Gold Rush Graves

The Yukon is still very much alive with poems and tales of the Gold rush. The gold rush and it's colorful characters add a unique historical perspective and a sense of adventure to this Northern territory. Four for the six original discoverers of the Klondike are buried in the graveyard at Carcross; Skookum Jim Mason, Tagish Charlie, Kate Carmacks and Patsy Henderson. When I see the graves of these once wealthy people I am reminded of what is of value on our journey through this land and this world.

I always visit this graveyard when I come to the Yukon as many of the spiritual giants and heros of my childhood and youth are also buried there. There are many legends in the Yukon about wealth and riches that can be squandered or stolen and the real riches that cannot. The wealth in the lives and souls of so many of the people buried here are infinitely precious to me for their lives will forever bless me and the landscape in ways that the gold never can. Every time I visit here I am reminded of a great Baha'i quote that says, "with fire we test the gold and with gold we test the servants."