Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-10-16
rhe Famous Yukon RIVER.

In Outing for September Edward
Spur. Of the United States Geological
Survey. speaks as follows Of the great
Alaskan river:
Only two routes are available. One
must either go TO ST. Michael. in the
Behring sea, and thence up the River
Yukon. from its outlet to the begin
ming of its headwaters. some 1880
miles, or land at some point Of the
Pacific, cross the head Of land and tap
the headwaters Of the Yukon at their
source.
In either event the journey must be
completed before September. when the
Yukon freezes, and Alaska's arctic win
ter OF the utmost rigc- sets in and
grips It's wise.
At the little town Of Juneau We left
the steamer and made preparations 10
turn our backs for good upon ciyiiizs-
ton. Our proposed route lay across the
coast mountains 10 the head waters Of
the Yukon and thence down that river
as a highway. making such excursions
from it as became necessary.
Alaska is a most difficult country
for travelling. even in the only available
short season Of its arctic summer, there
being no roads; and even Indian trails,
on account OF the small number OF ma
tiVes. are very rare The surface Is
rough, being trayersed by many ranges
OF mountains. Even in the more level
portions travel is hindered in the sum
mer by the vet moss which grows
knee-deep, and b. the insect rests; in
the winter II IS made impossih by the
Intense cold In view Of all these DIM
! culties. the peculiar relation OF the Yu-
kon river to the coast Is guch that one
might fancy Nature had arranged It es-
pecially for highway. through this
Inaccessible interior, in partial compen-
sation to man for the obstacles she
has put In his way.
The headwaters Of the network Of
streams that ultimately drain into the
Yukon river fortunately lie within
about thirty miles Of the sea, just on
the northern or inland side Of a range
Of mountains which runs along the
southern coast Of Alaska. From this
point the river flows north, away from
the sea, far toward the Arctic Ocean:
then, suddenly changing its mind, turns
west; and finally, after traversing the
whole width Of Alaska, arrives at the
Behring Sea, its entire course being
considerably over two thousand miles.
For considerable distance Il is a
broad and deep stream. SO that one may
go quite through the center or Alaska.
from sea to sea, by crossing only thirty
miles or so Of land.
There are various routes across the
coast mountains 70 the various heads
OF this river. Of these We chose that
over the Chllkoot Pass. which Is the
shortest, although the mountains
which must be thereby crossed are
higher than any OF the other routes.
Hardships OF the Trip to the Kiondike.
We were huddled together 90 closely
that We perforee became speedily ac-
quainted. for although the space on
the floor was larr enough for ali OF us
to sit down, there was hardly room to
stretch out. When we grew weary of
chatting, hoy.sver, and Of listening ia
the sound Of the water as the boat
threshed its way onward, we were
forced by drowsiness to sleep where We
could, and soon sleepers were scattered
around in the most grotesque and IN
comfortable attitudes. / had coveted
a space On or under the little table used
for eating purposes, but found thai
choice position fully occupied before
made up my mind to retire; but I fin
ally wedged myself into narrow space
between the boiler and the pilot house
where, throughout the night, paggerg
continually stepped on my head. How
ever, slept several hours.
The system 81 eating Is worthy Of
note. The table accommodated about
six at time, whereas, as + have men
TONED, We were fifty or sixty in all
Az each meal one or two, or sometimes
three sets Of passengers would be fed
then the captain, the sailors. the Chi
nese cook, and the dish-washer. after
which the rest Of us got our rations.
In good time. As we grew very hum
CRY during this process, we would
stand around patiently waiting our
chance to slip in; but sometimes be-