May 30, 2015, Saturday

Today we did some exploring around Dawson City. First we took a small section of the Klondike Loop which goes up Bonanza Creek then Eldorado Creek following the path of the richest gold strikes in the area. Several of the big mining dredges are still in place though none have operated for many years. Dredge #4 is now a historical site. We took many photos of the dredge but the site was not open for tours. We are a little early for the regular tourist season. Added bonus was a big raven nest on the discharge conveyor boom. This dredge was in operation 24 hours a day for 240 days a year. Each dredge bucket weighed 4,600 pounds full of gravel.

Mining operations are still underway in this drainage as well as in the Klondike River drainage. The lure of gold continues. Next we drove to the summit of Midnight Dome. What a view! From this elevated point, you can see literally for miles. It has the perfect view of Dawson City, the dredge tailing piles in the Klondike drainage, the Klondike Rive and the Yukon River. If you look north, there are the Ogilvie Mountains where the Tombstone Territorial Park is.

We played tourist today visiting many shops along the riverfront. The little grocery store is surprisingly well stocked. Robert Service’s cabin and Jack London’s cabin were a short hike through town. Tomorrow we will be in Alaska! Our route to the Top of the World Highway begins with a free ferry trip across the Yukon River. Next stop Eagle, Alaska!