Old Paths

“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.” – William Feather

I took over 2,000 photos when we took our cruise around the Inside Passage of Alaska last summer. I am still going through all of the photos. I don’t even think I am halfway done at this point. It has taken me a while because when we got back, it was almost time for school to start. I have been working on photos when I can. Sometimes I can do a few at work, but I primarily work on them through the weekend. I could pull the JPEGs off my camera and post those, but that wouldn’t be as satisfying. To me, photography is more than just taking photos. It is also about editing the photo to bring out the best in it. I might not finish all of my photos from this trip until Christmas, and that is okay with me. Every time I work on the photos from our trip, I remember the great experience we had. I relive every moment while we were there.

One of our favorite experiences of our cruise to Alaska was when we took the Great White Pass Express to see the Yukon. The path of the train followed a specific route. This was the route taken by people going to look for gold during the Gold Rush of 1896. Here are some facts about the White Pass Scenic Railway. 1) Created During the Klondike Gold Rush. The gold rush is what brought most people to Alaska during the late 1800s. The Railway was built to transport people from the coast to the inland where gold was being found. 2) Designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. To build the Railway was a feat in modern engineering. It shares this designation with structures like the Eiffel Tower and the Panama Canal. 3) Climbs From Sea Level to 2,888 Feet at the Summit. It’s a tall climb from the beginning until the end. The views on the way up are incredible. 4) Passes Over Dead Horse Gulch. There are many historical landmarks along the way, but this one sticks out for many many reasons. Dead Horse Gulch gets its name from the 3,000 horses that died there. This happened at that one spot on the trail during the gold rush. This sight shows the brutality and the desperation of those seeking gold. .5) It Crosses the Border into Canada. This was my first time visiting Canada, and it wasn’t the last.

These photos were taken of old routes by the railway. In a few shots, you will see the old bridge that used to take people to the Yukon. In the other photos, you will see a path on a mountainside. That was the same path people would walk or take a horse to go mine for gold. At the point of the train ride was where the old footpath ended. The reason why the train route was built was to get gold prospectors deeper into the Yukon.