The iconic image of the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-98 is a black-and-white photograph of a line of men and women, each bent double beneath the weight of heavy packs, inching their way up steps carved in the ice to the summit of Chilkoot Pass. The image symbolizes both the hardship and the adventuresome spirit of the times.

Most of the stampeders, as the gold seekers were known, were city folks, and most of them never found gold. That did not stop more than 100,000 from slogging their way over the Chilkoot Trail.

For those who love mountains and history, hiking the Chilkoot Trail is a grand adventure even today. Steeping yourself in tales of the gold rush will make the journey that much more fascinating. Chilkoot Trail: Heritage Route to the Klondike provides a fascinating historical account of the gold rush stampeders and the trail.