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Richmond, BC
Canada
126 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2005 : 8:34 PM
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Just wanted to know if anyone have hiked the famous Chilkoot Trail. I'd like to hear your experience, good and bad. I am trying to find a place to hike this summer...
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- Pain is an indication you are still alive! - |
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 opinionated-stove huggin'-fleece wearin'-arse burnin' hill virgin
Here
Canada
4642 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2005 : 8:54 PM
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http://www.clubtread.com/articledetail.asp?ID=37
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"My name is Hiker Boy and I approved this message" |
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 Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7647 Posts |
Posted - 01/19/2005 : 9:34 PM
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It was a great trip! Feel free to post questions and we'd be happy to answer.
Also, if you try the search in this forum you'll find lots of info. As I found out info in the planning stages, I would post it to the forum. |
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Telkwa
1176 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2005 : 08:08 AM
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| Really fun trail. Advice - expect lots of people - start early to get to the next campsite early so you have your pick of favourable spots and then you can explore all afternoon - leave car at the end of the railway tracks on the highway and hitch hike into Skagway (if you have a car). Watch out for the ground squirrels they will sit on your foot as you try opening your food bag. Have fun. |
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Big pack hiker who sleeps with bears in tent and falls on slippery logs
Langley, BC
Canada
7647 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2005 : 08:40 AM
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| If you park in Skagway or Dyea, seariously consider taking the train back as well. Its a fun ride after the trip. Alot of the hikers do that. If you're parked in Dyea, which is often the case, you can take Dyea Dave's shuttle service from Skagway to Dyea. Don't attempt to walk it - you won't enjoy it. |
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Slo mo sno shuin' Great Wall trekkin' triathalon doin' pale ale drinkin' all Patrick, all the time, smoothie
2497 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2005 : 10:59 AM
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Frodo,
I'm doing a slide show - Hiking the Goldrush Trail - at Mission Library, Wed Feb 9, 6:30. Might not be your neck of the woods but I thought I'd let you (or anyone else who is interested) know. As far as I know it is free and open to the public.
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"Heaven is under our feet is well as over our heads" Thoreau |
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Whitehorse, YT
Canada
156 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2005 : 1:11 PM
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Jim's article was a great start when I planned out trip last year.
We had a great time from beginning to end. So we arrive in Skagway and I give Dyea Dave a call... he's all gruff and saying he can't talk for chrissakes, just meet him in front of the train station in 5 minutes. I'm an easygoing guy but he's pissed me off and I'm inquiring at the station about alternative modes of transport to the trailhead at Dyea when up drives Dyea Dave. Man, check out the size of this guy's feet!!!! He's apologetic, the voices in his head are worse than usual this afternoon, and he has a halibut to clean for tonight's dinner, so I cut him some slack and we hop in his yellow van. Sure he'll drive us to the trailhead but his sister's hostel is celebrating it's 15th anniversary, we can stay there tonight at a 15% discount, he and his bro-in-law are cooking up a big feed that we can sit in on for $5 each... so our plans change in an instant and we're off to the Skagway Home Hostel. After unloading our gear, we walk back to the liquor store across from the train station to ask for a bottle of wine from Dyea Dave's bridal registry. We're directed to the Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz and when we get back to the hostel, Dave's got the first pot-full of fresh-caught shrimp boiling outside, so we hose off the plastic table and he dumps the shrimp in the center, gives us a brief tutorial on how to peel and eat shrimp, and we get to it. More people arrive and gather round and a fun day turns into a fun evening filled with laughs and new-found friends. Fresh halibut, shrimp, crab and pasta salad, mixed veg, applesauce made from apples off of the tree over there in the corner... all for $5 each.
The next morning, we're packed and ready to hit the trail. Dave drives up and we pile in. A couple more stops and then we're on our way and Dave begins his commentary, pointing out the highlights of Skagway. We're met at the trailhead by an older couple from Michigan who, having done their research and attended the bear talk in town, have come equipped with large cow bells attached to their packs, AWOOGAH bike horns (along with some deadly-looking Bowie knives) attached to their waist belts, and an air horn guaranteed to drive off any bruins with mean intent.
King bolete mushrooms line the trail (as well as some deadly ones). We round a turn, remark at the large mound of fresh bear scat, and continue on. Several minutes later, the cacophony commences as the Michigan couple discovers that the threat of bears on the Chilkoot Trail is no myth :0)
It's an easy first day trek from the trailhead past Canyon City to Sheep Camp, where we set up for the night (on raised wooden platforms no less!)
We leave Sheep Camp under sunny skies. I can tell that in a storm, carrying one of many 50+lb loads like the stampeders did, I might not enjoy the climb up over the Stairs,
 
but today it's enjoyable and as we crest the boundary and look out over the warden's hut, it's obvious that we're not in SW Alaskan rain forest any longer, the terrain has changed to alpine rock, meadows, and lakes. It's down the trail to Happy Camp, arriving with plenty of time left to set up, cook, eat, and relax.
Our original plan is to trek from Happy Camp and overnight at Lindeman or Bare Loon, but the weather has turned and it's obvious that rain is coming, so we stop at Lindeman to take a look in the mini museum there, but continue on to Bare Loon hoping for cover. Bare Loon is beautiful but it's raining harder now, it's still early, and Bennett is easily reachable, so we continue on. The way is sandy and downhill. After a stop at the graveyard on the hill, we see Bennett Lake up ahead and round a corner to find the old church. We're above the campground with the train station off in the distance (where we notice other backpackers settling in under the eaves out of the rain). Good idea we think, but just as we put down our packs and stake out some space, the warden comes over and directs us back to the campground. The good residents of Bennett have offered up a tarp that we can raise over the cooking area, and there are still some tent sites with decent cover, so we move over.
The next day dawns with partly cloudy skies and as we wait for the train to arrive, the warden (who is officially on strike starting today) hands out maple cookies. The train arrives, but not as expected: it's a work train sent because the regular train derailed at Fraser so we ride there in the caboose and then switch to the regular train.
Note the sign on the bathroom door:  :0)
Fun ride, great trip! |
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adventure seeking, peak-bagging, high-enduring, strong and silent forest gnome
N49°09', W122°47'
Canada
3819 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2005 : 1:39 PM
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Entertaining story, CWF! That Dyea Dave sure is a character. I got a 50% discount on my ride because I had to pile into the back of his pathfinder when all the other seats were full. I wonder what kind of a discount I would have got for roof-rack transportation  |
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Farmington, British Columbia
Canada
88 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2005 : 07:32 AM
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| I have read all your trip reports on the chilkoot Trail. Thank You they have been a great help in planning my trip at the end of Aug. |
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adventure seeking, peak-bagging, high-enduring, strong and silent forest gnome
N49°09', W122°47'
Canada
3819 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2005 : 4:00 PM
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Glad you found them helpful, Teeka. I hope you'll post a report once you return  |
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Farmington, British Columbia
Canada
88 Posts |
Posted - 02/19/2005 : 4:06 PM
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Yes i will Thanks again
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
241 Posts |
Posted - 03/28/2005 : 2:26 PM
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Its a must do trek - very historical and very interesting - even if it rains alot up there - prepare for it ! I agree with the others about the train trip back down - awesome views and thank god for the one open train car for all the stinky people that just came off the Chilkoot !!!! |
Edited by - Tmac on 03/28/2005 2:26 PM |
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Chilkoot Trail
