Daily Didactic
The morning started moderately late in Lindeman City, the day's goal being about seven and a half miles down the trail to lake Bennett for our last night. We hit the road about 8:00 and managed to make it to Lake Bennett a little before noon. In the past the train has left earlier in the day, so we have spent our fifth night in the Lake Bennett campground. This year, however, the train doesn't leave until 2:30. Todd did some quick negotiating and managed to get us on this afternoon's train. We cashed in our "lunch on the day out" tickets for the most anticipated meal we have had all summer. The "back room" hiker's lunch of bottomless stew, endless bread, and apple pie was absolutely everything we had imagined.

We climbed on board the train a little before two and settled in for the White Pass/Yukon Railroad run down to Skagway. The roughly forty mile trip is a a big draw for tourists, train buffs, and us. The train is a narrow gauge railroad that winds down a steep valley, with significant chunks of the ride hanging on the side of the cliffs. The scenery and experience is spectacular.

We got back to Skagway a day early, Todd secured us an extra night at Pullen's, we cleaned up, and then beat a path for pizza and nachos at Red Onion. After another glorious meal we wandered the dock and marveled at the size of cruise ships for a bit, before calling it a long and very satisfying day.

A lovely morning in Lindeman City		More sad horses
Two smiles out of three. Sometimes Brian gets that look...		Pretty privy
The 'Brian is not in trouble' face		Funky bridge with stone cribs on the way out of camp
Brian, demonstrating sitting. It didn't catch on		The first two miles were a lot of rocky uphills
Brian, demonstrating leaning		The largest trailside artifact on the trail
Todd tries to catch a ride out of the dunes just short of Bennett		Artsy trail marker
Lake Bennett and the end of the trail		Majestic
The church at Bennett		Resting places
Our four prospectors		Theresa looks down at the train station
The front is where normal train customers have lunch, Chilkoot hikers use the side door		Our ride down White Pass
Great train art		The trail up White Pass. We are okay for now
The steel bridge on the way down		The ladies peer over the edge
There was clearly a right and wrong side...		Unloading gear at the Shops
We've been thinking about this for five days		Pizza, nachos, beverages and great company
Three cruise ships dominating the harbor		Soapy Smith's skull on the rocks above the harbor

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