Here in Skagway, we have a local outdoor store called Duff’s. For many years now, the owners of the store have offered a challenge to the seasonal employees… hike 12 epic hikes around Skagway – all in the same summer – and win a t-shirt and bragging rights for years to come. A selfie at the end of the trail sufficed as our proof.

When I first arrived in Skagway, almost everyone I met asked me, “Are you going to do the Duff’s challenge?” My answer was very not committal. “Maybe”, I replied. But as May turned to June then July, and the snow cleared from the highlands, I seemed to use every day-off to check the list and head for the hills. Of course I can’t turn down a hiking challenge, even if at first I wouldn’t admit it to myself!

Some of the hikes were beautiful low-elevation strolls and minutes from town along the beaches and forests of the coast: Smuggler’s Cove and Lost Lake which also included Yakatania Point and the Flats of Taiya Inlet:

The next set of trails were higher elevation hikes climbing out of Skagway: Lower Dewey Lake, Icy Lake, Upper Reid Falls, Sturgill’s Landing, Upper Dewey Lake (still encased in ice by June!) and Devil’s Punchbowl.

The biggest challenge of all was AB Mountain, looming large over our little town, the port and Lynn Canal. From the top, I easily spotted 15 different glaciers and I made some new hiking friends along the trail, too!

To get to the Denver and Laughton Glaciers, I needed to take the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and be let off at a “flag stop”. The train dropped me off at the trailhead in the morning and picked me up on its way past in the afternoon. It’s a good thing I’m friends with all the conductors!

Walking on the glacial ice, and into the ice caverns was really a special experience. So much so in fact, I returned with a tent later in the summer to spend a magical evening with my new friends.

In July, I took a weekend to tackle the infamous Chilkoot Trail. Checkout my previous blog post about that adventure: Hiking the Chilkoot Trail, the Longest Museum in the World.

And after all that hiking…. all I got was my picture on the store wall and this Duff’s Trail Challenge T-shirt. Luckily, it’s a really cool t-shirt!

This hiking challenge was a great way to get to know and enjoy Skagway this summer; a place that grew very special in my heart. I loved my summer of working hard, playing hard and making friends with so many others living a life similar to mine. I found my place and my people here in Skagway, Alaska. I think it’s the community I’ve been looking for.

But all good things come to an end; the snow has arrived in Alaska, the cruise ships have departed and seasonal employees have scattered. This winter, I’m excited to head south for more travel and adventure. Expect future posts from Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru.

Then, next Spring, you’ll find me back in Skagway to do it all over again!