[Guitar strumming]
[Piano tune]
Welcome to Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, home to
the famous Chilkoot Trail. My name is Erica Francis
and I'll be introducing you to some of the common risks of hiking the trail.
In 1897 hopeful gold seekers from all over the world
poured into Skagway and Dyea to begin a 600-mile trek to the gold fields.
Today you can retrace the footsteps of the stampeders and natives by
hiking the first 33 miles of the Chilkoot Trail.
Hiking the Chilkoot can be highly rewarding, however
unlike many hikes, taking on the Chilkoot means crossing an international border
and hiking 33 miles of isolated,
physically challenging, and potentially hazardous terrain.
Due to the risks of a trek like this, proper trip preparation is imperative.
There is no substitute for planning ahead,
having the right skills, and using good judgement.
Being smart can make the difference in having wonderful trip, ending up in the hospital, or worse.
Most hikers begin the trail here in Dyea and take three to five days
to travel to Lake Bennett to meet their scheduled train or float plane.
The trail length is 33 miles and you gain 3,500 feet of elevation,
2,500 of which are gained between the 3.3 miles
from Sheep Camp to the Summit.
The portion of the hike from the Scales over Chilkoot Pass is a route, not a trail.
Although marked, frequent fog and rain
make it easy to miss a marker and end up traveling
in the wrong direction.
[Folk music ]
The Chilkoot is not a novice trail,
and should only be attempted by persons who are physically fit and experienced in
hiking and backpacking. Individuals who have previously injured their ankles, knees
or back, or who have chronic pain frequently experience flare ups
while hiking the Chilkoot. To avoid unnecessary problems
test your strength and endurance on shorter, less demanding
overnight trips prior to hiking the Chilkoot.
[Folk music]
Many people underestimate the challenges that you might face on
Chilkoot Trail.
If they're first time backpacking, or maybe they just haven't done the research
to realize how challenging it can be. People oftentimes don't have the
appropriate equipment;
they wear jeans and T-shirts and think it's gonna be okay.
But here it rains almost every day, so polypropylene or some other type of
wicking material is a must.
Oftentimes folks also show up
without having ever set up a tent before or seeing if their stove works this year.
It's important that you have a run-through before you show up on the tail
to make sure all your equipment is in good working order and that you know how
to use it.
We have many avalanche zones on the trail that you will travel through,
especially between Sheep Camp and Happy Camp. Those zones are active throughout the summer.
Especially in the early season while hiking on the Chilkoot Trail
you need to have full avalanche gear, which would be
a beacon, shovel, and probe. You also need to have basic avalanche awareness.
The Chilkoot Trail is used not only by people but also by wildlife.
One of our most common visitors would be bears.
[Folk music]
We have both black bears and brown bears here on the Chilkoot Trail.
It's very important that you travel bear-aware when you're traveling on the Chilkoot Trail.
[Folk music]
Every year many hikers end up turning around or getting hurt on the trail due
to a lack of preparation, accidents, and
inclement weather. These unexpected events can happen to anyone,
even the most experienced. As you decide whether you're ready to hike the Chilkoot
make sure you're prepared to handle any emergency that arises.
Although National Park Service and Parks Canada
staff patrol the trail during the summer months, help from Rangers and Wardens
might be many hours or even days away. Rescue and helicopter evacuations
could end up costing you upwards of seventy-five thousand dollars.
In addition to protecting yourself and others here at Klondike Gold Rush,
it is also your responsibility to help us protect the park.
The Chilkoot Trail is essentially a living museum,
you will be traveling the same way that the stampeders
traveled over the pass. Many of the items they took with them have actually been
left behind on the trail.
You'll find things like tram wheels and pianos
and boats and shoes that are even still intact today.
As you're traveling by these artifacts, please refrain from touching them.
[Folk music]
Visit the park's website to get more information on planning your trip
and current conditions, or stop by the Trail Center in Skagway or the Chilkoot Trail
National Historic Site
in Whitehorse, Yukon to speak with a Ranger or Warden.
And on behalf of everybody here at Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
we hope you have an enjoyable trip on the Chilkoot Trail.
[Folk music]