Chilkoot Trail
The Chilkoot Trail is a 33 mile (3-5 day) hike following the path of the 1898 Gold Rush stampeders from Skagway or Dyea Alaska to Lake Bennett, Yukon. It is a hike that the Hajian family (as well as many folks from the Whitehorse Church) have enjoyed on many occasions. Click the links below for each section of the trail, then click on a photo for a closer view. Also check out the links on the right.
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Are there any bears?
CLICK HERE for a June 28, 2016 CBC Report on bears on the Chilkoot. In our 10 hikes over the Chilkoot Heather or I (Norman) have seen a bear 3 times. One was quick to run off as soon as it seen us. The second was happily eating some vegetation about 20 feet from the trail (we didn't even see it until we were near it). We all kept walking and the bear kept eating. The third was along the railroad tracks when there was a group of 11 of us. This was the most annoying bear because it just wouldn't go away. It meandered down the tracks in the same direction we were going - but at a slow pace. We kept our distance and it finally left the tracks and let us pass, only to return to the tracks after we had gone by. There have been a few times when we just missed seeing a bear; the most notable being on our last hike when we were approaching the summit. Two women were singing to a grizzly bear, hoping to get it to leave. Apparently the bear liked their singing because it just stayed where it was. After about 15 minutes our group of four reached the summit and that's when the bear decided to leave. We didn't see the bear ourselves, but it was there. Below is a drawing (by one of the two women) showing their encounter. One is holding a can of bear spray, the other her trekking pole (I know, it looks like a cross, which kind of is interesting in itself). 
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Wondering What to Eat?
Two hikers we met in 2012 had brought special hiking foods with them. They kept a log of what they brought and how good each item was. Take a look at their food list (click "Download File" below). 
You can also check out my Hiking Guide for "normal" food.
A group photo of six of us that went from the Summit to Bennett together (2012).
Corinne, Mandy, Kathy, Fred, Heather, Norman
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