Halifax: August 27, 1912 <<< >>> Victoria: October 17, 1912
| Today's Statistics: | Travelling from Ashcroft, British Columbia to Lytton, British Columbia | |||
| Distance: 174 km | Driving Hours: 4 h | Fuel: 29 l | Weather: Sunny | Temperature: Min. 0 Max. 10 |
After a quick look at some of the historic buildings in Ashcroft, the 1997 pathfinders made their way up the hill and north to Cache Creek. At Cache Creek highway 1 turns east, heading through Kamloops and on to the Rogers Pass. Instead, the Reo headed north along highway 97 toward the Cariboo region of British Columbia. After a short drive along 97, it then headed west on the old Pavilion Lake Road, passing by the Hat Creek Ranch.
The Hat Creek Ranch was originally a roadhouse along the gold rush trail. It was the first stop out of Ashcroft and served the teams and passengers of the BX stage lines. In 1912, Thomas Wilby and Jack Haney stopped at the ranch with their Reo. Today the ranch and the roadhouse have been restored as a reminder of the importance of this route to the gold fields.
Further along the Pavilion Lake Road the Reo began to climb up the hills. New snow lay on the surrounding hills and crept closer as the Reo climbed higher. At the top of the hill, snow lay on the ground alongside the road and the Findlays and John Nicol stopped to take pictures and throw a few snowballs. It was the only snow on the whole trip.
The town of Pavilion is the site of B.C.'s oldest General Store and Post Office. Built in 1862, the store has served travellers headed for the Cariboo for 135 years.
Shortly after Pavilion, the Fraser River came into view. At this point the River is far below the highway in a steep mountain canyon. The view from highway is spectacular, with mountains stretching as far as the eye can see and the river flowing through the canyon hundreds of metres below.
After a long steep descent to the river below, the Reo crossed over to the town of Lillooet. During the gold rush of the mid 1800s, Lillooet was an important transportation and economic centre. It is officially marked as Mile 0 of the Cariboo Wagon Road. Stops along the road were named according the mileage from this point. It was also the place where Cariboo justice was administered. Judge Matthew Baillie Begbie was assigned the job of maintaining law and order in the wild days of the gold rush. His jurisdiction included the whole of the Cariboo. He was known as a stern and determined man and earned the nickname "The Hanging Judge" although records only indicate two hangings that ocurred on Begbie's Hanging Tree in Lillooet.
From Lillooet the Reo headed back across the Fraser River and south to Lytton. At Lytton, the clear waters of the Thompson River flow into the muddy Fraser River. The two waters can clearly be seen flowing side by side down the Fraser for quite a ways. Lytton is located along the Trans-Canada highway. Over the next few days the Reo will follow the Fraser River all the way down to its mouth at Vancouver.
North of Lillooet the road winds high above the Fraser River.
The Hanging Tree, used by Sir Matthew Bailie Begbie - The Hanging Judge.
... There was snow on the ground as the Reo crossed over the mountains to Lillooet.
On this day in 1912 ...