slrg1744 Wrote:
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> Flying to Whitehorse and getting a rental car is a
> great option, as the road to Skagway is well paved
> and has lots of good scenic stops including many
> along the railroad. But do not expect to drive
> into Bennet. Make sure you have a passport as
> this is needed to cross the boarder near Skagway.
> Flights into Skagway can be very pricey, so check
> connections and what you will need to do once in
> Skagway. The landing strip in Skagway is walking
> distance to most hotels in town, but a rental car
> is also a plus as you can railfan the WPY easily
> from the road up the hill.
>
> I don't want to steer you away from a cruise ship
> voyage, but remember, Skagway is just one of the
> one day stops you will have.
Flying to Whitehorse is what I did the only time I have visited. I was there for the 2011 Rotary Event, which occurred before the cruise season began, so I had limited options. Since I wanted a car, I flew into Whitehorse on Air Canada Jazz. At the time, the rental car there was the most expensive car I ever rented and I fully suspect the cost has escalated significantly since, so check the prices before deciding to fly there. As you've noted the highway is good road and the drive is not terribly long....a couple of hours as I recall. It will give you the chance to see the north end of the line, which no train trip will. You can also stop in Carcross and walk around a bit.
I had thought about flying into Skagway, but the airport there is VFR only....and once you see it, you'll instantly know why. At the time, the operator that flew from Juneau to Skagway was Wings of Alaska, flying Cessna 208 Caravans. I called and chatted with them, because I was concerned about making a flight connection in Juneau, given the weather issues that Skagway can have. I was told that their weather minimums were 500-1, which is pretty crappy weather to be flying around VFR, although they pretty much stay over the water to avoid terrain issues. I elected to pass on flying into Skagway, more because of concerns about making flight connections, but yeah, the idea of VFR in that kind of country with 500-1 did give me pause as well.
I concur with the recommendations of others that if you have the option, you stay away from the regular summit trips. If steam is an option, do it. They used to offer a Fraser Meadows trip that I would love to have taken. Beautiful country, not only on the trip to the summit, but all the way to Bennett, which is as far as our Rotary Train went.
/Kevin Madore
