116 OVERLAND ROUTES TO THE KLONDIKE 



creek over to Teslin lake the trail will be opened and operated 

 by the Canadian government. A wagon road will be constructed 

 and a bill has already passed the House of Commons granting 

 subsidies for a railway. The road at present is estimated to be 

 about 150 miles long and can be traversed in ten days or less. 

 The way is wooded and has no dangerous features. At Teslin 

 lake is a saw-mill and lumber for rafts or boats can be purchased 

 and the rest of the journey made by water. 



The Ashcroft trail and the Kamloops route, which is practi- 

 cally the same in character, is alluring. It begins in a genial 

 climate between the coast range and a spur of the Rocky moun- 

 tains, and is therefore somewhat like eastern Washington in 

 temperature and rainfall. After leaving Quesnelle the trail 

 plunges at once into the wild country, and to those who are 

 fond of sport and adventure it will offer a special charm. There 

 are frequent stopping-places, and the Indians are friendly and 

 if properly treated will be a source of aid in case of necessity. 



Tbe advantages of this route are offset, however, by obvious 

 disadvantages. It is very long. According to the most liberal 

 estimates, it will take forty days from Quesnelle to Telegraph 

 creek, though it can probably be done in less time, provided 

 there are no delays for bridge-building. It will be possible to 

 go in light, sending part of the outfit by way of Victoria to Tele- 

 graph creek, and by leaving an advance order for supplies with 

 the Hudson's Bay Company to be delivered on a certain date 

 from their stores at Hazel ton. 



It will not do to leave Quesnelle until the grass comes, say by 

 the lOfch of May. Before that time, even though it might afford 

 a fairly good " nip," it would still be watery and without suffi- 

 cient nutriment. After the 10th of May the Ashcroft trail will 

 be a comparatively cheap and easy route to the Cassiar and Teslin 

 Lake mines, with no duties and very little toll to pay. 



In the matter of outfitting it is probable that Kamloops, Ash- 

 croft, and Quesnelle will be able to furnish complete outfits for 

 a limited number of pack-trains, and being upon the Canadian 

 Pacific Railway, supplies in case of need could be hurried forward 

 by telegraph from Victoria, Vancouver, or Winnipeg. 



It is safe to count on about fifty days 1 time from Ashcroft, 

 and while the expense will be light, probably not exceeding 

 three hundred dollars for transportation and a year's provisions, 

 it would not be well to start with less than five hundred dollars 

 in hand or within reach at Teslin lake. 



