The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1897-08-13
KLONDIKE POINTERS
How to Reach the Gold Fields Of
the Yukon.
ROUTES DESCRIBED IN DETAIL
What the Prospector Should Take With
Him When He Starts Into the Frozen
Wilderness at Juneau-Lots of
Pluck the Chief Requisite.

If you are thinking of seeking your
fortune in the frozen gold fields along
the Klondike, here are q few facts
which will be of interest to you:
In the first place don't start for Seat
tie tomorrow 1t is already too late to
go into the gold fields this season, and
the earliest practicable start you can
make from Juneau, which is over
1000 miles from Dawson City, will be
the middle of next March. If you
start then, you must take what is called
"the poor mans route which lies
overland across icy mountains. inland
waters and barren wastes to the head
waters Of the Yukon.
The other way is an all water route.
You take an ocean steamer to St. Mi
chael's island at the mouth of the Yu-
kon and go up the great stream on
pensive, and as navigation in the Yu-
kon does not open until we'll along in
the spring it will not be used by those
in hurry to get to the mines.
Those who penetrate into the ice and
snow must be rugged and hardy. They
must be able to endure the pains of
dangerous travel and the chances that
fortune brings. They must have money
and courage, and even then they will
take their lives in their hands as they
travel over mountains, into canyons,
across dreary wastes of snow and down
| treacherOus streams to the mines. AS
one travels his perilOus way he must
carry his own outfit and provisions.
| II fortune does not favor the prospec-
| tor, he will find himself in a desOlate
region, where those who have food to
sell will sell only at fabulous prices for
cash.
The route taken by 95 per cent Of the
prOspeCtOrs is by steamer to Juneau
and thence inland. When the miner
leaves Juneau. a town of 1000 inhabi-
tants, he leaves everything but his
own resources and self reliance behind
He may purchase his outfit where he
pleases, but if he buys it at Juneau it
] will cost him from $3.50 to $3.50. The
fare from Juneau to Dyea. a distance
of 100 miles, is from xG to $40. The
distance is made by steamer, the trav-
eler passing Haines Mission, or Chill
cat. on the way.
At Dyea. which is at the head of
Chilcat inlet, the prospector leaves the
last vestige of civilization behind He
shoulders his pack, hires his pack
train and starts for the snow covered
mountains. Experience has proved
that the best time to start is in the
middle of March. It is then easier
to move on sledges or to go with the
pack train of natives.
Those who know urge that prOspe ctors
go in parties OF four or five, for il
these numbers they may Tighten their
burdens and economize in materials
that all may use in common. This is
OF the greatest Importance, for it costs
IA cents a pound to hire natives to car
ry provisions from Dy9a to the head
of Lake Linderman. This short jour
ney is one OF the worst stages of the
route. The way is over de ISOLATE,
wild, m OuItainOus country to the sum
NIT of Chilcat pass. Part of the jour-
ney may be made by canoe, but most
of it is Oh foot or in sleighs. The dis
tance between the two points is only
23 miles, but three days must pass be-
| lore IL is traVerSeu.
At Lake Linderman the way be-
comes comparatively easier, although
at all stages the strength of the hardi
est is taxed to the greatest degree.
But first the journeying prospectors
must build boat. The craft must
be substantial, for the Ice is breaking
and death turks at every point in the
trip through the lake 1t is for this
reasoA that the miners are sure to re-
mind inquirers that at least one mem
Der of the prospecting party mnst know
! something about practical boat build
ing. Lake Linderman is four miles
long. When the end is reached, the
boat must be dragged on the resisting
ground for over mile to the next
waterway, Lake Bennett.
At this point the prospectors must
paddle their craft for many miles
When the foot of Lake Bennett has
been reached, the boat is dragged from
the water and lifted on a sleigh as the
Indian pack train starts off for the
Caribou crossing, three miles away.
After leaving Caribou crossing the
party travels an uneven, hard road to
the foot of Lake Tagish, II miles away
The waterway then becomes better,
although the party will meet with
a series of dangerous rapids before it
has progressed very far. The lakes,
however. afford an easy passage, as
the season will by this time have
been advanced and the ice have broken
up. Lake Marsh is traversed with
little difficulty. 1t ends only to pre-
sent to the travellers the dangers and
hidden terrors of deep canyon.
Beyond the canyon are the White
Horse rapids and the Tahkeena river,
which opens into Lake LIE Barge, 256
miles from Juneau. The Hoo.alinqua
river, Cassiar bar, Big Salmon river
and Little Salmon river, the Five Fin
ger rapids and the Rink rapids are
passed in slow procession. When the
Rink rapids have been reached. the
prospectors have travelled 45O miles
from Juneau.
The Rink rapids extend for over 53
miles. and it is impossible for boat