Hiking through history on Montana Mountain, Yukon, 1991-1995

    This is one of a series of hike reports written from 1991 to 1995 as I was researching the historic mines on Montana Mountain, Yukon, for my first book, "Fractured Veins & Broken Dreams." I carried a notebook, a tape recorder, and a camera on most of the hikes. Photos from each of the hikes have been added.

Dateline: December 30, 2023.

The text of the printed report is in italics.

Km 0 - Carcross end of the bridge on the South Klondike Highway.

Km 0.4 - Turn right on first road past bridge (unmarked).

Km 0.9 - Turn left at "T"

Km 1.3 - Straight through at crossroads.
        Sign just past crossroads: "Road is maintained by and for Feather Gold Resources Ltd. Use at your own risk ..."
        Road gets very rough; some may consider it too rough for a car. Climbs steeply to Km 3.8

Km 4.8 - Mine on right - keep left

Km 0.5 - Slide: road washes out regularly. Approximate treeline. Road very rough again for 1/2 Km past slide area.

Km 11 - Trail to Buddhist temple

Km 11.4 - Hairpin turn to left: view up length of Watson River Valley to Whitehorse.

Km 13.6 - Top: Big Thing Valley (50 min. from Carcross with stops)

Km 14.3 - Start hiking

    20 min. - Big Thing Creek: wade (min. 1 foot deep)

    38 min. - Small creek (drinkable): excellent view over Tagish Lk.

    55 min. - Alaska Harebell, Ross avens (possibly Snow buttercup) common in pass; healthy field of cotton grass at bottom of snowfield to right.

    1 hr 25 - N. Fork Montana Creek (dry; flowing deep under rocks). Remains of a small sled-bunkhouse, heater, toilet with no walls.

    1 hr 45 - Montana Creek & Mountain Hero Mine; stone village, at least 8 tramway supports (most fallen).

    2 hr 10 - Montana Mine

    2 hr 40 - Pooley Creek and Aurora and Thistle Mine; stone village, stone base of huge outhouse. Mine is up trail to west.
        25 minute trail to north of stone village goes past large lake, dead-ends in tight valley; same cat trenching.