On an early morning in August 1931, an 86-year-old man with a limp and a massive backpack hobbled into a supply store in the tiny town of Alvin, British Columbia, Canada. This man was Robert Brown, better known as “Volcanic,” a name earned decades earlier after discovering a gold mine in Volcanic City, Canada. Despite his advanced age, Volcanic was still fueled by the same adventurous spirit that had guided him through his life as a gold prospector.
Volcanic’s reputation preceded him. He had been so successful in his younger years that he was able to retire early, spending his remaining days doing whatever he pleased. When he entered the store, the young clerk behind the counter offered to hold his backpack while he shopped. Volcanic, offended by the assumption that he was weak, declined the offer and flashed a broad grin, revealing an impressive set of gold teeth—a trophy from his prosperous past.
As he gathered supplies—cooking essentials, shotgun ammo, and a pen for his journal—the clerk asked if Volcanic was planning a camping trip along the nearby Pit River. Volcanic’s response was both surprising and cryptic. He explained that he intended to follow the river through the mountains to Stave Lake, where he would explore a hidden gold mine. The clerk, taken aback, warned him of the dangers ahead. Many had attempted to find the mine, but few returned, and some never did. Volcanic, however, was undeterred, boasting of a secret map that would lead him to the treasure.
Several hours later, Volcanic began his trek along the rocky banks of the Pit River. Despite only covering five miles on the first day—his limp and age slowing his pace—he already felt completely cut off from civilization. The thick forest lining the river was foreboding, yet Volcanic felt at home in the wilderness. After all, he had spent much of his life in such environments, hunting for gold.
As the sun began to set, Volcanic reached a clearing that offered a view of the distant mountains. Smiling, he pulled out his journal and examined the map he had drawn years earlier, based on the directions given to him by an indigenous woman. This woman, whom Volcanic had nursed back to health during a previous expedition, had shared the secret of the legendary gold mine near Stave Lake. She also warned him that the mine’s original discoverer, a man named Slac, had placed a curse on the mine, ensuring that anyone who attempted to reach it would be stopped by the forest itself.
Despite this ominous warning, Volcanic was determined to find the mine. This was his second attempt; five years earlier, he had reached the shores of Stave Lake but was forced to turn back after a severe case of frostbite led him to amputate three toes with a pocket knife. Now, with a limp and an unwavering determination, he was ready to try again.
That night, Volcanic set up camp far from the tree line, remembering the woman’s warning. As he sat by his fire, he heard a twig snap in the darkness. Grabbing his shotgun, he stood ready, but after several tense minutes, the forest remained still. Convinced it was just a rabbit, he extinguished his fire and retreated to his tent.
For over a month, Volcanic hiked through the rugged terrain, growing weaker and more emaciated with each passing day. Finally, he reached the shores of Stave Lake once more. This time, he was able to continue his journey, pushing towards the glacier that marked the final landmark on his map. The entrance to the mine was near, and Volcanic’s excitement grew as he neared his goal.
As night fell, he set up camp once again, unable to sleep due to the howling wind outside his tent. But something was wrong—the fabric of his tent remained still, despite the noise. When he struck a match, the flame didn’t flicker. There was no wind, only an eerie, disembodied sound that left him feeling deeply unsettled.
The next morning, eager to reach the mine, Volcanic packed up and set out without breakfast. Following the map, he climbed the side of a mountain, dodging tree limbs and clambering over boulders. Finally, he saw it: a dark hole in the mountainside. Convinced it was the entrance to the gold mine, Volcanic stepped inside.
Two months later, the clerk in Alvin watched the first snowflakes of winter fall, troubled by the thought of the old man who had ventured into the wilderness. When Volcanic failed to return, the clerk informed the local game warden, who organized a search party.
Three weeks later, after battling through knee-high snow, the warden and his team reached Stave Lake. There, near the glacier, they found Volcanic’s collapsed tent. Inside, they discovered his belongings, but Volcanic himself was nowhere to be found. The only clue was a glass jar lying near the entrance of the tent.
The contents of that jar remain a mystery, fueling speculation and legend. Some say it was filled with raw gold nuggets, proof that Volcanic had found the mine before he disappeared. Others claim it held Volcanic’s solid gold teeth, suggesting a far darker fate.
Nearly a century later, Volcanic Brown’s disappearance remains unsolved. No one has ever found the mine and lived to tell the tale, yet the legend persists. At least 33 people have died or vanished in search of it, driven by the same dream that led Volcanic Brown into the unforgiving wilderness.