Back in 1939 this must have been the trip of a lifetime, especially for two young girls. They seem to handle it all with such grace and confidence.
Saturday, July 8th. Ten thirty and still in bed. Got up at 7, had breakfast and then stayed on deck until 12. After lunch we landed at Selkirk and saw a Mountie. Also saw some huskies. The Indian lady with her papouse and four children who got on at a little trapping station, got off here. Spent more time on deck and then after dinner had a dance. I danced with the purser, Mr. Gate and Mr. Shedd. One of the crew played and they put up a collection for him. This afternoon we came to a swift narrow part of the river and went up by cable.
Sunday, July 9th. They called us at 7. We were to be at Five Finger Rapids in an hour. M and I got dressed and had breakfast then took pictures of the rapids. We went through a narrow opening between rocks pulled by a cable. Stayed on deck then until 11 when the boat docked for a minute to let those who wished take a four mile hike through the woods to meet the boat farther on. Got on boat again at Carmack. Got off at Bute Zantlus (?). M and I went. The woods have been burned over by a forest fire and there were thousands of mosquitos and I fell trying to out run them and ruined a pair of silk stockings and lost my haze filter. But it was fun. We saw a lake and a truck with chains behind and skids in front. Waited for the boat which came along about one. Some deck hands went swimming in the lake. Had lunch then sat on deck for a while then played ping prong. Ate a midnight lunch and went to bed.
Monday July 10th. Slept late. Didn't get up til ten then watched them load wood and spill some of it in the river. Entered Thirty Mile River today. The water is a clear blue again. After lunch rested and after dinner played cards and ping pong. Had a midnight lunch. Passed one part of the Thirty Mile river, narrow and swift, for about ten minutes our boat just stood still then we pulled through. Passed another river boat, The Whitehorse. Tomorrow we get up early to start our trip from Whitehourse. Saw beautiful sunset over Lake Leberge, bright red.
Side note: The Yukon River is also called the Thirty Mile River. In fact, it is the 10th longest river in the world running for 3,200 miles through Alaska and Canada. The Five Finger Rapids consists of islands in the river with only one area passable by boat. Many of these places are mentioned in Jack London's "Call of the Wild".
Tuesday, July 11th. Got up about seven, had breakfast the checked our baggage. One bag through to Skagway, the other to the boat at Carcross. Then M and I walked to Whitehorse Rapids about a mile. Got a pictue of volcanic rock. On the way back I got another roll of film. The train left at 10 o'clock and we had a nice ride to Carcross. M and I had invest a dollar in a parlor car seat so had an excellent view. Got to Carcross just at 12 and went right on the boat. We left in about 20 minutes. Mr. Worthum, the scheduling conductor, surprised us by giving us the two extra table sitting tickets so had first seating for meals. Our cabin was still number 19, a very nice room just as on the Casba. This boat is the Tuskie. M and I stayed on deck all afternoon even though it was very windy. The scenery was beautiful, rugged high mountains, snow capped. The water was emerald color with white caps. Got to Bin My Circle (?) at seven. Walked along a lovely broad path to the house. Path followed the jagged cliffs that jutted out over the water. Mr. and Mrs. Swanson, host and hostess, greeted us a the house and we had rhubarb wine and cookies and coffee. We signed their guest book. She said every Christmas she reads the names aloud and Mr. Swanson says Merry Christmas. They have a most beautiful garden, lovely flowers growing at the foot of towering mountains. A Begonia flower as large as the span of M's hand and huge Poppies and Columbine. Lovely vegetable garden too. We took a short walk to see the source of the Talkie Glacier and a water fall. When we came back, the purser said he would take us to see some beaver dams. So Miss Yates, who wrote "The World is Your Oyster", another lady, a Mr. Roberts and Mr. Duvan, who owns Zuffy, and I went. The beaver had left that dam so we went on about a mile walk through the woods to another. It was fun and the purser climbed out in the dam and tried to scare out some beaver but they didn't scare. We made up story to tell on the boat that we had seen five beaver. We got back to the boat just at nine when we were supposed to leave and they were waiting for us. Sat on deck for a while then went on the lower deck to sing songs. One of the ship's boys played. At 10:30 an officer blew a whistle and we had to stop then. Some of the crew slept at that time. We came up and had midnight lunch and went to bed at 11:30.
Just Writin' on the River Road.
