Bright and early, maybe about 10 am, we are on the road to Skagway. Of course we have to stop at Emerald Lake, Carcross, and a couple other pretty places.

Skagway doesn’t change its essence much. It is always fun to visit though. Interesting to see how many cruise ships are in and what the Americans are wearing this year. Okay, that is more gag me, than fun. It was a beautiful warm day and we did enjoy ourselves.

We stopped at the world smallest desert just out of Carcross on the way home. Lawrie and I haven’t ever stopped here, so now is the opportunity. The sand was warm and nice to walk on with bare feet.

Now that we are months later I can’t remember too many details. Where exactly you stop on the highway to access the trail to Samuel Glacier I can’t say. It is someplace not too far from the border, on the right side, and there is an outhouse and very large parking area. My former colleague Richard had done this trip and his pictures were amazing. My photos aren’t near so interesting, but I think we arrived when the flowers were in bloom, whereas they were either finished or Richard isn’t into flower photos! Check his photos out here to see what I mean!

The hike to Samuel Glacier is about 8 kms long and follows an old Cat trail most of the way. There is at least one fairly large stream that you cross, so don’t forget to bring some footwear to do the crossing with – unless you can walk on water?

It took us the better part of the morning, but we stopped a few hundred times to take flower pictures. Beautiful day … lovely evening … but it was very grey in the morning so our thought to hike to the top of the nearest mountain was dampened by low clouds. We enjoyed the morning, but decided to pack up and attempt to be out before it really rained on us. We almost made it!

There are more photos … click here.

Besides taking in the Music Festival, I take Ruth to the Gold Dredge #4 out on Bonanza Creek, wander the Museum, visit the Visitor’s Centre, go up the Top of the World Highway, and also up the Dome (the hill behind Dawson). We camp at the Klondike River Campground about 1/2 hour south of Dawson. It is quiet there and we didn’t actually have a choice as the closer campground is full several hours before we arrive Thursday night. We end up thinking it a blessing in many ways. The weather was hot and dry and we enjoyed every minute.

Sunday, July 8th, Ruth arrived from Vancouver early afternoon and I returned home from Olds and Calgary at about 11 pm. Lawrie did a grand job of showing Ruth around Whitehorse prior to my flight arriving. We spent the week working and I must say that was fun and very useful as I currently have way too much work!

Our first weekend we spent with Sarah, Chris, Sarah’s mom, Chris’s Mom and Dad, and four dogs. We walked, fished, looked at mushrooms, played games, sat around a campfire, visited, and generally had a very nice time.