The “stampeders” of the Klondike Gold Rush described the Chilkoot as the “meanest 32 miles in history”. Between 1897 and 1899, thirty thousand people crossed the Chilkoot Trail en route to the gold fields of the Klondike. They were required by law to haul one ton of goods over the Chilkoot Pass - all the equipment and supplies they would need to survive in the Yukon while seeking their fortune. In winter, they endured freezing temperatures and whiteouts. Summer brought an agonizing combination of rain and insects. Some Klondikers were defeated by the Trail and abandoned their journey altogether, and of those who continued, very few actually struck it rich. Even fewer hung onto the fortune they did make. But for those who caught it, “gold fever” created the adventure of a lifetime.