Category Archives: Skagway

It’s not “just the coffee”! It’s about the love we get here too!

The coffee at Caribou Coffee is great, but so is the LOVE we get when we walk thru the door! Thank you, Heike, for your smiles everyday!

Tis Cruise Ship season! Today is Day 2 of our season, and town is a hoppin! Beyond Skagway has had our first tours of the season, as well. While there is still snow in the pass area, the roads are clear and we are rollin!  We are looking forward to meeting you, when you arrive in Skagway!

Taken by Chugach Peaks Wedding Photographer

We are excited to be in the wedding planning business. Our backyards contain some of the most scenic vistas that the world has to offer.

This wedding took place on the way out to Dyea, only three miles “Beyond Skagway”.

Read our Beyond Skagway Wedding Menu, then call or email us to find out more info.

It’s still frosty cold up over the pass here as we count down, three days until the first cruise ships of the summer!!  Tagish Lake is still under the cover of ice, and as beautiful as ever!

Yes, it is! And, it’s parked at the end of Broadway Ave. in Skagway, Alaska. But, don’t let it fool you… this is last year’s photo. Our first cruise ship doesn’t arrive until May 3rd. But, here, in mid April, the sleepy little town of Skagway, is waking from her long winter’s nap. There’s a stirring on Broadway, as folks get their shops ready for business. Me? I’m getting my vehicles ready too! We are all excited for you to get here!

45 years ago this month, our family journeyed to Alaska! Time does have a way of flying, doesn’t it? 12 year old me, is in the middle in the off white coat… surrounded by my family and the Mitchell family, who journeyed north with us. It was an epic adventure for all of us. Changed the way we looked at life. We bought nine acres on Chena Ridge, near Fairbanks, back when there were only a few cabins within a five mile radius of ours. No running water, but we did have electricity! It taught us much about life and it taught me a love for the wilderness, state of Alaska and the people who live here!

This black bear, just out of hibernation, grabbed this young evergreen, and began to scratch his back against it! I’ve only seen this happen, just after waking from their long winter’s nap! It must feel so good… This bear went from scratching against a guard railing, to a sign, then to this tree, looking for the best relief.

We are excited to see the snow melt begin in the mountains surrounding Skagway! It won’t be long now! By the time you come on your tour, going “Beyond Skagway”, you’ll see signs of spring thaw in the White’s Pass area, such as in the photo here.  I promise, I won’t make you jump in the water tho!

Carcross, a small town that we will see while on your 5-8- hour custom tour “Beyond Skagway”, was named after these beautiful animals, the caribou!

You see, long before man arrived in such large numbers, during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush, caribou used Nares River that flows next to Carcross, for their crossing point to get to their summer alpine feeding and birthing grounds.

Back then, Carcross was called Caribou Crossing.  It was shortened to Carcross when mail became confused with mail from another town of the same name.  Caribou are still crossing to get to their summer grounds, just in smaller numbers and away from the town… You can see them along the Klondike Hwy this time of year, and again in the Fall.

Nope, they have not arrived in Skagway yet! But, in only one month from now, the cruise ships will be departing from their docks, full of people, set on enjoying their vacation by seeing some of the most spectacular scenery in the world!

I am excited that you are considering a tour with us, “Beyond Skagway”! There are some beautiful places, as we drive further inland, along the Klondike Hwy! I hope for good weather and lots of wildlife sightings, but even if neither of those pan out, there are so many other positive things about your day, you’ll hardly notice that the two big ones didn’t happen for you!

This is one of my favorite photo opportunities, taken next to the Klondike Hwy, on our way to Emerald Lake.   “My moma said there’d be days like this,” and I’m most certainly glad there are!!!  We look forward to sharing many days like this with you, while on your tour with Beyond Skagway Tours!!!

Heike, a German girl, who came to the Yukon for the wide open spaces, and also found the love of her life, opened a wonderful coffee shop in Carcross last summer. Yes, her love turns out to be a German canoe and fishing guide, who also came to the Yukon for the wide open spaces AND, he found his German bride. They share a log cabin on ten acres, just a few miles from Carcross.

I love these kinds of stories. They are stories of people who have broke the mold and changed the routine of their lives, to look for that new frontier. Heike found her new frontier, and we benefit!  She also offers us panini sandwiches and the best coffee for miles around.  This is our favorite place for lunch. Can’t beat her friendliness and beautiful smile, either!

This summer, we have several weddings and vow renewals to plan and that makes us very excited! This is the interior of the little historic church in Carcross, Yukon, that we can use for wedding vow renewals! The stained glass window and organ on the right, came over the Chilkoot Trail, on the back of the men who were heading to strike it rich in Dawson, Yukon. Some didn’t make it all the way, but instead, stopped and created communities on the path that led to the gold. This 115 yr old church tells us the story of such a happening.  Consider joining us for a wedding vow renewal in this church, or somewhere outdoors, along our journey.  Weddings are a legal affair, and must be performed in Alaska, but we have some very beautiful places we’ve chosen for outdoor weddings too! I will post them soon!