Tuesday afternoon brought us to the Chilkoot’s base camp, Sheep Camp. From here, it can take ten to twelve hours to get to the next camp after climbing the pass, the most grueling day of the trek. It’s that long day which makes the Chilkoot trail such a challenge.

Sheep Camp is built on a hill with platforms for tents. The outhouses are quite a climb up a rocky path, the kind you don’t want to stumble around on in the middle of the night! Our guides were very attentive to the needs of their lady guests and quickly pointed out the path to the river so we could get cleaned up. 🙂 Dinner was chili and mashed potatoes, then a ranger came to brief us on the day ahead.

We had to cross this bridge after Pleasant Camp. Fun!

Until a few years ago, Sheep Camp was located about a half hour closer to Pleasant Camp. It was relocated after the site was flooded out several times. This is great because it shortens the hike over the pass.

Ranger station about ten minutes from Sheep Camp

Sheep Camp cabin. There are artifacts and reproductions of gold rush journals inside.

Tent platform (loved these!)

Amusing reading material found inside the cabin. Current magazines, too. Was someone trying to shed excess weight before going over the pass? 🙂