The Golden Staircase

Title: The Golden Staircase

General Information about Item:

  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States/Canada
  • Trail of Origin: Chilkoot
  • Informant: Ian Andrews
  • Date Collected: 10-29-19

Informant Data:

  • Ian Andrews is currently a graduate student at MIT. He grew up in Juneau, Alaska and hiked the Chilkoot Trail after finishing his undergraduate studies. Ian hikes recreationally, from trails in his hometown, to spending a week hiking in the Olympic Mountains in Washington State.

Contextual Data:

  • Historical Context: First used by the Tlingit people of Alaska as a trade route, the Chilkoot became an important trail for miners and prospectors coming to Alaska during the Klondike gold rush at the end of the 1800s. The trail was mostly abandoned after the end of the gold rush in 1898, until the trail was restored for recreational hikers in the 1960s. (Source)

Item:

“The Golden Staircase” is the colloquial name of the section of the Chilkoot trail that leads to the summit of the Chilkoot pass. This is a particularly challenging part of the trail due to the steep incline and uneven footing, and harsh weather that is common leading to the summit.

The name “Golden Staircase” likely comes from the history of the trail. When the gold rushers were hiking the trail, they carved a staircase into the mountain to make the journey to the summit easier. This staircase was golden, as the people climbing it hoped to find gold at their destination.

Transcript:

  • “When the gold rushers were going over [the summit] they cut stairs into the slope. It’s called the Golden Staircase, because it was created by people looking for gold. Now when you hike it in the summer, it is full of boulders and you have to watch your feet.”

Informant’s Comments:

  • We were lucky to hike this on a sunny day. It can be particularly slippery and dangerous in bad weather.

Collector’s Name: Soren Thompson

Tags/Keywords:

  • Golden Staircase
  • Chilkoot Trail
  • Thru Hiking

 

 

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