In the winter of 1897 and the spring that followed, the shores of Lake Bennett in north-western Canada filled with tents, timber and thousands of people hoping to reach the Klondike goldfields. The settlement that grew there became a temporary centre of life for gold seekers who had crossed difficult mountain trails carrying food, equipment and whatever else they could manage. Some had spent months getting that far. Their next challenge was to build boats and wait for the ice to clear, allowing them to travel down the Yukon River towards Dawson City. The rush created a crowded settlement almost overnight, but its fortunes depended on a journey that was soon to change.
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