The record-union., 1897-07-30
Graphic Description Of the
Trip From Dyea.
Ne1s Sorensen's Experience Gives an Idea of
What the Journey Is.

tSdn FRANCISCO C0FOnlcle, July I5lu-t
Nothing of more vivid interest, moth
ing more graphic in its simplicity, has
come out Of the Clondyke than the
diary of Nels Sorensen. here repro
duced, who began on March 31st and
ended on June 18th the slow, painful
journey from Dyea to Dawson City.
1t is the plain narrative of a careful
man, penned day by day in the midst
OF the scenes and events which he
truthfuny describes, and is just such
a summing up Of the drawbacks of the
trip, and just such a setting forth of
its perils and its tasks. as will be Of
the deepest interest to those who are
TO journey to the gold fields by way
of the dreaded Chilcoot Pass, and to
those whose friends and relatives have
chosen the long and toilsome land
route
Nels Sorensen quit his place as mo-
torman on the Mission street line on
March 10th last, and. with Jacob Kali,
a motorman on the Sutro line, went to
join his brother, Henry Sorensen, at
Portland. On March 25th they sailed
on the steamer Mexico for Dyea. The
last mail from the Yukon brought down
Nels Sorensen's diary to his brother
Andrew, who is still in the city.
March 31st.-Anchored off Dyea at 2
p. m. two miles from the place, it be-
ing low tide. Small boats We're lowered
and unloading commenced. We had to
carry our freight-3,200 pounds-any-
where from quarter to one and half
miles. Work? Don't mention it.
April 1st.-Pitched our first camp.
Came very near being flooded out by
melting snow.
April 2d.-Steamer Mexico in a hurry
to get away. Commence piling stuff
on rocks anywhere opposite steamer.
We were lucky to get all our packages
out of the confusion on the second day,
but our two packages of sleighs filled
with tinware and all our tools were on
the rocks. We hired Indians and ca
noes to get them. Cost 81. However,
two other men came in the same boat
with US and they paid half.
April 3d.-Commence sleighing to our
next camp three miles away. Weather
very soft and mild for Alaska. Snow
very slushy in places, and shallow
creeks have to be forded by dragging
sled across on rocks.
April 4th.-We finished moving this
canyon. Trail soft and slushy, other
wise easy grades
April 5th.-Moved camp to mouth Of
canyon. A great camp assembled there
which is the beginning of terribly
hard pull through the canyon to
Pleasant Camp, two and a half miles.
April 6th.-Took first load through to-
night Trail is bad and soft, and very
heavy grade.
April 7th.-Took two loads through
to-day; hard work.
April Sth.-Took each one load
through. In the afternoon we hired two
Indians Uhey use dogs). They took
two loads, $50 pounds. to Sheep Camp,
one and one-half miles past Pleasant
Camp. We followed the camp outfit
and baggage, and pitched camp in
Sheep Camp. Here is a city of tents,
as this is the last camping place this
side OF the summit. We stay here un-
til everything is over.
April 9th.-Pulled rest of outfit from
Pleasant Camp to this place.
April 10th.-Took each two loads of
100 pounds up to the foot of summit.
This is far worse than canyon, almost
one continual steep grade for four
miles. If there are any people back
home who think it viii be a fine pleas
ure trip to go through Alaska canyons
and mountains and depend upon them
selves for subsistence-well, / say, let
them try it,
April 11th--This we figure out TO be
Sunday, though it is hard TO keep track
of either dates or days. I am not writ
ing these notes daily. 1t has been
mostly work since we started, but to-
day we are resting and keeping the fire
going. Henry and 1 are talking of hav-
ing some of our stuff packed for us to
the top of the summit. 1t Will come
high. Kali thinks that by slow work,
we viii be able to get it up ourselves.
We will see tomorrow. l am doing
most of the cooking so far. I can make
pretty good biscuit and pork and mush
and rice go all right. Beans we have
scarcely had time to wait for as yet,
though we have tried them.
April 25th.-Started at IL a. m from
Stone House with camp outfit for sum-
NIT. Packed up two trips, hired an
Indian for two trips. When up we
loaded sleighs so that each of us had
about $50 pounds, and started for Lake
Iindermann. Left summit at + D. m.
with good down grade. A little further