Currently I live in the Midwest. A few years back I use to do a lot of gold prospecting as a weekend hobby. I spent a lot of time up in the mountains in Alaska north of Anchorage about 50 miles. And to answer your question yes I did find gold. That is not what this story is about.

One weekend I was up in the hills working a small river just doing what is called spot panning. To see what was in the area. And to determine if a larger operation would be worth the time and money. As I walked the river I could see up along the side of the mountain the remains of an old gold mine. It looked as though it was a large operation at one time. So I decided to take a look at it. As I got closer I could see that in fact it was a huge operation at one time. Their were bunk houses Dinning facility rock crushers tracks And ore cars still in place.

As I walked through the ghost mine I got the feeling time was standing still. As harsh as the winters can be in Alaska a lot of this complex was still standing. I went into the old mining chow hall and sure enough the tables and chars where still in place. Even the old culling fan system was in place that ran from water power and belts and drives. In the kitchen the old wood stoves were still in place. This was an Antique hunters dream come true. Even the pots and pans were still their.

I left that building and walked on over to the rock crushers each one was housed in its own building their are three. And they were still intact it was as though every one just up and left yesterday. Behind the rock crushers was the track that went up to the mine. They crossed a small bridge to the opening of the mine. I looked at the small bridge the track crossed and it seemed to be stable so I walked across that to the mine opening. As I was walking across the bridge I noticed in the gully below the bridge their were hundreds of broken up old wood crates. When I got to the other side I picked up one of the old wood planks and it said high explosives. They must of used a lot of it.

I walked to the opening of the mine and it was huge three train tracks that ore cars at one time ran on. I did not go in I don’t go into old mines but the old supervisors shed as still standing at the opening of the mine. I went into that and looked around for a while I found old log books talking about how many ore cars and hour and day passed by. It was very interesting.

I could almost feel the miners as they worked day in and day out. Talking and walking back and forth out of the mine. And mules pulling the ore cars to the rock crushers It was an awesome experience. I then looked at my watch and noticed that 5 hours had slipped by. As I walked back across the bridge I could feel a cold wind picking up. I noticed to the north west a storm was blowing in. I was at the 9,500 foot mark and above the tree line. I figured I would never make it back to my camp before this storm hit so I figured it would be safest to ride it out here in one of the buildings. I walked over to the old bunk houses and went in side. The old bunk beds were still their but No way to generate heat the old stove was busted and leaning to one side. The others were in the same condition.

So I headed over to the old chow hall that was the most complete of the buildings in the complex. As I was walking from the bunk houses to the old chow hall Snow flurries stated falling. It was getting cold and the wind was picking up.

I have learned from experience when in the mountains to be sure to carry enough provisions for a few days. So I knew I could sit it out for two or three days. The flurries had switched to a rather steady light snow fall. This is not un common in Alaska in the later part of August and first part of September. The mountains always get the first snow. Some mountains have snow all year round but they reach 14 thousand feet and higher.

I went into the Kitchen and set up my bed roll their. I then went back outside to get some wood for the stove. I walked over to where the bridge was and went down into the ravine and collected a large amount of the old wood planks from the explosive boxes. And took them back to the kitchen area. I was a bit un eased with using them because Nitro can leak from the explosive and get into the wood. But I figured with as much rain and water these things have been exposed too over the years it would not be a problem. I found an old oil lamp and located an old can of oil that still had some in it. I put that in the lamp and it worked! I also found a few old candles and lit them. I cleaned out one of the old wooden stoves and checked the stack it was clear and started a fire in that. After about an hour every thing was nice an warm. I looked out the old window and could see that the snow was getting much heaver. This concerned me because it is not uncommon to get several feet of snow in a night in the mountains.

I knew their was nothing I could do about it so I just kicked back for a nice quiet night. I cooked up some food I had with me and started to fill out my log I kept with me. It was super quiet with the exception of an occasional crackle of the wood in the stove. And the wind howling out side. I blew out the oil lamp and stuffed my self into my sleeping bag and went to sleep for the night.

The next morning I woke up around 9 am and the stove was out and it was very cold. I started a fire in the stove and stayed in my sleeping bag for a while till things warmed up. After a while I got up it was nice a warm got dressed and looked out the window it was all frosted up I could not see anything. So I walked through the dinning room to the door and looked out. It was still snowing very heavily and we had gotten about 4 feet last night I figured it would not be easy.

I was getting rather board I could not go any where in this storm it would mean certain death. Simply the white out conditions would cause me to get lost then the cold would finish the job. So I decided to stay and look around. I went into the back room behind the kitchen and found a hand water pump. I tried it and it still worked but I could not get any water. I pulled the pump out and the leather seal was gone I had an old leather case I used to keep my log book in. So I cut a section off of that and replaced the old seal with that And put the pump back together. It worked I got fresh water from the well. I felt rather good at that point.

I looked around some more and found a stair way that went upstairs to what Was the kitchen help quarters. Their were six rooms all about the same size all but one had nothing in it. The last room I went into was still locked I had to brake in the door to get inside. Their I found a bed with the old blankets still on it. A dresser with some Items on top. And the drawers still had old cloths in them. This was a ladies room and it had all the trappings of a ladies room. The small bottles on the dresser and hankies and a hair brush. An old photo of a gentleman in a frame on the dresser. Standing in front of a building with his top hat and a long coat really period stuff. Their was an old trunk that still had some old dresses in it. Not sure but I would have to guess that who ever lived in this room left with the intention of returning at one point or came up missing and they just locked the room up.

In any case the room had been untouched until I arrived. So I decide sense I had some time I would clean it up and put it back the way I found it. I spent hours in that room dusting cleaning it when I was done. It was like stepping back in time to a room of the 1800s that was just occupied by some one. I even put the door back in place I have no Idea why I did this. I figured it was due to boredom than anything else. After I got done I went back downstairs.

I looked out side and it was still snowing heavily. By now the stove had heated up the entire building nicely. I found an old coffee pot I had brought a small amount of coffee with me along with a number of tea bags. The old coffee pots were not drip coffee pots it was just a pot and top and spout you heated up the water in the pot put the coffee grounds in it and let it site to brew. They use to use egg shells to settle the grounds. Being I had none I had to pour it very slow. It was good coffee it really hit the spot. The time now was right around 3 pm. I went out to the dinning room and started looking around and each table had carvings in the top of the tables. Such as names and dates nothing was past 1866. This was living history to say the least.

Darkness was starting to set in and the Snow was still falling. I had enough wood left to last me until the next day. Then I would have to start taking the building apart and burn it. I currently have enough food to last me another day or two. I have been trying to keep busy so I don’t think about eating. So I settled back into the kitchen and lit the candles and figured I would save the oil lamp until later. I fixed myself some Vienna sausages and beans and had some crackers and coffee with them. It filled me up believe it or not enough to relax a little. It was now right around 6 PM and dark. The sun sets early up here during the Fall months and in the winter months you only see it a few hours each day. Then it looks like dawn and sets around 1pm in the afternoon. It takes some getting use too. I am here to tell you though the 24 hours of daylight in the summer makes up for it.

I figured by now my wife would have called rescue but they can’t do anything until the storm lets up. I would say we have a good 7 feet of snow out side right now. So either way they will have to dig me out of this building. I just hope the roof is still strong enough to with stand the added weight. I have been hearing the building creaking all day long. As long as I don’t hear cracking or snaps I am ok. There is an old rusty tin roof on the top. If I keep the heat up then the roof may slide off some of the snow it is collecting.. Insulation is not one of the strong points of these old buildings.

It was now right around 8pm and I pulled myself up into my sleeping bag and filled my log book out for today’s entry. I was tired I made sure the stove was stoked up before hand and turned the oil lamp off all I had going was one candle. As I started to drift off to sleep I heard a noise that kind of startled me. It sounded like some one dropping a bunch of change on the floor up stairs. I opened my eyes and just laid their listening. A few minuets went by and I could not hear anything else. I figured it may have been something I bumped into that finally fell.

At around 3am I woke up not sure why but I was wide awake. I laid in my sleeping bag trying to fall back to sleep when all of a sudden I got the smell of perfume it was strong . Kind of strange because I am sure no one has been here for years except me. It was gone as fast as it had arrived. By now I was getting a bit edgy. Every time the wind would howl I would wake up. Around 4:30 am I woke up once more to a noise. At first I was thinking that perhaps the roof was losing its grip on the snow build up. But that is not what it sounded like. It sounded like some one waling across the floor up stairs. Now I was starting to freak out a little. Normally I am a stable and sound thinker. But this was going way above the norm. I could not fall back to sleep I stayed in my sleeping bag until morning and I got up.

I started thinking about the events that took place last night. And figured the best way to settle this before it drives me through the roof is to go upstairs and figure out what made the sounds. If I don’t Ill be a raving loon by the time rescue gets to me. So once it was daylight I slowly headed upstairs. The hall way looked the same the doors were closed on the six rooms and the one room I had to brake into. The door was still leaning up against the door jam. I went into the first 5 rooms and looked around nothing out of the norm. I then made my way to room six the one I had to brake the door in. I went in side and at first every thing looked normal but a little cleaner from my cleaning the day before. Then I noticed on the floor were a bunch of old buttons. Could this have been what made the sound? So I picked up a bunch of them and dropped them and sure enough it sounded the same.

Now the thing that bugged me is how in the hell did they get on the floor. They were no where to be seen the day before. Where did they come from? I was full of questions and some concern thinking that perhaps I was not alone. But surly I would have seen some one else by now I thought. So I Turned around and went back into the hall way and I got the perfume smell once more. This time it was stronger every hair on my body stood on end. I was getting freaked out once more I quickly made my way to the stairs and started down when I heard a soft voice say please stay! Well I lost it at that point and the bad part their was no where to go. If I could have I would have plowed a road back to my truck down the mountain.

I made my way back to the kitchen and stayed their keeping a eye on the door for the entire day. I though this can’t be they has got to be some type of explanation to this. So I started thinking what would cause this. I was not hungry and I was not thirsty so I ruled that out. Then I started thinking what if the stack on the wood stove was clogged up. The carbon monoxide may have caused me to hear things. So I checked the stove the best I could and it was drafting properly. Could their have been something in the water? I boiled the water before drinking it so It should have been ok. My mind was going a mile a minuet. I have been in tougher situations than this before and never experienced things like this. I figured It would be best not to get myself all bent out of shape over this. So I tired to relax I found a board and started to carve it to help relax me.

It was now around 1pm in the afternoon. The snow was still coming down I have lived up here for years and never saw it snow like this in the valley before. I do know the snow is much deeper the higher you get. But I figured it would not be like this. By now the windows in the kitchen were completely covered with snow. I could not see out side so I estimated we had about 10 feet of snow by now. It was still daylight out side but it was now dark in the building to where I had to light a candle for light. The stove was still going I stoked it up a little more my wood was getting low at this point. I went in the back room to get a coffee pot full of water I was pumping the pump and I heard some one or something humming a song. It sounded like camp town races. I just figured I was going off the deep end. So I tried to brush it off as I started back to the door that went back into the kitchen I started smelling bacon cooking I froze in my tracks.

Now picture this here I am by myself in a blizzard in a building that has not seen a human being sense the late 1800’s and I smell bacon cooking and hear some one humming a song. I must have stood in that position holding that blasted coffee pot for two hours not moving a mussel. Finally the humming stopped and the smell went away. I got up enough nerve to peek around the corner of the door to view the kitchen. At first I did not see anything out of the norm. I walked into the kitchen my hand was killing me from having a death grip on that coffee pot so I put it on the stove.

As I looked around the kitchen trying to figure out what had taken place. I noticed on the counter that was dusty something was written in the dust. I slowly walked over to the counter and put my glasses on and read it. It said “Thank you for Staying” I was shaking so hard I think I was shaking the building. Nothing up to this point met with any logic. I could not think about anything else except what this was or who was it. I sat down on a chair in the kitchen and just thought about the events that took place. I knew their had to be a logical explanation. I also knew I was not in bad health I felt fine just a bit raddled.

I could hear the water boiling in the coffee pot so I took it off the stove and made some coffee. As I sat in the chair sipping my coffee trying to relax a little I heard a shuffling sound coming from upstairs. Once more I was thinking Snow sliding off the roof was causing the sound. I realize that being a lone in a old huge building like this stranded in a snow storm can play a lot of tricks on ones mind. Nothing could explain away the words written in the dust on the counter. I was now more determined than every to figure out what was causing these events to occur.

Once more I heard the sound upstairs I decided it was time to find out what was causing it. I found an old broom and broke the handle off of it. I figured it was as good as anything if I needed it. Although I knew it was more to make me feel more comfortable than as a weapon. I also knew at this point I could not see outside from downstairs I would have to go upstairs to look out the window to see what the weather was like. I then reached into my pack and pulled out my small flashlight I have not used it till now to save the batteries. As I made my way through the dinning room the building kind of took on a very eerie feeling. Snow is a sound deadening martial so all the sounds seem to be very local kind of like being in a sound proof room in some ways. Plus all the walls were packed on the outside with snow which keep any vibrations down.

Slowly I made my way to the stairs that led up to the second floor. I started up the stairs one step at a time. The whole time I was listening very carefully for any out of the ordinary sound. One step then two then three after 14 steps I reached the opening to the second floor. I could see daylight shining from each of the door ways of each room. I started to walk down the hall way one step at a time. One door was ajar open I went inside and looked out the window. The Snow was about stopped that made me fee good till I realized how deep it was. It just about reached the second floor of the building. The bunk houses and rock crushers were completely covered with snow. I then turned around to go back to the hall way. I stepped back out in the hall way and I heard a noise this time like some one walking around in one of the rooms it was coming from the far end of the hall way away from the stairs.

As I stood their I could see what light was left of the day shining from underneath the doors. I stood very quiet and listen closely and could hear the walking once more. It was very soft then something caught my eye. At the far end of the hall way where room 6 was at which is the room I had to bust the door in. I could see a shadow moving in the light coming from under the door. Every time I would hear the walking sound a shadow would pass by the door. I swear you could hard my heart beating in Anchorage at this point. I was frozen I could not move I knew I had to get back downstairs why who knows. I could not go anywhere. I felt more comfortable in the kitchen. I finally was able to move slowly I stepped backwards with my eyes glued to the bottom of room 6 door. Watching the shadow moving back and forth as though some one was pacing. I made it to the stairs and start down them very slowly.

I reached the bottom of the stairs and stood their for a few minuets looking up. I then turned around to head back to the kitchen. All of a sudden I got very cold I could see my breath I figured the stove has gone out. I got back and realized the stove was working just fine. In fact it was warm in the kitchen I went back out into the dinning room and it was warm also. I figured it had to be a draft from out side. So I went back to the kitchen and started thinking about the shadow I saw. I have no idea what it was nor do I want to know what it was. It seem very content to stay where it was at so I left well enough alone.

My mind was going a mile a minuet thinking and wondering what the hell was going on. Then I started to think about my wife and friends I am sure they have some one looking for me. And now that the snow has let up they will start searching. It was getting dark and I knew they would not start till first light. So I was thinking how can I attract attention in a snow covered building. Then it dawned on me I have a fire going in the stove if I can find some old rags and oil I could create a lot of smoke. I went into the back room and started to rummage around. I found what appeared to be old table cloths. And an old can that I think had some coal oil in it. This would be perfect during the daylight hours it should give off a think black smoke that can be seen. I put the supplies next to the cabinets in the kitchen to use in the morning. I cooked up some beans that is all I had left. And made some more coffee.

I was a bit more relaxed now I had not heard anything for at least three hours. It was now going on 9pm it was totally dark and I had finished eating and had my coffee. I decided to crawl up into my sleeping back and try and get some rest. At around 12 midnight I noticed it was getting cold in fact cold enough to wake me up. I peaked over at the stove and noticed the fire was not going. So As I started to get up I heard a walking sound. I quickly pulled up in my sleeping bag and stayed put. I did not want to attract attention.

How I was laying I had a good view of the stove. Then I heard a soft walking sound in the kitchen. I figured this is it I am going to die for sure some axe murderer is coming to finish me off. But what ever it was headed to the other side of the kitchen where the stoves were at. I just laid their wondering what was going on. I then notices a flash not a bright flash but kind of yellow in color. Then I noticed the stove was going once more. And getting brighter by the minuet. This was very strange being very exhausted from the events that took place earlier I fell back to sleep. Before I feel asleep I was thinking who or what ever this was if they were going to hurt me they could have done it at any time. I could feel the room getting warm once more. Then I dozed off I guess for several hours until I was abruptly awoken by a crashing should and a blood curdling scream. I could hear tumbling as though something was rolling down the stairs. Then everything went quite.

I had to check this out I got out of my sleeping back and grabbed my flash light and stick and headed for the dinning room. I shined the light around their was nothing to be seen. I then walked over to the stairs and at the foot of the stairs in the dust their was in imprint of what looked like some one at one point was laying on the floor. Looking at it I could make out the arms legs and feet and head and what appeared to be the mark left behind by a dress. Every hair on my body was standing at attention. Then all of a sudden I could feel cold air as though it went right through me. I did not waste any time getting back to the kitchen.

I sat down thinking about what just took place and it dawned on me. Who ever lived in room six died falling down the stairs. That would explain why the room was locked up and un-disturbed . So what I was dealing with here was an honest to goodness ghost. It freaked me out to know that was the answer. As I stated before if they wanted to hurt me They could have done it at any time. Besides she left me a note thanking me for staying I still could not figure that out. The only thing I could think of was by braking in the door it freed her to move about. This is all new too me if any one had asked me a week before this took place if I thought ghost were real. I would have told them that they are wacko for even asking the question.

I looked at my watch and it was now 7am. I figured I best start making some smoke so I can be found. So in the stove next to the one I was using to keep me warm. I cleared out the flue and checked the draft It was working. I Soaked some of the old table cloths in the coal oil I found and ringed them out. Stuffed them in the old stove and got some smoldering embers out of the stove I was using. And placed them on the oil soaked table cloth. And they started to give off a very thick black smoke. About an hour went by and I checked the smoke maker out and it was still making thick black smoke.

I went out into the dinning room and walked around Not sure how I would know if any one saw the smoke. After about an hour or so I went back to the kitchen and check and it was still making smoke. I put the last of the wood in the other stove then went back out into the dinning room. And collected three chairs figured I would burn those once the wood was all burned up. It was now right around 11 am I was standing in the kitchen I could hear a thumping sound. With all the sounds I have heard the past three days I figured it was what ever it was upstairs once more. I did not know what to expect next I figured what ever it was going to be it would be out of the ordinary. Then the sound stopped I soaked another table cloth and ringed it out and placed it in the stove. It then started to smoke even more.

I walked back out into the dinning room and stood their for a second and sat down. I was leaning back on the chair up against the wall resting. When all of a sudden I heard a loud crashing sound and the sound of glass braking. I thought what the hell was that I about fell out of the chair. I stood up ran to the kitchen grabbed my stick my trusty stick and reached for my flash light and noticed in the dust was written “I will miss you” Chills ran up my spine I don’t know how much more of this I could take. I ran into the dinning room and went to the far corner with my flash light off and stick in hand. I squatted down in the corner keeping a fixed watch on the stairs. Wondering what the hell is going to happen next. I could see a shadow in the stair way. As though it was coming down the stairs.

Then I heard the best sound of my life some one yelled out Mr. Parks are you in here. I jumped up so fast I pulled a mussel in my thigh and yelled out at the top of my lungs YES I AM HERE. They came down stairs three mountain rescue members. What a sight for tired Eyes. They shook my hand and said if I want they will take me home. I told them hey you don’t have to ask me twice lets get the hell out of here. One of the Rescue people went into the kitchen and put of the fire in the stoves and get my things then asked me why I left three messages written in the dust. I thought for a second and realize I only saw two. I said where is the other one. He took me back to the kitchen and next to “ I will miss you” Was “Love Debra” I finally had a name to put to the experience I had. I looked at him and told him I was just boarded. He shrugged his shoulders and we headed upstairs and out one of the windows down the roof and on to the fresh snow. Where a helicopter was waiting for us.

On the flight back they told me this was the worst snow they have had in 20 years up here a total of 15 feet fell. We would not have found you if we did not see the black cross in the snow. They pointed it out to me I have no Idea where that came from. I asked them you did not see the smoke? They said no not until we were starting to land.

That is the events as they took place it was very un-nerving and wonders in many ways. Today I have a completely different mind set on ghost and the things that go bump in the night. I have a very healthy respect for it now I no longer make fun of it because I have experienced it first hand.