The future founder of Skagway, William Moore, also accompanied Ogilvie for part of the expedition, taking time out to explore and name the White Pass, the little-known alternative to the Chilkoot.
Altogether Ogilvie was cut off from the outside world for 14 months. He spent the winter of 1887-88 at Fortymile, taking astronomical observations under difficult conditions in order to determine where the 141st meridian crossed the Fortymile River. He had to make a base for his astronomical transit, since its tripod, which weighed more than 400 pounds, had been left at the bottom of the Chilkoot Pass. After a three-day search, Ogilvie's party found a suitable tree stump, 22 inches across, to set the transit on.
