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THE OLD WISCONSIN GOLD MINE
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The fabulous and heady days of the gold rush have long since faded - but the romance lives on in the landscape.
So wrote George Mallory who got within 800 feet of the summit of Mt Everest in 1924. In this day and age of ‘mass’ travel where now even the offbeat or independent traveller hardly feels an individual any more, a visit to the Wisconsin is exhilaratingly different, in may ways. And few words can describe the sheer exhilaration of being in such a place. You’ll step back in time and place more than a hundred years, where reality is not ‘virtual’, and with the flames of a campfire dancing off the mountain top, the sun setting along a wall of distant peaks as far as the eye can see, the relics and history of such an exciting bygone age all around, you can be forgiven for almost hearing the sound of a distant miner’s pick on a rock face and the cry of ‘gold’. Being at the Wisconsin is a modern-day adventure - an opportunity to see and experience how the pioneers lived, and to enjoy the wonderful scenery and wildlife in a truly natural and remote setting.
However, it was an interesting exercise for all involved. Initially we took over one of the old log cabins on site as our base (shown below).
Nothing will be available at the flick of a switch and the only entertainment is that which you make for yourself – but nature puts on a wonderful display at all times!
Internal tracks and trails are numerous and go to some wonderful visas and viewing areas, including the summit of Henessy Mountain (named after the two Irish miners - the Henessy Brothers - who first staked the claims in July 1884). We welcome anyone interested in spectacular scenery and an exhilarating way of life to join us at the Wisconsin
If you want to contact us please do so on the following link:
The desire for Adventure diminishes not with age - indeed, an adventurous lifestyle can be the very reason for a meaningful existence. |
"The
Biggest danger in life is not taking adventure."
As
the pictures on this page show, we had to heli-lift tons of material on site for
the construction of our bunkhouse/shelter (picture shown at bottom of page).
Even getting the supplies close enough to where the helicopters could lift them
was a task in itself - the 40 miles into the loading area took 3-hours one-way
by the trucks grinding up steep gradients, and we also had to haul drums of
aviation fuel to the loading area for re-fuelling.
As
you will have seen from the previous pages, the Wisconsin offers tremendous
enjoyment for those who have a great love of the outdoors and a desire to spent
time away from the trappings and frustrations of the 21st century - to be at one
with nature.
A
future project at the Wisconsin will include clearing the old 1890's packhorse
trail up the mountain from Midge Creek (on Kootenay Lake) - which we
re-discovered during recent survey work. It is in excellent condition, and will
make a wonderful hiking trail and access route in true wilderness country.
The
Columbia Mountains enclose a harsh landscape that experiences heavy snowfall, is
densely forested, home only to the hardiest of wildlife, and little populated by
humanity. The Selkirk Range, site of the Wisconsin, is the highest and most
rugged in the system.
THE
GOLDEN YEARS: In Dawson City hotels, beds often had to be shared with
one or two others. 5-minutes in the tub cost $1.50 with a change of water, less
for that already used, with a dirty towel, about which one objecting patron was
admonished, "There’s twenty six men used that towel before you, and you’re
the first one that complained."