What did the early miners live on? They either had to bring their own supplies, live off the land, or rely on the poor-quality food available through the nearest trading post. This meant that their diet was almost always inadequate. And if supplies didn't arrive before freeze-up, or if hunting was unsuccessful, a real risk of starvation loomed.
The main staple of the miners' diet was flour, used to make bannock and sourdough bread. At the trading post they could also obtain basics such as coffee, bacon, and sugar. In season they might eat moose, bear, caribou, and fish. The traders grew vegetables in small gardens behind their cabins, but most of the men never saw fresh vegetables or fruit.
