The Klondike gold rush, which occurred between 1896 and 1899, was one of the strangest outbreaks of "gold fever" ever to take place. With news of California's rush still fresh in their minds, thousands of men with get-rich-quick dreams hurried to stake out claims in the Yukon. But they did not count on the murderous weather.or the severe mountain passes that protected the gold. Among those who came with high hopes were author Pierre Berton's parents; here, he presents vividly written, firsthand accounts of the gunfights, con men, avalanches, frostbite, and starvation people endured. It is an amazing and unforgettable true story of superhuman challenges, death-defying adventure, and lifelong friendships.