Overview
The White Pass Trail was constructed by Captain William Moore with the guidance of Skookum Jim in 1887. The trail was located in the undiscovered wilderness in Alaska, before the construction of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. Moore had envisioned that Skagway would meet with the White Pass and become a gateway to Alaskan gold. Because the passage was constructed later during the Alaskan Gold Rush, it was considered to be a "new" Chilkoot Trail. It offered an alternate route to discovering gold and was used by stampeders from 1897 to 1899.
Stampeders using this trail would often face difficulties because of the terrain. Although it was not as steep and had a lower elevation than the Chilkoot Trail, it was proven to be just as dangerous. During the wet fall months of 1897, mud on the ground would render any wagons immobile. Because people and animals were unable to go anywhere else, supplies would quickly run out. Animals used during the journey through the White Pass Trail suffered greatly- possibly even more so than the humans. An estimated amount of 3,000 horses died on the White Pass Trail, earning it the moniker "Dead Horse Trail." The White Pass Trail was proven to be a new opportunity for people to find gold. Although it was considered to be a hazardous passageway to use, that did not stop people from using it. An easy solution to the problem was to close the trail until the ground and rivers were frozen. Later on, a wagon trail was set up on the White Pass Trail. This allowed for a safer route through the White Pass Trail. Stampeders finally had easier access to areas rich in gold. |
White Pass Trail
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