skagway is almost completely dependent on
tourism, all of the shops in town are open as long as there is a cruise ship in
port.
We took our first helicopter ride here. Both of us imagined being much more
nervous than we actually were. I got a tad nervous flying what seemed to be very
close to the mountain side but it was too amazing to be too scared! After about
20 minutes of glacier viewing we landed on the Denver Glacier at a dog mushing
camp. The camp has 272 dogs and eight mushers that live on the glacier for the
summer tourist season. We got to meet our team of dogs, all very different dogs
but one thing in common, they wanted to RUN! We took turns driving and riding
with our guide. It was a complete blast!
After our dog sled we came back to town for our evening excursion. We rode to
the top of White Pass (elevation 3292) in a van and then careened down the
summit on mountain bikes. I will admit I was very nervous the first half of this
excursion! Knowing there is no hospital anywhere near where we were didn't help,
I could just imagine me crashing and knocking my teeth out! I loosened up a
little bit and actually enjoyed the second half of the ride! I also loved
knowing I could indulge in dessert with all that exercise!
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Waiting for the helicopter....
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It's our turn!!
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Woo-hoo!
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EEeek!
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We look so "official"!
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Bye cruise ships!
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Amazing....something a camera definitely doesn't capture..
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I was a little scared going over this mountain top...but wow was the view worth it!
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Marshmallow mountains
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Why don't you watch the road pal!!
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Dog musher camp!!
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OMG is this not the awesomest picture?!? I can practically hear Tomb Raider music....
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See ya later!
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Half of the dogs...
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"Our" team
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Almost ready to go...
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Our team again...such good dogs!
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Skunk markings huh? He is trying to cool off by laying belly flat in the snow...smart ;-)
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Imagine 200 barking dogs ;)
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Vinny drove first, I sat with our guide
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Action shot!
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My view (dog butts!)...so beautiful though....
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Go Vinny!!
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Nice work!
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Taking a break after a hill....
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Another team ahead of us
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This is fun!!
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My turn to drive!
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My turn to ride with Vinny!
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Our guide in the #1 sled
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Trying to cool off at the end....this dog actually belongs to our guide...(aka she is the spoiled one)
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At least one out of the 272 was sleeping and not barking!
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lol...our lead dog....cooling off again after our ride...
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Harley dog!
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PUPPIES!! (teething puppies...OUCH!)
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Sooo sweet!
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This house was like a clown car....there were TONS of puppies inside!
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Back to Skagway
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Port of Skagway
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Weird building in downtown Skagway
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Harley Davidson...even in a town of 862!
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Me and the famous white pass train
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Vinny and the train (camera was cloudy after dog sledding..whoops!)
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Oh my...I cannot believe we are doing this....
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Here we go!
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Amazing view (when we stopped! I was too afraid to turn my head while careening down the mountain!)
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Giant extenstion cord that powers Skagway
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The top of the summit is in Canada so we had to pass through customs...
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Taking a photo break
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Looks like I slobbered on Vinny's arm....
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Beautiful
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Yikes! lol
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Vinny at Bridal Veil falls...
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Alien head ;)
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