Hazelet's Journal: A Riveting Alaska Gold Rush Saga by John H. Clark

He's been a successful businessman but then the economy turns and he loses everything.  He's heard of gold in Alaska and decides to go get a stake so he can start another business.  The first thing he learns is that the weather doesn't always cooperate and it's hard work!

BooksGoSocial and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published November 26th.

This is written in journal form and is from the man who dared this dangerous journey.  He misses his family, gets depressed at how little gold they find, and works hard at recovering from lack of food and traveling conditions.  They are almost always wet.  Their claims get jumped and they have to fight legally to get them back.  The animals they use for packing goods die from accidents or starvation.  Alaska is a tough country and especially back in the early 1900's.

I don't read a lot of non-fiction but my grandfather was part of the gold rush and I thought I'd learn more about what he'd been through.  This book is very insightful.  And once again Hazelet loses his venture.  The good news is that he and his partner still have some land there.  They've lost the gold claims to the bank but gold doesn't last forever.  Land still has value and it gets more valuable later.

Hazelet does find a calling that fits him, rejoins with his family and he stays in Alaska.  They made 'em tough in those days...