Gold Rush Campground Dawson City, Yukon, Canada Day 2

It rained all night and it was still raining this morning.  We decided to stay another day in Dawson City and we had been hoping to take our bikes along the waterfront trail.  Instead, we went out for coffee and a bagel.

Gathering supplies at the grocery was next on the list.  I continue to realize how spoiled we are back home…so many choices and so much fresh and healthy food available.  We rested all afternoon as the rain continued.  At 3 pm we decided to take a ride.  We went first to the Dome Road.  These are the less than spectacular views from there today.

As we went down in elevation, we did get a view of the industrial area right outside Dawson City.  There are freight companies, a lumber-mill, gold mining rental equipment companies, active gold mines, an oil company and a variety of other businesses down there in the bottom.  All the businesses revolve around the gold mining industry.

There are miles and miles of piles and piles of tailings.  This is what is left over after the miners dredge up the creeks in search of that golden glitter.

There is a road that leads to Dredge #4.  When this mine was active and at its most productive, the miners were harvesting 800 ounces or 50 pounds of gold every week.  At $1,500.00 per ounce that is $1,200,000.00.

The Discovery Claim is a park that is devoted to educating visitors about the history of gold mining here in Dawson City.  When gold was discovered here by prospectors it was a quiet First Nation community.  When the Klondike stampeders arrived, the First Nation chief decided to move his people downriver so that they would not be so exposed to the excesses of the miners.  The town was full of businesses for the miners to enjoy…gambling, drinking and women were available.

Dawson City tries to keep that Old West charm.  There are no big box stores here.

The streets get kind of sloppy here when it rains!

Trucks of the day.

We had dinner in town and then went for a walk along the waterfront.  It had finally stopped raining!  This is the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon Rivers.