The Chilkoot Trail

The Chilkoot Trail was the route used by the gold seeking 'Stampeders' during the 1897/8 Klondike gold rush, taking them from the port town of Dyea (near Skagway, where they arrived by ship), up and over the Chilkoot Pass, and down the other side to Lake Bennett. There, they would continue on via boats down the lakes and river systems to Dawson City and the gold fields.

One of the most iconic photographs of the 1898 trail was the human chain of Stampeders slowly making their way up the 'Golden Staircase', a steep 45 degree slope which would take them over the Chilkoot Pass. The photo seems to exemplify both the hardships and mania of the endeavour.

Having just completed the route, that photo only gives a glimpse of the undertaking. We did the 53 km trail in 5 days in summer conditions and with modern gear. It would take them about three months to complete the route in the dead of winter, because they had to do the trip not once, not five times, but 30 to 40 times on average. The Canadian Mounties, sensing a potential famine in the making, required all Stampeders to bring a 'ton of goods' with them when entering Canada, construing a year's worth of supplies.


One of the most striking aspect of the trail for us was the diversity of ecosystems; the first two days we spent hiking through Coastal rainforest, then made our way into the alpine as we went over the pass, and descended into Boreal forest. There was packed snow on the Golden Staircase, giving any mis-step serious consequences, as you would slide down accelerating into the rocks below, as some unfortunate hiker had done two weeks prior.

Once over the pass, the views descending towards the pristine landscape of Crater Lake were spectacular, and it was easy to imagine this was what the world looked like a billion years ago. Arriving at Lake Bennett on the final day, we then boarded a train which would take us back to Skagway, where pizza and cold beer awaited us.