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HAZELET'S JOURNAL A Riveting Alaska Gold Rush Saga: Travel Edition, Backpack Tested, Wifi Not Required
A Riveting Alaska Gold Rush The Copper River Country 1898
"This is no staid diary. There are forest fires, floods, gunplay, and many other death-defying episodes." Reviewer, Mark McLaughlin
HAZELET'S JOURNAL is a true 1898 Gold Rush story that gives us insight into the character of those who went before us, a sense of passion, loyalty, and resilience that was so much a part of the great American spirit that our country was founded upon. It's told in the journalist's original voice, captured for generations to come.
This TRAVEL EDITION is designed in a paperback format, lightweight to fit inside a backpack to read (no wifi required) on the trail as the traveler makes his or her way to Valdez. It contains the same journal entries and stories contained in the hardcover version published in 2012, however with more travelogue content of the current sights and landscape as one makes their way (300 miles) along the Richardson Highway from Anchorage into the town of Valdez, the staging site of the old 1898 pioneer tent city and trailhead of the Alaska Gold Fields.
A rich history of the last true American frontier to experience. The old Copper Center and pioneer mail hub at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina Rivers. Kennecott Copper mines at McCarthy, Keystone Canyon with its beautiful waterfalls and the scene of the famous "shootout" between warring railway companies in 1907, and much much more for the curious travelers to experience as they make their way into the town of Valdez. Discover the magic!
"This is no staid diary. There are forest fires, floods, gunplay, and many other death-defying episodes." Reviewer, Mark McLaughlin
HAZELET'S JOURNAL is a true 1898 Gold Rush story that gives us insight into the character of those who went before us, a sense of passion, loyalty, and resilience that was so much a part of the great American spirit that our country was founded upon. It's told in the journalist's original voice, captured for generations to come.
This TRAVEL EDITION is designed in a paperback format, lightweight to fit inside a backpack to read (no wifi required) on the trail as the traveler makes his or her way to Valdez. It contains the same journal entries and stories contained in the hardcover version published in 2012, however with more travelogue content of the current sights and landscape as one makes their way (300 miles) along the Richardson Highway from Anchorage into the town of Valdez, the staging site of the old 1898 pioneer tent city and trailhead of the Alaska Gold Fields.
A rich history of the last true American frontier to experience. The old Copper Center and pioneer mail hub at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina Rivers. Kennecott Copper mines at McCarthy, Keystone Canyon with its beautiful waterfalls and the scene of the famous "shootout" between warring railway companies in 1907, and much much more for the curious travelers to experience as they make their way into the town of Valdez. Discover the magic!
320 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 23, 2022
"Hazelets Journal A Riveting Alaska Gold Rush Saga" by Cheever Hazelet is an first hand accounts based personal journal. John Clarke has published his great grandfather's personal journal in its original and unedited form, which gives an unique and nostalgic touch to the book.
Set around 1898, in Alaskan wilds, it depicts the journey of George Cheever Hazelet, the protagonist, who left behind his wife and children in search of gold and fortune in the Alaskan gold fields.
The narrative is clear, simple and in the first form. It is well illustrated by the maps, pictures and handwritten notes which adds to the richness of the subject matter. George's vivid description of the places, landscapes and events make them all the more relatable and full of life.
The journal is full of passion, inspiration, adventure, thrill and intrigue. It's about human spirit and grit to face all the struggles, challenges and adversities faced by one in life.
The journal is so informative, insightful and resourceful that it can be A great help and treasure for the present explorers as well. A wonderful historical collection.
Set around 1898, in Alaskan wilds, it depicts the journey of George Cheever Hazelet, the protagonist, who left behind his wife and children in search of gold and fortune in the Alaskan gold fields.
The narrative is clear, simple and in the first form. It is well illustrated by the maps, pictures and handwritten notes which adds to the richness of the subject matter. George's vivid description of the places, landscapes and events make them all the more relatable and full of life.
The journal is full of passion, inspiration, adventure, thrill and intrigue. It's about human spirit and grit to face all the struggles, challenges and adversities faced by one in life.
The journal is so informative, insightful and resourceful that it can be A great help and treasure for the present explorers as well. A wonderful historical collection.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2022
I learned more about history in this one book, than I was ever taught in school. It was interesting to learn about the Gold Rush. I was always looking for the next challenge around the corner. The last two sections did jump around and I felt like I missed out on 6 months of his timeline. I felt as if I was next to him in his struggles and the yearning for his family. I had to keep reading even when tired to see if they would hit it big, to make the sacrifices of being away from his family worth the heartache. I had to know whether or not he survived the Alaska wilderness and got his gold.
January 10, 2023
I am so glad that this will now be published as a travel edition. After living in Alaska, this book is so much more than a historical account. Excellently curated, George Hazelet’s epic tale of braving everything Alaska could throw at him is an inspiration. Hazelet’s Journal will soon be a natural addition to every backpacker’s list for those quiet nights by firelight or flashlight and a historical classic.
Thank you, NetGalley!
Thank you, NetGalley!
December 20, 2022
February 17, 1898 George Cheever Hazelet set off on his journey to find gold in Alaska, sadly leaving behind his wife and two sons in hopes of returning a wealthy man. So starts the riveting story and a firsthand account of the Alaskan Gold Rush.
Reading this journal was interesting and intriguing. The historical account passed down through generations is an invaluable resource for the masses to explore and glean knowledge about the Alaskan Gold Rush and this time in history. Made ready for publishing by Hazelet’s great grandson the journal’s were left just as they were originally written. There were times when things became repetitive, but overall it was refreshing and informative getting an undoctored transcription. Full of pictures and maps, this is a great resource for those interested in the Alaskan Gold Rush.
I would recommend this book to history buffs and historical journals.
Reading this journal was interesting and intriguing. The historical account passed down through generations is an invaluable resource for the masses to explore and glean knowledge about the Alaskan Gold Rush and this time in history. Made ready for publishing by Hazelet’s great grandson the journal’s were left just as they were originally written. There were times when things became repetitive, but overall it was refreshing and informative getting an undoctored transcription. Full of pictures and maps, this is a great resource for those interested in the Alaskan Gold Rush.
I would recommend this book to history buffs and historical journals.
December 27, 2022
I thought this was a fascinating book to read. While I see a lot of information on the California Gold Rush, I don’t come across as many on the Klondike Gold Rush. I will definitely have to read this book a second time to keep track of the dates and find references for the events within the book. There were a few odd times where the day of the week didn’t match the date for the year, but I figured it was already pretty impressive that Hazelet had managed to keep track of the date throughout his prospecting.
As the book is a first-person source on historical events, I would like to verify with different museums of curators of its validity. However, I did like all the references in the book for the photos and Alaskan museums. There was a lot of detail that Hazelet kept close track of, which I thought was interesting. There were many notes on how far they traveled in a day, how many pounds of supplies they needed and moved, dimensions of things they built, and more. It isn’t information I would necessarily think to keep track of or that I would be able to put to use, but it shows some foresight on Hazelet’s end to make sure records are kept for the future.
There were moments where I did have to keep in mind that modern times have different social standards for things. For example, it is now known or perhaps it is now discussed that it is inappropriate to refer to Native Americans as Indians and that each tribe has vastly different cultures and languages. With this in mind, “Indian Charlie” as Hazelet knows him appears to be on good terms with Hazelet’s group of prospectors. Although Hazelet compared Charlie at first to the “savages” of his home state, he was worry when Charlie was late and was happy to meet Charlie’s family. I do wonder if the words Hazelet uses for Charlie’s wife is the proper term or not due to the translation difficulties of a language barrier. I also wonder if Charlie is his real name as Hazelet mentions that he is one of many Charlies at one point. It is possible that it is his converted name, for lack of a better term, as Charlie is Christian.
To move onto other parts of the book, it was interesting reading the progression of hope into despair the more years that go by. Throughout his journals, Hazelet is constantly thinking of his family, especially his wife, and missing them. Several long years go by, although it seems he does go home once or twice in between the events of his journals, it starts wearing on him. This combined with not having good luck prospecting and even losing money on his final year of prospecting, he starts feeling too old and too far from his family to continue on what is now seen to be a hopeless venture. Comparing this account to the California Gold Rush accounts I have read, that despair is easy to slip into after having held on hope and worked for so long. When you are promised endless gold to feed and clothe not only your living family but your descendants as well, the realities of the work and the payout are depressing to say the least. The days he journals gets more spread out, due to the work and travel needed to be done and because he begins feeling hopeless and has nothing new to mention in between his dates journaled.
Although the dates had me a bit concerned about the validity of the account, I will give this a 5 star rating. Thanks to John H. Clark for deciding to transcribe and publish this book. I thought it was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in history, especially about history of the Gold Rushes in America. I would also like to note that it is definitely a book meant to be read several times over. I read it plainly the first time through with minor highlights and notes and intend to go through another day to track the journey on a map as well as each date that Hazelet journaled.
As the book is a first-person source on historical events, I would like to verify with different museums of curators of its validity. However, I did like all the references in the book for the photos and Alaskan museums. There was a lot of detail that Hazelet kept close track of, which I thought was interesting. There were many notes on how far they traveled in a day, how many pounds of supplies they needed and moved, dimensions of things they built, and more. It isn’t information I would necessarily think to keep track of or that I would be able to put to use, but it shows some foresight on Hazelet’s end to make sure records are kept for the future.
There were moments where I did have to keep in mind that modern times have different social standards for things. For example, it is now known or perhaps it is now discussed that it is inappropriate to refer to Native Americans as Indians and that each tribe has vastly different cultures and languages. With this in mind, “Indian Charlie” as Hazelet knows him appears to be on good terms with Hazelet’s group of prospectors. Although Hazelet compared Charlie at first to the “savages” of his home state, he was worry when Charlie was late and was happy to meet Charlie’s family. I do wonder if the words Hazelet uses for Charlie’s wife is the proper term or not due to the translation difficulties of a language barrier. I also wonder if Charlie is his real name as Hazelet mentions that he is one of many Charlies at one point. It is possible that it is his converted name, for lack of a better term, as Charlie is Christian.
To move onto other parts of the book, it was interesting reading the progression of hope into despair the more years that go by. Throughout his journals, Hazelet is constantly thinking of his family, especially his wife, and missing them. Several long years go by, although it seems he does go home once or twice in between the events of his journals, it starts wearing on him. This combined with not having good luck prospecting and even losing money on his final year of prospecting, he starts feeling too old and too far from his family to continue on what is now seen to be a hopeless venture. Comparing this account to the California Gold Rush accounts I have read, that despair is easy to slip into after having held on hope and worked for so long. When you are promised endless gold to feed and clothe not only your living family but your descendants as well, the realities of the work and the payout are depressing to say the least. The days he journals gets more spread out, due to the work and travel needed to be done and because he begins feeling hopeless and has nothing new to mention in between his dates journaled.
Although the dates had me a bit concerned about the validity of the account, I will give this a 5 star rating. Thanks to John H. Clark for deciding to transcribe and publish this book. I thought it was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in history, especially about history of the Gold Rushes in America. I would also like to note that it is definitely a book meant to be read several times over. I read it plainly the first time through with minor highlights and notes and intend to go through another day to track the journey on a map as well as each date that Hazelet journaled.
May 21, 2023
I would put this fairly high up the reading list of people interested in Valdez, Alaska – or travellers like me who just had a couple of nights there. I don't think I remembered it being the starting point for so many of those on the Klondike gold rush, and I didn't know that one partnership that hadn't done that well in the industry of gold mining still owned enough land that they could donate a chunk of it to shift the town up the coast a smidge when what was there in the 1960s got wiped out by one of the world's biggest known earthquakes.
Hazelet and Meals were two old muckers who though they had a fortune awaiting them from growing chicory as a coffee substitute on industrial scale in the lower 48, until they didn't – and decided they needed to seek the shiny stuff in the Copper River valley instead. We get three chunks of his reportage, once the forepages have been done and dusted, with two of his old hand-written notebooks conveying how they got to the sites they were interested in – and then breaking off with it seeming a failure, until the third chunk comes in with industrial might, and many a legal case against people claiming the territory they'd staked out as their claims for themselves. There is a lot of end matter to handily put us in the clear as to what followed on after, which is more than useful – although anything added to the original 2012 hardback of this seems weakly written tourist advertorial.
What is of note is the constant moaning Hazelet has about himself and his choices – the decisions he took to take himself away for so many months of several consecutive years from his young sons and his admittedly beautiful (if nostrilly) wife. He feeds on re-reading her letters, never once condoning his decisions to seek the fortune he felt they needed so far away from them. You can see here the third section starting out as a very business-minded script, before falling into much the same sentimental trap as the first two, due to the appeal of Mrs Hazelet.
As a read here in 2023 it's not perfect – the minutiae of the trekking and traversing all the paths and trails to and fro with boats, horses, bulls and manpower is a bit much at times, and things get technical without any editorialising or explanation, with the man writing very much for himself or for people who could understand all the ins and outs of his industry. A wonderful book could be had from crunching some of this with its superb nature notes and descriptions onto pages conveying the whole story of the man and not these few short years, but what we have is still decent enough. The sheer ordeal of hiking up and down glaciers with all of your supplies, moving everything you practically own in stages (with surprisingly little robbery given all the left-behind stashes) is the prime focus for a lot of these pages, and Hazelet does come across as a person you want to cheer on to success. The fact his descendants are still owning a lot of Valdez land and are behind this volume prove its value and authenticity, and it remains a flawed but very worthwhile purchase for those interested.
Hazelet and Meals were two old muckers who though they had a fortune awaiting them from growing chicory as a coffee substitute on industrial scale in the lower 48, until they didn't – and decided they needed to seek the shiny stuff in the Copper River valley instead. We get three chunks of his reportage, once the forepages have been done and dusted, with two of his old hand-written notebooks conveying how they got to the sites they were interested in – and then breaking off with it seeming a failure, until the third chunk comes in with industrial might, and many a legal case against people claiming the territory they'd staked out as their claims for themselves. There is a lot of end matter to handily put us in the clear as to what followed on after, which is more than useful – although anything added to the original 2012 hardback of this seems weakly written tourist advertorial.
What is of note is the constant moaning Hazelet has about himself and his choices – the decisions he took to take himself away for so many months of several consecutive years from his young sons and his admittedly beautiful (if nostrilly) wife. He feeds on re-reading her letters, never once condoning his decisions to seek the fortune he felt they needed so far away from them. You can see here the third section starting out as a very business-minded script, before falling into much the same sentimental trap as the first two, due to the appeal of Mrs Hazelet.
As a read here in 2023 it's not perfect – the minutiae of the trekking and traversing all the paths and trails to and fro with boats, horses, bulls and manpower is a bit much at times, and things get technical without any editorialising or explanation, with the man writing very much for himself or for people who could understand all the ins and outs of his industry. A wonderful book could be had from crunching some of this with its superb nature notes and descriptions onto pages conveying the whole story of the man and not these few short years, but what we have is still decent enough. The sheer ordeal of hiking up and down glaciers with all of your supplies, moving everything you practically own in stages (with surprisingly little robbery given all the left-behind stashes) is the prime focus for a lot of these pages, and Hazelet does come across as a person you want to cheer on to success. The fact his descendants are still owning a lot of Valdez land and are behind this volume prove its value and authenticity, and it remains a flawed but very worthwhile purchase for those interested.
January 15, 2023
On February 17, 1898, George Hazelet left his wife and two young sons to take part in the Alaskan Gold Rush. Having enjoyed success as a businessman, Hazelet felt confident in his ability to become a successful prospector.
Hazelet's Journal begins with his departure from his family when he boards his train. Throughout the journal, we see him write of his travels and the sights around him. He covers multiple topics that include what he eats, the people he meets, the aims and tasks of the day, and how far they travel and their achievements. Hazelet also writes of hunting for food and securing provisions. He makes frequent mentions of his family and how he longs to know they're alright.
Hazelet's Journal is an insight into the past. The difference between living back then and now is very evident. At times I felt like you could vividly imagine the world Hazelet describes and the beauties he saw. Many photos and maps have been included in the publication of this book which helps to envision the words on the pages. I also think anyone interested in the Alaskan Gold Rush would find Hazelet's Journal particularly interesting as it is full of information.
At times some of the writing was repetitive, but I found this added to the reading experience. It is a journal, and the writing shows this. I think it's fascinating that we can peek into someone's life that went before us and has passed on his story.
Hazelet's Journal begins with his departure from his family when he boards his train. Throughout the journal, we see him write of his travels and the sights around him. He covers multiple topics that include what he eats, the people he meets, the aims and tasks of the day, and how far they travel and their achievements. Hazelet also writes of hunting for food and securing provisions. He makes frequent mentions of his family and how he longs to know they're alright.
Hazelet's Journal is an insight into the past. The difference between living back then and now is very evident. At times I felt like you could vividly imagine the world Hazelet describes and the beauties he saw. Many photos and maps have been included in the publication of this book which helps to envision the words on the pages. I also think anyone interested in the Alaskan Gold Rush would find Hazelet's Journal particularly interesting as it is full of information.
At times some of the writing was repetitive, but I found this added to the reading experience. It is a journal, and the writing shows this. I think it's fascinating that we can peek into someone's life that went before us and has passed on his story.
January 5, 2023
Hazelet’s Journal is a great book that was s lot of fun to read. It tells an amazing story about a man seeking his fortune to support his family that makes you feel like you're on an adventure while showing what life was like at the time. I really enjoyed reading over the small details like the shopping list and felt bad when he was missing his family. I also really enjoyed all of the images, but I couldn’t imagine living like the people in this book.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in history. It’s also perfect for readers that like adventures and memoirs.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in history. It’s also perfect for readers that like adventures and memoirs.
February 19, 2023
Interesting read based on a true story of the Alaskan Gold Rush of 1898.
This is a traveler's formal with handy information about the sights & what you might see if you wanted to travel the 300 miles of Richardson Highway in Alaska.
(I was able to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.)
This is a traveler's formal with handy information about the sights & what you might see if you wanted to travel the 300 miles of Richardson Highway in Alaska.
(I was able to preview this book in exchange for my honest review.)
April 3, 2023
This TRAVEL EDITION is designed in a paperback format, lightweight to fit inside a backpack to read (no wifi required) as the traveler makes his or her way to the town of Valdez, the staging site of the old 1898 pioneer tent city and trailhead of the Alaska gold fields. This edition includes the exact same journal entries and stories (unedited) that are in the hardcover version of HAZELET’S JOURNAL published in 2012. However, it adds traveler-useful content to the front and back matter describing current sights and landscape along the 300 miles of Richardson Highway from Anchorage to Valdez, Alaska.
HAZELET'S JOURNAL is a true 1898 Gold Rush story that gives us insight into the character of those who went before us, a sense of passion, loyalty, and resilience that was so much a part of the great American spirit that our country was founded upon. It's told in the journalist's original voice, captured for generations to come.
This journal is a great travel companion for curious explorers of early Alaska history. On your way into Valdez, you encounter the old Copper Center and pioneer mail hub at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina Rivers, the Kennecott Copper mines at McCarthy, Keystone Canyon with its beautiful waterfalls, and the scene of the famous "shootout" between warring railway companies in 1907, and much, much more.
Discover the magic!
HAZELET'S JOURNAL is a true 1898 Gold Rush story that gives us insight into the character of those who went before us, a sense of passion, loyalty, and resilience that was so much a part of the great American spirit that our country was founded upon. It's told in the journalist's original voice, captured for generations to come.
This journal is a great travel companion for curious explorers of early Alaska history. On your way into Valdez, you encounter the old Copper Center and pioneer mail hub at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina Rivers, the Kennecott Copper mines at McCarthy, Keystone Canyon with its beautiful waterfalls, and the scene of the famous "shootout" between warring railway companies in 1907, and much, much more.
Discover the magic!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews