Although the 1848 discovery of gold in California was the first bonanza to trigger an invasion of migrants to North America’s Pacific Coast, it was relatively short-lived. Soon, grander findings farther north led to an even greater influx of gold hunters. In 1851, a twenty-seven-ounce gold nugget was found on Haida Gwaii, ushering in fifty years of gold fever that brought a wave of Californians to the Fraser River and then farther inland to the gold-laden creeks of the Cariboo.

In this masterful collection of stories, historical images, and handcrafted maps, Donald Waite celebrates the human quest for gold. In addition to the best-known stories of gold hunters—including those who participated in the Cariboo rush to Barkerville and the 100,000 souls who clawed their way toward Yukon—Waite introduces many lesser-known discoveries and characters who became legendary during BC and Yukon’s first century.

Donald E. Waite is a former RCMP officer, an established historian, and an accomplished bird photographer with over four decades’ experience. Waite opened a portrait studio in Maple Ridge, BC, in 1971 and sustained his passion for photography after retirement. He is the author of numerous books on birding and BC regional history.

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"The narrative here is superb ... The quality of the photographs, and their selection is outstanding ... This book is a gold mine all its own, giving us new insight into the reasons why British Columbia developed the way it did. It is a gem, a vital resource for anyone with an interest in the history of our province." —Dave Obee, Times Colonist