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Lake Bennett Adventure

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	The Lake Bennett Adventure, whether by steam or diesel, is the favorite WP&YR excursion of many June through August visitors who have the time to ride this trip. When done by steam on Saturdays as shown here, photo runby stops are made. Here is the train-view of the passengers at Glacier Station bride, the first scheduled runby. This and all the photos on this page are from Lake Bennett excursions done in 2000.
	In the absence of a functioning kitchen at Bennett, the round-trip passengers will receive a Skagway-prepared box lunch. Wouldn't it be wonderful to find future Lake Bennett Adventures arriving at Bennett to find a hot lunch of stew with pie for dessert prepared and waiting for them at the Bennett Eatin' Room as was done prior to the closure of the line in October of 1982?
	At times during the Lake Bennett Steam Adventures when backing up for the Glacier photo runby, another passenger train behind the steam train is allowed to pass on ahead, giving the steam passengers the double opportunity to photograph both a diesel-electric as well as a steam train. This requires the steam train to back onto the Glacier Station siding after dropping off its passengers so that the other train can hold the main line and pass by.
	Wildlife is often seen on any of the excursions offered by the WP&YR. The most likely big game seen are black bear and mountain goat, although moose, woodland caribou and fox can also be seen on occasion. Here are some Lake Bennett passengers watching a black bear 10-20 yards from the train.
	Hikers and Parks Canada staff wait for the round-trip passengers to finish lunch so the guided tour can begin.
	Here one of the Lake Bennett Adventure trains has turned around on the wye as is ready for the return run to Skagway. Note that to the left of the train we have a latter-day Klondike "stampeder", who in 1999 and 2000, is attempting to recreate a gold rush boat by hand based on historic photos from 1898.
	Another view of Lake Bennett Adventure train awaiting the return of the passengers from their lunch and guided hike. In addition to the round trip passengers, these train oftentimes carry about fifty Chilkoot Trail hikers back to town after they have backpacked the thirty-three mile trail from Dyea to Lake Bennett in the footsteps of history. The boxcar is used for the hiker's packs.
	Round trip Lake Bennett Adventure passengers enjoy their sack lunches in the Bennett Station. On some of the colder days, lunch is even more enjoyable around a hot oil stove.
	The "Bennett Eating Room" at the north end of the station is one of the several locations where passengers on the 8 to 9-hour excursion can enjoy their sack lunch. Up until 1982, however, a hot lunch of stew, beans, and pie was prepared at Bennett's kitchen for passengers. This little card shows how busy the station could be—it shows how many pots of coffee to make based on the expected number of passengers served!
	Another enjoyable part of being at Lake Bennett, whether as a round-trip rail passenger or as a Chilkoot Trail hiker, is the guided historic hike offered by Parks Canada interpreters. These hikes start after lunch and begin in the heated Interpretive Room at Bennett station, complete with historic photos from one hundred years ago when Bennett was a very busy town. Visit Parks Canada Chilkoot Trail web site
	In 1999 and 2000, an added feature of the guided hikes was the ability to see a typical 1898 campsite and boat-building operation. Of course, in 1898, there would have been about 20,000 to 30,000 people crammed in every available spot, the boat building would have taken place in the coldest six months of the year and the surrounding forest would not be there as the trees were cut down for lumber and firewood.
	David's recreation of a stampeder's camp and boat building site.
	In 1898, most stampeders had to create their own lumber from logs as well as to build their boat from the lumber. Lumber was created from logs in sawpits as recreated here by David.
	Like the smarter of the 1898 stampeders arriving at lake Bennett, David has brought oakum and pitch to caulk the seams of his boat. Here we see him pouring the molten pitch into the already caulked seams.
	By late August of 2000, David's boat is complete, both with mast and sail for windy days with the wind in the proper direction as well as with oars for other days. His stated goal is to take his "ton of good" by boat to Dawson Yukon. With the exception of a required portage around the Whitehorse Rapids power dam, it is possible to travel by boat just as was done by the Klondike stampeders.
	We know from the Northwest Mounted Police records of the Klondike Gold Rush that the stampeders built and sailed in 7124 boats of all descriptions, carrying nearly 30,000 people and nearly as many tons of provisions. Although a century late, David continues the tradition and numbers his boat #7125, although I'm not sure if he gave the RCMP the number or his passenger list as would have been done a century earlier.
	After visiting the boat building camp, the guided tour continues into the old town site of Bennett City.
	There's not much that remains today, but that which does is skillfully shown to the visitors. That which is no longer there is shared with copies of historic photos from the gold rush.
	St. Andrews Church is the only remaining Klondike gold rush building at Lake Bennett.
	Siding for St. Andrews came from waste created in the sawpits as the stampeders built their boats in late 1897-early 1898.
	The train crew also finds things to see in Bennett on the approximately two-hour layover. Here we see an engineer and brakeman visiting the Bennett cemetery.
	Much of the Bennett Station is closed and dark. One day I found time to visit back in the very dark kitchen area. I didn't realize what the kitchen looked like until after my flash photographs were returned to me. Much of the back rooms of Bennett's station look as they did when the railroad closed down operations in 1982.
	On another expedition into the dark recesses of Bennett Station, a brakeman checks out an old oil stove.
	On the last Lake Bennett Adventure of the year, the combined first and second grade students from the Skagway Public School with chaperones joined the regular LBA passengers.
	To help the students understand the work required by the stampeders, teams "fought" to win the contest in moving their group's "ton of goods".
	The trainmen eat their lunches while watching the above competition on the final Lake Bennett Adventure of the 2000 season.
	When possible, a boxcar was brought on Lake Bennett Adventures for the Chilkoot Trail hiker's packs. The hikers were always relieved when they found that the boxcar was just for the packs, not for them, too.
	Chilkoot Trail hikers after their typically three to five-day trip, especially when done in cold,wet weather, are happy to sit in a heated, dry coach for their return to Skagway. They're even happier when they discover the complementary pop/juice and hot tea/coffee! Interestingly, hikers are quick to comprehend why they get their own coach separate from the Lake Bennett Adventure round trip rail passengers! On rare days when no boxcar is available, hikers share their coach with their packs...
	...while back in the round trip rail passenger's coaches, our guide and passengers prepare for the return to Skagway.

In 2000, Parks Canada was experimenting with new uniforms. Here we have a Parks Canada interpreter showing off a proposed neck tie. Vote here to share your impressions of the tie.