Journey through Yukon Territory, Alaska
After a beautiful and scenic three-day cruise from Vancouver to Skagway, we continued our journey into the Yukon Territory, following in spirit the route of the gold rush stampeders of 1886–1889.
These early fortune seekers crossed rugged mountains and uncharted wilderness in hopes of shaping new lives and discovering something more than what they had left behind.
Traveling these same pathways made their stories feel close and real. Tens of thousands journeyed all the way to Dawson City through a landscape both breathtaking and unforgiving. The pristine expanse of mountains, rivers, and endless sky stands in striking contrast to the hastily built boomtowns that rose to support those drawn north by gold and possibility.
The Gold Rush was always a gamble—few found great wealth—but many left with lives transformed, carrying experience and story rather than treasure. Our own travels took us across long stretches of open country. Alaska is one of those rare places whose scale and beauty cannot truly be captured in images or words—only felt by standing in the midst of it.
Highlights from the Journey:
Taku Glaciers, near Juneau
We flew in a small plane over the vast Taku glacier system, one of the world’s largest icefields. I was seated as co-pilot, with a sweeping, crystalline view across the ice. I thought of my father as we flew over the glaciers and recalled his own impressions of his small plane flights over Alaska years ago.
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
Built in 1898, this historic railway climbs steep mountain passes. It is astonishing to consider what was engineered so quickly, driven by the urgency of gold. The unimaginable hardships of carrying a years’ supplies over the mountains by gold seekers was hard to fathom.
Dawson City
Built up during the gold rush, at the meeting of the Klondike and Yukon rivers, Dawson City once held 30,000 people. Many of its late-1880s buildings still stand, offering a rare, living glimpse into that era.
Placer Mining Experience
We tried gold panning at a working placer mine. The icy late summer water, the slow hard work gave us a deep respect for the labor involved. The miners' protocol is to rehabilitate the landscape after they have unearthed it. And was excited to discover three small flakes from which I plan to create a commemorative piece of jewelry.
Chena Village & Indigenous Traditions
We learned about resourcefulness, balance with the land, and the tradition of dog mushing.
Denali National Park
A landscape of quiet majesty, with wildlife and the snow-crowned presence of Mount McKinley.
Everyone we met shared a profound respect for Alaska’s extremes. It is not simply a place to visit—it is a place that remains with you.
xoxo
