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 31, 2023.

The text of the printed report is in italics.

Mountain bike trip with Andrea and Steven.

Below the Arctic Caribou, there is a series of claim posts, including Harry Dickson's 1905 post [III-I-XII-1?]; a double 4x4 with no markings [ca. 1950s]; and a 1970s legal marker with a pin in ground.

Below that post, a little to the south, 120 feet from Big Thing creek, are remains of 2 stone foundations. I imagined at the time that they were stone houses that were never completed, but now (May 1995) I believe this to be the original camp site, with these foundations for wall tents.

The northern foundation is about 15 inches high, 30 inches thick, filled with soil in a similar manner to the existing stone houses. 17 feet by 20 feet. Steve found a wooden smoking pipe, and there is a broken blue bottle, early soldered tin cans, and a piece of a stove.

The southern foundation is about 6 feet higher in elevation, and is 17 feet by 22 feet.

Andrea and Steve at the first stone house.

Having a look at the main adit of the Arctic Gold & Silver mine.

Heading back to the car, through the valley of Big Thing Creek