Chilkoot Pass (el. ) is a high mountain pass through the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the U.S. state of Alaska and British Columbia, Canada. It is the highest point along the Chilkoot Trail, which leads from Dyea, Alaska, to Bennett Lake, British Columbia. The Chilkoot Trail was long a route used by the Tlingit for trade.
During the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century, it was used by prospectors and packers to get through the mountains. During the gold rush, three aerial tramways and several surface hoists were constructed and operated briefly over the pass. When the White Pass and Yukon Route railroad was built in neighboring White Pass, the Chilkoot Pass route fell out of favor with miners.
The Pass and the Trail are administered by the national park services of the U.S. and Canada. On the B.C. side, it is administered as Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site. On the Alaska side, it is one unit of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. In the summer of 1998, the Site and the Park united to form Klondike Gold Rush International Historical Park. Modern-day visitors can hike the trail after registering and paying a fee.
Background
The Klondike Gold Rush began on August 16, 1896, on Bonanza Creek, near Dawson, about east of the Alaskan border.
The Chilkoot Trail is reported to have spanned between from sea level at Dyea, Alaska, to Lake Bennett, British Columbia, elevation 2602 ft. (642 m).
The Chilkoot Pass was an important milestone that travellers had to conquer in order to reach the Klondike. The travellers were called 'stampeders', and some had earlier sought the riches of the 1889 gold rush in Alaska.
To be allowed to enter the Klondike and take part in the gold rush, Canadian officials required that stampeders take one ton of provisions with them, to try to ensure they were prepared to survive on the frontier. This was broken down into a year's supply of food, which was half of the weight, and of equipment. The clothing items included a waterproof blanket, 6 pairs of wool socks, 2 flannel overshirts, and a medicine chest. The list continues with the essential clothing needed. Some of the supplies required included rolled oats, flour, salt, and bacon. The weight ranged from for one ingredient. This list was taken very seriously, as there was rarely a return journey after the Klondike was reached.
thumb|Last trek over the summit, 1898
Park officials still require travellers to make preparation for hiking in this area. But the list for travelling the Trail and Pass is now very different, as the technologies allow for a much smaller supply list. In addition, more creature comforts are available, such as lightweight camp stoves. The travel was slow and what would have taken a few hours in another environment required days to complete. The packing fees charged by professional packers were subject to change as the weather changed. Ground conditions could make the packing much more difficult, and muddier ground was harder to traverse than frozen, snow-covered ground.
The weather through the Pass was unpredictable, and visibility could drop to a few feet. Travelers became soaked from rain and sweat from their physical exertion; the sun's reflection against the snow could burn their skin and almost blind them. These officers were also used to protect supplies. As noted above, when stampeders traveled by the Chilkoot Pass, they had to leave some of their provisions at each end of the pass during the journey, as they could not manage transporting them all at once. To protect the supplies, a large detachment of the North-West Mounted Police was stationed to ensure that the proper wares went to the proper traveler. The police also ensured that the rule of 1 ton of goods per person was enforced.
Women on the Trails
With rumors of some successes, both men and women viewed the Gold Rush as a chance to make a fortune and break out of poverty.
Women's clothing of the time made their journeys through the trails and across the passes even more difficult. The long, full skirts were ill-suited for any physical labour, and were often made with five yards (or more) of material, making them very heavy and cumbersome. Having to wear corsets and petticoats further limited women's mobility. The high collars required women to hold their heads high and, depending on the outfit, tilt their heads back. During this period, a women's movement had formed to allow women more freedom in the way they dressed. The rigors of the trail meant that many women abandoned conventional clothing and began to wear bloomers or knickers. These long, full pants were gathered at the ankle or just below the knees. Women shortened their skirts over the bloomers, generally to knee length. This was considered controversial by many men, but was more acceptable than if the women had not worn skirts. Some of the women who traveled to the Klondike had left their children behind, as few were willing to subject their children to the dangers of the trails and passes. Sometimes people suffering from malnutrition ate the bodies of the dead horses left on the White Pass Trail, and became violently ill as a result. It was rumoured that a traveler had used his boots as a source of food by boiling them and drinking the broth after so he could eat something.