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The Rotting Remnants of the Long Pier at Dyea Dyea, near Skagway, Alaska |
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In the mad haste of the Klondike Stampede many of those heading for the gold fields came ashore at the small town of Dyea. From here they traveled on foot over the daunting Chilkoot Pass. Dyea grew almost overnight into a boisterous boomtown. The "mounties" (Canada's Northwest Mounted Police) manned a station at the border and required every miner to stockpile a ton of supplies before they could cross. Since the Chilkoot was too steep for horses, this had to be carried on the men's backs, 60 pounds at a time. Dyea was the base for these human pack animals, as they trudged repeatedly to the pass all through the winter of 1897-98. However it was far from the ideal site for a town. The bay here was shallow and a long pier had to be built out to deeper water. But Dyea's life was short, and now only a long double line of rotted pilings crossing the meadows and tidal flats show us where this busy port once stood. |