White Pass, Klondike Gold Rush Route by junge1
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Description
Gold was discovered in Rabbit Creek, later named Bonanza Creek, near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada in August 1896.
News of this discovery reached the United States in July 1897, setting off the Klondike stampede. Men from all walks of life headed for the Yukon. They came from as far away as New York, United Kingdom, and Australia. Most prospectors landed at the Alaska town of Skagway, or the nearby tent city of Dyea, both located at the head of the Lynn Canal. The combined population of these two towns swelled to over 20,000 inhabitants. Today, Skagway has less than 1,000 residents.
From these towns they traveled the Chilkoot Trail and crossed the Chilkoot Pass, or they hiked up to the White Pass and proceeded to Lake Lindeman or Bennett Lake, the headwaters of the Yukon River. Here, some 25 to 35 grueling miles from where they had landed, prospectors built rafts and boats that would take them the final 500-plus miles down the Yukon to Dawson City, near the Gold Fields.
Stampeders had to carry a year's supply of goods - about a ton, more than half of it food - over the passes to be allowed to enter Canada. At the top of the passes the stampeders encountered Canada's North West Mounted Police (NWMP and now the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) posts that enforced that regulation, as well as customs and duties.
It was put in place to avert shortages like those that had occurred in the previous two winters in Dawson City, and also to restrict the entry of guns, particularly handguns, into British territory. Another reason was to keep out of Canadian territory the criminal element which had established itself in Skagway and the other Yukon Ports, as well as the fears by British and Canadian authorities about a possible armed takeover of the goldfields as an American territory.
In total, about 12.5 million ounces of gold have been taken from the Klondike area in the century since its discovery.
One of the people that participated in the gold rush was author Jack London whose books 'White Fang', 'The Call of the Wild', and 'To Build a Fire' had me fascinated as a boy.
And now I traveled along this historic route, in the comfort of a bus on a paved highway 2. This was the highlight of my Alaska cruise.
This picture was taken on 28 May 2009.
Thank you for viewing, commenting, and favs,
Sig...
Comments (36)
Fidelity2
Super nice. 5+!
tennesseecowgirl
Beautiful photo Sig, and I was also a big fan of Jack London's books, I loved his tales about the region and same as you they captivated me and made me want to visit the places in his books, much the same way Steinbeck's series of California novels I am sure inspired many people want to visit the west. I haven't made my way to Alaska yet but someday..
carlx
Fantastic cold scape and mood!!!
flora-crassella
brrrr! Das sieht sehr kalt aus! Wunderbares Foto!
farmerC
This is Fantastic work.
flavia49
Fantastic place and picture!!! I too was (and I still am) a fan of Jack London's books. Sandra and I decided to visit North East Alaska in 1999 (we visited Anchorage and Denali Park in 1986, when the Tourist Office in Anchorage Airport was still handled by the USAAF). We started our trip from Seattle and we took the so called "infamous" HW 37, that the Canadians had just open to tourists. It was a rough, unpaved, "blue" road and they suggested that we had to bring fuel and supplies with us! We had a blue Mustang, not the right car for this kind of trip, but we arrived at Skagway happy and a very "London-like" mood! Thanks for sharing!
MagikUnicorn
Wonderful words ans Stunning capture....Yes 1900 was the Gold Rush...and 2000 will be the Blue Gold Rush (water)
flaviok
Fantásica, paisagem magnifica, excelente meu amigo, aplausos (5)
Dreamingbee
wow - snow - and here it is hot ;) .. great shot !
renecyberdoc
fascinating story gives me maybe an inspiration.wonderful the region,i can hear the diggers shouting in their claims.
MrsLubner
Often when I travel historic routes, I try to see it and feel it as it was when it was so well traveled while history was being made. This is a harsh place and it must have taken a very special man to hold up to it and come out alive. Fascinating shot.
orig_buggy
This is such a beautiful shot ....I love the cool feel of it!!
timtripp
great shot!
emmecielle
Fantastic photo! :)
sandra46
superb shot, i can see the miners climbing if i look at it! ;D)
Faemike55
Fantasstic shot and wonderful history! Thank you for sharing them with us
duncanoooo
Incredible!! Great capture.
jocko500
you went and looked for gold. hope you find a ton of it
danapommet
Very cold looking for May 28th. Wonderful narrative Sig. Great capture. Dana
auntietk
How wonderful, to be able to see the landscape you dreamed about as a boy. That must have really been something! Excellent capture of a beautiful land.
Minda
beautiful shot and great history sig!!
lucindawind
amazing landscape ! excellent photo
Buffalo1
Great shot that brings some of the old photos to life of the stampeders struggling up the pass. Thanks for the fine write up as well, Sig.
artistheat
Lovely Scene and Shot
debbielove
Tremendous view that a really cold look to it! Really cold!!! Great stuff.. The tour continues! Rob.
anitalee
Great shot
Richardphotos
I was hoping you would show some shots of the whole mountains.maybe someday I can see this
gibby.g
Great capture and fascinating history lesson!
bebert
great mood
tpx1
awesome landscape