THE CONCLUSION – DAY 5 ON THE CHILKOOT TRAIL
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I plopped down on the bench outside the church, taking it all in. The air was fresh and cool, yet comfortable. Only the lightest breeze was blowing in off Bennett Lake. I knocked the sand off my boots. As a final, cruel joke Mother Nature decided to put a desert in the last stretches of the Chilkoot Trail, forcing hikers to slog through the loose terrain at a painfully slow pace.
In all my planning, I had seen plenty of photos of St. Andrew’s Church. As the only remaining structure in Bennett from the Gold Rush days, it holds a special historical significance and I was looking forward to seeing it long before we even started out on the trail. But I had no idea just how meaningful the sight of that church would be.
It was so much more than an interesting historical artifact. It was visual confirmation that it was over, that we had done it!
I felt content and relaxed when seemingly out of nowhere I felt a lump rising in my throat.
Oh for the love of god, Laura, enough with the crying already!
I guess it was fitting. With all the emotional ups and downs of the past 5 days it just seemed inevitable that I would end the hike with at least a few more tears. But this time it wasn’t fear or self-doubt causing me to choke up. It was pride and relief. It was realising that I had done something that, only 5 days ago, I didn’t know if I could do.
That last day on the trail felt so good, and part of me wasn’t ready for it to be over.
You’d think, with how challenging it had been for me, that I’d be so ready to get the hell out of there. But I wasn’t. It was like things were going in reverse. Instead of getting increasingly sore and tired, I was feeling stronger than I had on day one. I was getting my trail legs and I wanted to keep going.
I also really wanted a hot shower.
So I can’t say there wasn’t at least a small part of me that was ready to get back to civilization.
When the train arrived, we climbed on board one of the designated “hiker cars,” where they sequester the dirty, smelly hikers – keeping us from offending the senses of the freshly-bathed tourists in the other cars. After five minutes, it was obvious that this was a complete necessity. I could hardly stand the stench, and I was one of the dirty, smelly hikers!
That shower was looking better by the minute.
Arriving in Skagway, 2.5 hours after leaving Bennett, we made our way back to the cabin we had rented. I peeled off the layers of 5-day-old clothes I was wearing and had the most amazing, wonderful, refreshing shower that I have ever had in my life.
As the water rolled down my body and washed the salty, sweaty dirt from my skin, I had that moment of reflection that comes with any worthwhile adventure – that moment where you consider the gap between what you had expected to find on the trail and what was given to you instead.
With all the research I had done prior to the trip I thought I had a pretty good idea of what we were in for.
But I was so wrong.
If I had known what it would really be like for me, especially the part where I was hanging off the side of the mountain having a panic attack, I would have talked myself out of it. I would have told myself that I wasn’t capable, that I didn’t have the physical or emotional strength to get through it. I would have planned a different trip or found something else to do in Alaska.
But I’m so glad it didn’t turn out that way.
The Chilkoot Trail challenged me physically, mentally, and emotionally every single day. It forced me to redefine my perceived limits. And what a shame it would have been, if I had robbed myself of that opportunity.
Day 5 Trail Stats:
Date: August 13, 2016
Trail Section: Bare Loon Lake to Bennett
Total Distance: 6.4 km/4 miles
Total Time: 2 hrs; 8:25 am to 10:35 am
Missed my previous posts? Read about the rest of our Chilkoot Trail hike here:
Beauty and Bear Scat – Day 1 on the Chilkoot Trail
Is Crying Allowed? – Day 2 on the Chilkoot Trail
Thinking of hiking the Chilkoot yourself? Check out my Hiking the Chilkoot Trail and Hiking the Chilkoot Trail – Resources pages for more info.
We were on the trail the same days as you. Did a family hike with ages 5-70! Loved your blog!! I had many of the same feelings–especially on day 3!! Can’t wait til your ebook comes out!!
Thanks so much Helyn! I think I remember your group, I was always so impressed with how well the kids did. They were troopers!
Can’t tell you how much I enjoyed your blog!! It brought back so many memories, good and bad… you really nailed it. I am the proud grandmother of the large ages 5-70 family. It’s a memory we will never forget. Also looking forward to your ebook…thank you!!!
Thank you so much for your kind words! And what a great memory your family has now, I would be proud too!
Thank You So Much for writing your experience!!! My husband and I are making this journey in August 2017 (a short 7 mo away!). We sound like clones of you and your husband, although we probably have a few years on you. We’re 66 and 67, he’s the forever athlete and I’m the adventurer and dreamer, but not athletic. Just Very Determined!! I will be reading and re-reading your memories and reminding myself that Yes I Can Do It!! Have been looking for an honest description of what we’ll be doing and you have provided it for me. Thank You. Now I know what to get prepared for!!!
Thanks for reading Sharon! I’m so glad you found it useful. I hope you and your husband have a great hike in August, it’s an incredible adventure! If you need info on the practical side of planning and preparing, you can check out my resources page. I tried to compile the most useful links. Good luck!
Oh my goodness. I am in awe and feel so many emotions while reading you reading you blog. I will be going in a group of five in early July. Yikes like you have done research and think I am in shape but after reading your blog yikes what am I getting myself very into! But money and reservations have been made this is just gonna be one of those moments of a lifetime that I hope to be able to talk about to my end of life!! You are inspiring and I can’t wait to get your eBook! I am gonna cry too cuz that is just what I do so glad you talked about that looking forward to that burger at the end and I don’t even eat meat ha! Thank you for this.
Hi Ginny, I hope I didn’t scare you too much! 🙂 It’s an amazing experience and despite all the challenges I faced, I’m so glad I did it. Best of luck to you and your group, it is definitely something you will remember forever!
I loved reading your experience on the trail, thanks Laura. I’m a 50 year old Aussie mam and I haven’t hiked a day in my life but I have a burning passion to hike this trail. I’ve been planing it for the last 18 months but this year I’ll travel from Western Australia to Skagway and hit the trail on the 3rd of July. Wish me luck and again thanks so much for the honesty in your story.
Thanks for reading Anthony! Best of luck to you – it’s a wonderful adventure that I’m sure you won’t ever forget!
Just read your story. Doing trail this Sept 2020…first week. Thank you for sharing your story…you were honest and real about the experience. I have just started to read up on the hike so I feel like I got a good idea of what to expect.HOLY CRAP!!! You remind me of me…I know there will be tears for me as well. Hoping we get better weather…think it would make a big difference.
Thanks
Karen
Best of luck on your hike Karen! It’s a fantastic experience, even with the tears! 🙂