Chilkoot summary

I've done a lengthy write up of this journey HERE, but below is the quick version

Not knowing exactly what to expect when I set out from camp, I was excited. Although I had seen the first five miles of trail already, from the previous day's paddling trip, those weren't the exciting miles anyway. The whole trail was interesting in it's own right, passing from coastal forest to high alpine to boreal forest over its length, but it was the pass that held the most excitement. That and the seemingly ever present threat of bears, both grizzly and black.

Day one, the terrain was kind, but the weather less so. Wheeling into my first camp, the initial reception was similar. The somewhat crowded cooking shelter seemed unconcerned with the new arrival, outside of incredulity that I had just started today as it was everyone else's second night on trail. Moving along to the warming hut I finally found "my people". Warm and welcoming, like the hut itself, we laughed and traded stories as we dried out. I immediately thought it would be nice to keep with them, but our schedules and hiking paces didn't really line up, so I did my best not to get attached.

Day two, the weather eased up a bit but the terrain naturally became more steep. Approaching the real climb, I was in the cold clouds, sweating among the mist. While challenging, the pass was not too much more than a tough day on the long trails I've done in the past. I bought into the ranger's talk the night before at camp, insisting all leave by 5 am if they want to be over the pass before the avalanche danger becomes its worst in the afternoon. I crested the pass at 7.

It was a breathtaking reveal as I crossed into the Canada side of the pass and the clouds parted, and the terrain changed. I don't often get such an immediate payoff for hard work. Coming down from the pass I hit the next camp, where my permit had me camping just before 10 am. Can I really stop this eary? A few Canadian rangers came by and informed me of a vacant cabin with a stove a few more hours down trial. Soaked and cold, with some gear needing drying, this was very tempting. I debated the social vs the practical and eventually the practical won out. I headed on to the cabin and had a warm night alone... after chopping wood.

The next portion of the trip would all be downhill to a train station, and I took a very short day so as to meet back up with my new friends from day one. There was little hiking from this point on, but much needed quality time spent with quality people. Our little gang had quickly become a little family unit, and we spend much of time from that evening on, through the night and the whole next day on the train return trip just enjoying each other's company.