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Dawson Overland Trail |
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During the Klondike Gold Rush and for years after, the quickest way to get from Whitehorse to Dawson City was by boat along the Yukon River. In those days life in the territory was governed by whether the river was open or frozen. Once winter set in and the river froze, only experienced mushers and dog teams braved the journey. Late fall and early winter travel was limited to snowshoes, horse and dog teams. Transportation was slow and costly and the cold reduced travel to a minimum. During the winter of 1899-1900 the Canadian Development Company used dog teams to carry mail and light freight along the river between Whitehorse and Dawson. It gradually replaced dogs with horses the following year. In 1901 the White Horse Pass & Yukon Route Railway bought out the company in order to get the lucrative government mail contract for its stern wheelers. In 1902 the Yukon government contracted the White Pass & Yukon Route to build the first winter road between the two communities. Construction began that summer and the road was completed in November. It was 330 miles long - shorter than the river route by about 70 miles - and was built at a cost of $129,000. This winter road between Whitehorse and Dawson became known as The Overland Trail. It marked the beginning of a new era of transportation in the territory. For Dawson residents, it created a much-needed winter link to civilization. For the first time they were not cut off from the rest of the world for almost eight months of the year. Today the original route of The Overland Trail offers hardy travellers a challenging path back into time. Artifacts and buildings that remain along the trail are evidence of its history. The Overland Trail has deteriorated in many places with sections of swampy muskeg and creek crossings that make travel difficult. Some sections are badly overgrown or intersect with other trails. Travelers - especially inexperienced ones - risk getting lost. Several large rivers make the complete journey impossible without water transport. It is not an easy journey, although some sections are suitable for day trips. The Trakhini River to Braeburn Section is open for adventure. This section of the Trans Canada is some 100 km long with no services in between. A class 5 trail. Expect snowmachines, mushers and skiers in winter with hikers, mountain bikers, horses and ATV's in summer.
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Free, professionally printed, colour maps of the Dawson Overland Trail, and others, are available with membership on request. |
