The party of three that left Whitehorse last week to locate a route for the building of the trail to the Mush creek mines has not been heard from. A STAR representative, however, on Monday asked Maj. Snyder if he could give any information as to the probable direction it would take after leaving Whitehorse and was told by that gentleman that it would in all likelihood be almost due west in its course until it reaches Dalton trail.
"The route as outlined," said Major Snyder, "is from Whitehorse to the
Grafter mine; thence due west through a low gap in the high range of mountains to the westward of the copper mines. After passing through this range the trail will deflect slightly northward and after passing the small lake, at which Mr. Banfield had his fishing outfit last winter, strike the Ibex river and follow it for some distance where there is already a trail used by the Indians in their hunting expeditions. Leaving the Ibex it will
strike across the country to the foot of Lake Arkell and cross the Takhini river where it issues from the lake; from thence the trail will turn due west again until it strikes Lake Klukshu when it will deflect slightly to the south until the Dalton trail is reached.
"The survey party," said Major Snyder, "have instructions to follow the route outlined above as nearly as possible, and any deviations from it will be caused by obstacles of which I am at present unaware. On this route the three lakes that are passed teem with fish and the country along the trail is filled with game of various kinds. Wood and water are also in abundance and the people going back and forth over it in the summer and fall will have a chance to experience a delightful outing rather than a journey of peril and hardship.
"As near as I can estimate the total length of the trail, allowing one third for sinuosities, will be about 115 miles, or 80 miles in an air line from Whitehorse to the point at which it intersects the Dalton trail."
