The Yukon River Steamboat Survey
In 2010 the Yukon River Survey will attempt to locate and document two new new sites on the Teslin and Yukon Rivers, and collect additional data on two known sites. This project will involve a 300+ km trip by canoe between Johnson's Landing, and Carcross.
The two new sites include an unidentified small steamboat reportedly lying in shallow water in a meander half-way down the Teslin River, and the remains of the famous stern wheel steamboat Columbian that was destroyed in 1906 when 3 tons of blasting powder ignited on her bow.
During this trip we will be packing a Nikon total station, and - if river level permits - we shall make the first detailed map and investigation of the wreck of the giant stern wheel steamboat Klondike, now lying awash and mid-channel in the Yukon River.
Following this work a team will return to the West Dawson boneyard and continue our documentation of the chines, boilers and hull construction methods among the seven vessels on this complex site. This work is expected to continue for a number of years.