We headed Northwards along the Fraser River, which is the major river in British Columbia. It rises at Yellowhead Pass, Alberta on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains and flows northwest in the Rocky Mountain Trench to Prince George, British Columbia, then south to the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver. The river drains a huge, scenic area of 217,800 sq.km (84,100 sq.mi), receiving the Nechako, Quesnel, Thompson and Chilcotin rivers as well as numerous smaller streams along its 1,369-km (850-mi) course.
Fur traders and gold miners established the early settlements along the river in the first half of the 19th century. And what a difficult time those gold miners must have suffered. The Fraser is only navigable to Yale, approximately 145 km (90 mi) from its mouth, so the miners after exhausting the gold found in the creeks of the Fraser had to find a way of going ever further North. This was accomplished by using the various lakes which were almost connected as far as Lillooet. First there was Harrison Lake followed by Lillooet Lake, Anderson Lake and finally Seton Lake. Connecting them were short partages over which all materials had to be transported, mainly by the Native Canadians. So once the miners reached Lillooet, the Cariboo Trail started from there and it was because this was the start of the trail that Lillooet became known as "Mile 0" on the map. Further North along the trail was "70 mile" then "100 mile" and so on to Quesnel and Barkerville.
We were privileged to travel most of this route, but now from the comfort of our friends Recreational Vehicle. We followed the Fraser via Hope, Yale and Lytton then the mighty Thompson to Ashcroft, Cache Creek and then on to Lillooet. Staying in Forestry Areas gave us a good flavour of the isolation and pioneering spirit that those old Gold Miners faced as they headed for the Cariboo Trail.
What a story, what a country, what people! The experience will live with my wife and I for a long time to come.
We had many people to thank but mainly Ralph, Don and Freda who all looked after us so well and made the trip such a memorable one.
Seton Lake near Lillooet and “Mile 0” at the start of the Cariboo Trail
The beautiful Emerald Lake (above left) and Lake Louise (above right) with Moraine Lake and the valley of the Ten Peaks (below).
Kamloops Lake
Hell’s Gate
Emerald Lake
