[pct-l] All time

[dude@fastmail.ca (dude)]

The Chilkoot Trail still exists today.  It has been called 
an "outdoor artifact display" because the first section of the trail 
goes up a grade that is so steep and long that most people just 
started tossing out their gear to save weight.  I have read that pack 
weights were much more than 65lbs due to all of the mining and 
prospecting  equiptment needed.  Here is a pic that illustrates how 
steep it is:
http://www.yukonweb.com/business/lost_moose/big_gifs/chilkoot/75_climb
ers.gif

here is a pic that illustrates how many people there were going for 
the gold:
http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/carcross/graphics%
20folder/chilkoot/gldnstrs2.jpg

There are all kinds of crazy stories about that trail:  supposedly a 
guy shot himself because the trail was so difficult.  also, there was 
a saying that went something like this: "there are two ways into the 
klondike...wichever one you take, you'd wish you had picked the other 
one."

I read about that trail several years ago and thought that I might 
try it some day.

peace,
dude




> The largest thru-hiker gathering in the world was held in Dawson
> in the late 1890's!! The 23,000 hardy souls who survived packing
> 65lbs. loads over the Chilkoot Pass Trail actually did 2,500 miles
> in 4 months to get their one year of supplies a mere 30 + miles in
> relays down to Lake Bennett. The Gathering was hampered by the
> death of 700 folks due to Typhoid caused by a " Backed up Sewer". 
> Food supplies were low. These folks would probably enjoy corn
> pasta. ( Nobody else does!)  All the Klondike and Bonanza creek
> Gold claims were taken by the time they arrived. Most slumped home
> with the tail between legs, while others did work the gold fields
> for others.  Saloons changed owners daily in some cases with the
> luck of cards. One guy made 50,000 only to lose it to " Dance Hall
> Gals" . How does this tie in with the PCT you say??? The
> excitement those folks had at just making it to Dawson formed a
> strong bond of those who survived to reach there goal. ( Much like
> hikers on the PCT reaching Manning)  I am reading a great book
> about 6 women from Texas who did the Yukon to the Bering Sea 2,000
> miles in 1982 caled " Wild Yukon" . Written by Beth Johnson. The
> World have never seen anything like the Alaska Gold Rush. (  In
> 1898, the average American made 23 cents an hour) If you came back
> with 10,000 , you were rich.
> 
> 
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