Halifax: August 27, 1912 <<< >>> Victoria: October 17, 1912
| Today's Statistics: | Travelling from Lytton, British Columbia to Hope, British Columbia | |||
| Distance: 123 km | Driving Hours: 3 h | Fuel: 30 l | Weather: Showers | Temperature: Min. 0 Max. 9 |
The morning started out under cloudy skies and chilly temperatures. Shortly after leaving Lytton the Reo began to climb the long hill up Jackass Mountain. During the gold rush days, horses, donkeys, and even camels (an unsuccessful attempt) were used to pack miners' supplies through the canyon along the gold rush trail. Jackass mountain was named after a donkey was startled, perhaps by a camel, and bolted over the side of the mountain to the river far below. During the morning ride the Reo was met by Lorne Findlay's brother and sister and their spouses who escorted the car along. At Boston Bar, Peter Findlay was pleased and surprised to see two of his students from General Wolfe School in Vancouver waving by the side of the road. Leif and Soren, along with their parents, had made the trip from Vancouver to see the Reo. After meeting up with the car, they were heading down the one of the many sand bars along the river to take a turn at panning for gold. Gold can still be found along the river by those willing to search for it.
At lunch time, the Reo stopped at the world famous Hell's Gate Aeriel Tramway. The tramway takes visitors down over 150 metres to the spot that Simon Fraser referred to as "The Gate of Hell" when he journeyed through in 1808. Fraser was the first European to travel all the way down to the mouth of the river, but when he came to this point, the churning waters were impassible and he had to portage using ropes and bridges along the steep cliff walls. The natives had used this method for years and assisted Fraser through the treacherous canyon. Only one sternwheeler, the Skuzzy, has ever made it through Hell's Gate. It steamed up the river, but never made the return trip down to the coast.
Today the shape of the canyon has changed somewhat due to blasting during the building of the CP and CN rail lines. The blasting debris made it impossible for the salmon to spawn each year, so a series of fishways was built in the 1940's to help out. Since then the salmon have gradually returned on the Fraser River.
At peak water this summer, the Fraser was about 70 metres deep through Hell's Gate, with about a billion litres of water flowing through the narrow gorge each minute.
After a fine lunch at Hell's Gate, the Reo continued through the Fraser Canyon, passing through seven tunnels along the way. The entire canyon is a very scenic drive along the mountains' edges with the river winding below and long freight trains snaking their way along either edge of the canyon. Both the rail lines and the highways must pass through tunnels in places where there isn't enough room to go around the mountain.
In mid-afternoon the Reo reached a small lake called The Lake of the Woods. There, in addition to local vintage car enthusiasts from Hope, were many members of the Findlay family gathered to welcome the pathfinders. Included in the gruop were Peter Findlay's wife and three children as well as his two sisters and their families. Lorne Findlays brother and sister and their spouses ahd already joine the Reo along the way, so the welcome was a very happy reunion - spouse, children and grandchildren were all excited about the return of the Findlays.
A short time later the Hope vintage cars had escorted the Reo into town where the group was welcomed by Mayor Wilfried Victor. Then the entire Findlay group set off for the local campground to have their annual "Family campout", a little later than usual this year, but a great event as usual.
Highway 1 passes through seven tunnels on its way through the Fraser Canyon.
Many members of the Findlay family were on hand to welcome the Reo to Hope.
... Soren and Leif, students from General Wolfe School where Peter Findlay
teaches in Vancouver, came to meet the Reo at Boston Bar.
On this day in 1912 ...