Another episode of why we like Skagway...

We decided we would take after dinner walks as many evenings as the weather will allow. And we are being generous with the weather: ie; mist or wind is allowable, downpour and gales are not. So, anyway, if we go east, we hit the hillside in one block and must turn north or south. If we go west, we hit the airport in three blocks and must turn north or south. So we ususally just go north or south to begin with. Mostly we have gone north. Last night we headed south. Bitter (for us Arizonans) wind in our faces. We stopped at the Bonanza Bar and Grill to see if our new (met on the ferry) friend Andrea was working. She was there, so we said hi, talked a bit, and continued to the waterfront. No seals or otters playing there. On the way back, the wind is behind us, so less unpleasant. We looked through the windows of a newly redone building only to discover that it is a Junior Ranger Activity Room run by the NPS. Lots of kid activity stuff in there. It made us smile. As we turned to continue a couple, man and woman, that is, passed us and she said, "You look happy!" So I said, "We were just looking at the kid stuff in here." End of conversation, they move on down the street, and we continue looking in windows as we head home. Just as we get a half block from home the couple reappears across the street and we begin a shouted conversation of the "What do you do here?" variety. Simultaneously, we decide it would be easier if we cross the street, and they did, too. So, it turns out they are first timers, they are not a couple, and they live in a warren of mini apartments upstairs above a store. "Would we like to see?" Sure. We are curious about the kinds of living arrangement others are in. Upstairs we meet four other women and another man who all share individual small bedrooms, but a common kitchen and living area. They all work for one of the jewelry companies, all are here for the first time, and all are from Southern California. They are excited to meet us and as interterested in us as we are in them. We had a great time, then we had to leave because they were sitting down to eat. But we will see them again. They were all really nice, one is a fellow teacher, two are from other countries, but Americans.
So this week, we had Thanksgiving dinner with one diverse group, met another one on the street, and encountered others from past years. That is one episode.
This year we also both have new coworkers. My two are women. One worked here ten years ago, felt the tug, and has returned. I think she is thirty something. She lives in a small camp trailer she has parked on private property of someone she knew before. The other is early twenties. She lives in a tent at Mountain View. I like both of them. I think the passengers will also like them. They both have previous driving experience.
I have to go to Whitehorse today. It will be my third trip since arriving last week. I also went to Carcross yesterday to a driver orientation at Caribou Crossing. So far I have seen no animal larger than a porcupine on these trips. Other drivers have seen black bears, grizzlies, caribou, moose, whatever. Oh, I have seen Dall Sheep on Sheep Mountain. Waaaay, up high. That hardly counts. So I am hoping for a fruitful trip today.
Up here, the tree line is at about 2800 feet. Not coincidentally, that is the current snow line as well. It creates a surreal situation when driving north. The summit, at 3292 feet is snowbound. Heading into Canada the road slowly descends so that in less than ten miles the snow is gone. But the big lakes are still ice covered. The ice looks out of place in a forest that is otherwise snow free. On returning to Skagway, there is quite literally a point at which you come around a curve from forest into a treeless, snow covered landscape. When the sun is out, it is blinding and spectacular. We are still getting fresh snow as recently as yesterday. So the peaks are still looking like Alpine wonderland. The snowmobile tracks all around the summit keep getting re-covered, so only the most recent stand out on the slopes.
Stay tuned for future episodes....in which I spot bears!!!