It was during these years most had nothing to lose and everything to gain to at least try for the gold. The climb was 35 miles long to Bennett where they then could get to Dawson by water routes.  But to survive thru the winter one ton of supplies was needed so many trips had to made up and down the Pass to bring all their supplies.  If they came without enough they would starve to death.  The Canadian Mounties made it mandatory to bring a ton of supplies to stop the starvation, stealing and other barbaric means of survival.

Click above link to see what they had to carry over the trail to Dawson.

Read the poem below by David Curl