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 after this first one.

Dateline: January 1, 2024.

    In August 1994 I got a call from Willard Phelps asking if I'd like to join a group of guys who wanted to stake mining claims far back on Montana Mountain, mostly just for fun. On August 26th, we headed up in two 4x4 trucks. In the group were Willard Phelps, John Phelps, John Phelps Jr., John Scott, Jim Robb, and me. Each of us had different reasons for going, but it was a wonderful day.

Heading up Montana Mountain, looking up the Watson River Valley towards Whitehorse.

The destination wasn't certain, but was expected to be in the area of the historic Thistle and Aurora silver mine properties. On the way we stopped at the Mountain Hero mine, most famous now for having the largest aerial tramway on the mountain, and the second of three stone houses (bunkhouse/cookhouse), seen here behind the trucks.

Jim Robb gets some photos of John Scott.

Gord Ryder with what we decided was a dinosaur brain fossil (because it was that sort of day - all about having fun).

Gord Ryder, John Phelps Jr., Willard Phelps, and John Scott staking the first claim.

John Scott, Gord Ryder, and Willard Phelps staking high above the upper end of the Pooley Creek valley.

John Phelps Jr. writes out his claim post tag while Willard Phelps and John Phelps Sr. look on.

John Phelps Jr. and John Scott on the historic Thistle/Aurora claim at the upper end of the Pooley Creek valley.

The 1905 stone house on the Thistle/Aurora property.

A 1905 claim post on the Uranus claim.

The Uranus claim.

John Scott and Gord Ryder inspect the drill core trays on the Uranus claim.

A closer look at the drill core trays.

Gord Ryder and John Scott have a look at a test adit on the Uranus claim.

John Scott looks over the Upper Uranus property.

John Scott strides across the Upper Uranus property back to our trucks.