A Guest Post by Caroline Starr Rose, Author of Jasper and the Riddle of Riley’s Mine
Writing Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Jasper was my crash course in the
Klondike Gold Rush. Somehow, apart from reading a little Jack London, I hardly
knew anything about this turn-of-the-nineteenth-century event that for a few
years fascinated the entire world. Now, after my own years of research (and
obsession!), it’s hard for me to imagine how I could have ever missed the
excitement that gripped so many and changed countless lives. I want everyone to
know about — and marvel over — this tidbit of history!
In
order to make the 2,000-mile journey from Seattle to the Yukon Territory, a
“Klondike outfit” was essential. An outfit was a ton of food and supplies meant
to get a hopeful prospector through the lengthy journey with enough to set him*
up for the mining ahead. But just as important as the required supplies, every
would-be miner needed two more things: grit and the willingness to gamble.
Another way to put it might be determination with a touch of foolishness. Or
optimism tangled up with risk. Whatever you call these character traits, it was
almost impossible to find success in the Klondike if you didn’t hold to both.
100,000
“Stampeders” who knew nothing about the hard road ahead of them dropped
everything to journey to the Yukon. They left families and jobs, cashing in
life savings to pay for passage on steam ships to reach overland trailheads.
The hope of a better life was worth it.
The
gamble to go to the Klondike was one of many risky choices a Stampeder would
have to make. If he took the most well-traveled route north, he’d have to first
take a steamer to southern Alaska and choose from one of two overland trails.
The Chilkoot was shorter, but steeper. It stayed open year round. White Pass
had a more gradual climb, but was longer and sometimes closed if the rain got
bad. No one could carry their 2,000 pounds of supplies all at once. Unless a
Stampeder had the money to pay for help, he was responsible for carrying it all
alone, covering the distance of his chosen trail up to 40 times.
The
goal of every Stampeder was to move as fast as possible, because winter could
push into the Alaskan-Canadian border area as early as mid-September. Choose
the slower trail, and a Stampeder might have to spend the winter waiting for
spring “break up,” when the Yukon River — the main travel route at the end of both
trails — thawed the following May.
If
the Stampeder had the grit to tough it out all the way to Dawson City (the
mining town at the confluence of the Yukon and Klondike rivers, which had
sprung up the year before the rush began), he’d learn almost every choice piece
of land had already been taken. In other words, his dream of finding gold was
probably over. About half who traveled the 2,000 miles to Dawson, turned around
and headed home. But some stayed on, hiring themselves out to work established
mines, finding jobs in Dawson City, or mining on less desirable land. Even if a
prospector got a choice spot along a gold-producing river, there was no
guarantee his stake would yield the same.
Of
the 100,000 Stampeders who set out for the Klondike, 30 - 40,000 reached
Dawson. About 20,000 of those who made it to Dawson tried looking for gold.
4,000 found it. A few hundred amassed enough to be considered rich. But only a
handful were able to hold onto their wealth.
All
that hardship with so little return.
The
the draw and the danger — which required grit and gamble — kept countless
Stampeders moving on their quest for gold. I can’t help admiring these souls
who lived all-in, who risked everything for a wild dream. We could all use a
little Stampeder foolishness and determination in our lives, don’t you think?
*
I’ve used the pronoun “he” because most Stampeders were male. But a handful of
gutsy women and children made the journey, too.
Wednesday, February 8th – Teach Mentor Texts
Thursday, February 9th – Mr. Schu Reads
Friday, February 10th – Mrs. Knott’s Book Nook
Saturday, February 11th – Late Bloomer’s Book Blog
Sunday, February 12th – Children’s Book Review
Monday, February 13th – LibLaura5
Borrow Jasper and the Riddle of Riley's Mine from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.
We just got our copy in the mail and I can't wait to start reading it with my 8YO daughter!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Caroline! Memorable characters, situations, humor, and, as always, fantastic writing. Congrats on your first novel in prose- a winner for you and for us readers.
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