In his review, Roper mentioned London's short story "To a Man on the Trail" and a main character who stood "six feet two or three, with proportionate breadth of shoulders . . ." Curiously, the highly-talented but medium-statured (5 feet 9 inches but strong and well-proportioned) London may have yearned to have been taller than he was in real life.
During the Klondike gold rush of 1897-98, the 21-year-old and muscular London packed heavy loads on his back over the high Chilkoot or White Pass and then studied philosophy books while snowbound in a cabin.
