Skiing at White Pass and Skagway Alaska

This was an amazing full day of the trip. After overnighting in Whitehorse I drove South towards White Pass and visited Skagway Alaska after. Then back to Whitehorse in the evening. Wish my timing would have lined up for a ferry loop to Haines. More on that in Skagway post next...

I had always known there was a desert (though maybe less of an official one) this far north in Canada but had no idea it was close to Whitehorse. So passing it on the drive to White Pass was a cool surprise. It looked like some folks were ripping around the sand dunes on ATVs. 

The glacial lakes formed and deposited silt, then when they dried up it the dunes were left behind. 

Town of Carcross

Bove Island roadside stop

On the South Klondike Highway

Log Cabin Parking area was a wet mud pit 

A pretty straightforward summit view from the bottom

Parks Canada lot but no fee or pass required

My ski line back to the car

Uptracks

View of the road where I had driven down

I had met this party of 3 as the only other skiers and they were day tripping from Whitehorse. 1 of them had moved there 5 years ago and he says he usually stops skiing in mid May

This was the only map I could find of the area 

There was a beacon or radio repeater at the top of this next mountain over as you ascended to a bench just below 1600m. 

Lindeman and Bennett Lakes in the distance with an important train station at Bennett. It opens in the summer season which would be a scenic ride but you also can see lots when driving too. 

Scouting the railway tracks which is the landmark I will be aiming for on the downhill

I took only photos and left only ski tracks 

Great turns for mid April 

The terrain downslope was pretty low angle but got dense at valley bottom. I had gotten beta from the other group that it is possible ski this aspect. 

Following the tracks back to the lot

Fraser station

The Yukon and Alaska border. Open during daylight hours only 

Local Whitehorse goods. And a new map plus guidebook combo. Wahoo

The port where the ferries continue to Haines which would be a great loop to drive with the skis since you pass right through Haines Pass and White Pass with no extra driving. 

Also a key stopover for the cruise ships. 

This photo was from upon exiting the Yukon but before entering the US side of the border. I saw ski tracks at this rest area which would be strange since I'm not sure which country that would count as. 

Local windsurfer near Yakutania Point

The airstrip

Viewpoint over the city

The road through the mountains before descending into Skagway is a pretty epic road 

Entering back into Canada

High up the pass near Captain William Moore Creek

Train station route was not open yet for the season

The downtown was a ghost town without any of the cruise ships arriving yet for the season and the train not running. Just a few people on the trails. The only thing I could find open was the gas station.