North to Alaska

This will be one of my last posts for at least a week as I will be heading to Alaska this weekend. My wife and I are finally going on an Alaskan cruise, something we have wanted to do for years. Alaska seems like a magnificent, mysterious place with amazing vistas, and wild life relatively untouched by modern civilization, but who can forget the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the political wrangles over Alaskan resources enviously eyed by the southern states. There is really no such thing as virgin wilderness anymore, although some of the preserved Alaskan parks likely come close. Speaking as a Canadian there is one unforgettable, compelling, historic link between Alaska and Canada. This would be the gold rush, and the treacherous Chilkoot trail traversed by thousands in search of riches, many of whom died attempting to reach the Yukon. Stretching from Skagway, Alaska to Dawson City, Yukon traversing the Chilkoot trail required incredible fortitude and stamina.
The trail is symbolic of what humans will attempt in an effort to find a better life. Perhaps we can all reflect on whether we have put full effort into our attempts at succeeding in life, especially when the chips are down.









Packing up Chilkoot Pass