GENERAL INTRODUCTION 



BY 



D. D. Cairnes. 



Excursion C 8 includes the trip from Prince Rupert to 

 Skagway, Whitehorse, and Dawson, and the return journey 

 via Skagway, Juneau, Glacier bay, Yakutat bay, and 

 Prince Rupert to Vancouver. 



The trip from Prince Rupert to Skagway, along the 

 fiord-indented, island-strewn coast of southeastern Alaska 

 is most picturesque. The effects of glaciation, past and 

 present, are there strikingly illustrated, and toward the 

 north a number of glaciers extend to the water's edge and 

 may be viewed at close range from the steamer. The 

 distance from Prince Rupert to Skagway is about 460 

 miles (740 km.). 



From Skagway to Whitehorse, a distance of no miles 

 (177 km), the journey is made by the White Pass and 

 Yukon railway. From Skagway the train commences 

 almost immediately, a steady climb up the wild, rugged, 

 granitic mountains of the Coast range, proceeds over the 

 White Pass summit, thence runs along various small lakes 

 and streams to Lake Bennett, and continues along its 

 shores to Caribou, 68 miles (109 km.) from Skagway. For 

 this distance, the train follows very closely the general 

 route pursued by the early stampeders in their mad rush 

 to the Klondike in 1897 and 1898. From Caribou north- 

 ward the train follows a broad depression for about 30 

 miles (51 km.) until suddenly Lewes river comes into sight 

 from the east and a good view is obtained of the famous 

 Miles canyon, where so many daring adventurers have lost 

 their lives. The railway in the last few miles has a steep 

 grade, descending rapidly to the banks of Lewes river at 

 Whitehorse, near which are situated the Whitehorse copper 

 deposits. 



From Whitehorse to Dawson the journey is made by 

 steamer down Lewes and Yukon rivers, a distance of about 

 460 miles (740 km.). This trip, made on one of the com- 

 modious steamers plying these waters during the summer 

 months, is one of exceptional beauty and is of particular 



