Alaska 2011 - Whitehorse, YK to Dawson City, YK

Alaska 2011 – Whitehorse, YK to Dawson City, YK

Prospecting and mining is still the #1 industry in the Yukon Territory today. Through 2010, there have been 13,527,555 ounces of gold taken from the territory. Needless to say with the current price of gold, there are more and more people coming into the territory seeking their fortunes. Dawson City, YK and the Bonanza Creek area still beckon those adventuresome souls.

The aspirations of these people goes back to 1896 and the great Klondike Gold Rush. It all happened back then on a sunny August afternoon when three Yukon sourdoughs made their historical discovery on Rabbit Creek, later named Bonanza Creek. Not much has changed since then, except for technology.

The town of Dawson City is pretty much the same with its dirt roads, old and restored historical buildings, and the sense that there is still time to strike it rich in the 21st century. The charm still prevails and the allure of a “by-gone” era.

Dredge # 4 still rests in the Bonanza Creek valley after sinking and then being restored. It was built in 1911 and abandoned when it stopped being profitable in 1959. The dredge is still the largest wooden hulled, bucket line dredge in North America. It played a big part in the development history of this area. The dredge machine consisted of the bucket excavator, revolving screens, gold saving sluice boxes, tailing piles from the stacker which pivoted, and was a floating barge with a control room. It needed water to operate, so moved up the creek beds very slowly leaving tailing ponds behind. This whole operation only took 5 men to operate.

There are two slide shows which I hope you enjoy. The first is our trek to Dawson City, YK and the second is our tour of Dredge # 4.

CLICK HERE to see our slideshow of Dawson City.

CLICK HERE to see our tour of Dredge # 4.