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During the 2 days it took to journey the rest of the way to Skagway, Sharyn expressed an interest in hiking over the Chilkoot Pass with me. John in his infinite wisdom elected not to join us and instead provided much needed back up in transporting supplies I would not need until reaching Lake Bennett from where I would begin my canoeing.Dyea, at the Chilkoot trail head had a Transient population in the autumn of 1897 of between 8-10,000. Today the cemetery is all that remains. A trail in Alaska wrote one veteran of the Chilkoot trail, should not be confused with the ordinary highway of settled states. When a trail is spoken of as existing between two points in Alaska it has no further meaning than that a man and possibly a beast of burden, may travel that way over the natural surface of the ground. Undeterred Sharyn and I headed for the hills. Quote from journal June 10th After 7 miles of walking we have reached our first camp, "Canyon City". There is no city and no canyon. The trail has in fact been relatively easy going but carrying two overweight packs, a tripod and camera case has already taken its toll. My back is racked with pain and I am in the process of lancing four oversized blisters on my feet. With no needle to hand I have resorted to using my knife having attempted in vein to sterilise the blade over a fire. Pouring iodine over the incisions proved excruciating. I am concerned for their welfare over the rest of the trail. 26 miles still to go. |
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