Join Chalkley J. Hambleton as he embarks on a gripping journey back to the summer of 1860, when he, like many others, was caught in the throes of gold fever. Amid Chicagos economic depression, Hambleton and his partners set off for the Pikes Peak gold rush, hauling 24 tons of mining equipment across the Great Plains. Through his vivid storytelling, youll experience their encounters with buffalo herds, Native Americans, and the disheartened multitude of gold seekers returning empty-handed. Setting camp near Mountain City, Colorado, Hambletons tale is a captivating account of hope, disillusionment, and survival. From witnessing nuggets of gold that had been repeatedly washed to lure tenderfoots into buying claims, to his return to Chicago as a wiser if not richer man, Hambletons tale is peppered with wry humor and candid insights. Privately published in 1898 for family and friends, this memoir is based largely on letters Hambleton sent from the gold fields to his sister. Its a riveting journey into the heart of the gold rush era, told by a man who lived to tell the tale.