The Mad Trapper’s Grave

In the depths of December 1931, an enigmatic loner calling himself Albert Johnson shot and injured a policeman near the Rat River, not far from Aklavik. He then led authorities on a month-long wild goose chase that was broadcast via radio around the world. As the sign beside his grave says, “With howling huskies, dangerous trails, frozen nights, the posse finally caught up with him.”

Despite the Arctic conditions, the madman miraculously led officers on a chase through the deadly frozen wilderness, single-handedly scaling a cliff wall before he disappeared. Exhausted, and a little amazed at Johnson’s survival skills, the Canadian police hired a small plane to assist in the search. Finally, 40 days after fleeing his cabin and 240 kilometres away from their first encounter, Johnson was found and shot down by RCMP.

During the whole ordeal, Johnson is said to have been completely silent and no further information on the man’s past was ever uncovered, leaving nothing but questions. His corpse carried some $2,000, but lacked clues as to who he really was, where he’d come from, or why he seemed hellbent to kill.

In death, his legend only grew. He is said to be buried in the remote hamlet of Aklavik and a crude sign emblazoned with his story still marks his passing.