Doug's Blog
Numerous gold rushes helped to shape North America : 01/16/07
One of these was the Cariboo Gold Rush in the southern center of what is now the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It occurred in the latter part of the 19th century and was a key factor in the development of the Canada/US boundary west of the Rockies.
In the decade of the 1860's, the Colony of British Columbia came to the attention of the world. GOLD had been discovered on the Fraser's River and in the Cariboo Region. At that time, this land was occupied by Salish and Chilcotin Indians, as well as by fur trappers and traders. The search for gold was a major force in opening British Columbia for settlement and in shaping its landscape, government and laws. The story of the Cariboo Gold rush is an exciting chapter in the history of Canada and the West.
Its history was rich with tales of big strikes, robberies and interesting characters. The geology of the area consists of newer rock formations shaped by glaciers, volcanic eruptions and shifts in the earths crust that formed the Cariboo Plateau and the Coastal, Cascade and Rocky Mountain Ranges. The topography is landscaped by evergreen forests, lakes, streams and desert.
The Gold Rush Trail follows the historic 1860's routes of miners bound for the Cariboo Goldfields. One began his journey to the Cariboo Trail began at Fort Victoria on Vancouver Island and headed north 500 miles to the gold rush town of Barkerville. One would travel by boat to Fort New Westminster at the mouth of the Fraser River. From there one journeyed by steamboat to where the river narrowed at Yale and Spuzzum. This was followed by an overland trek through the treacherous Fraser River Gorge past Hell's Gate and on to where the Thompson joined the Fraser at Lytton.
One continued to Lillooet, Mile Zero of the northern section of the trail. This is a semi arid desert region where the Dewdney and Caribou Trails met and where travelers would re-provision. From there the Caribou Trail went east to Cache Creek and on up through Clinton, 100 Mile House, 150 Mile House, Quesnel and on to Barkerville. It was a hard trail. Many never returned.
The natives of B.C. were an active part of the gold rush at all levels. They helped miners find gold, fought off invading miners in the Fraser Canyon and the Chilcotin, provided knowledge of the country, became packers, worked on claims and married many of the first Europeans to settle in the country. The travelers spoke many dialects and some became historical figures.
In the 50s, Hollywood even produced a movie about a cattle drive up the trail to Barkerville called 'The Cariboo Trail' starring Randolph Scott.
The 'Trail' was known well to politicians, miners, prospectors, ranchers, lumbermen, speculators, and a few merchants, but it is still relatively undiscovered to the tourist and holiday-maker, and in consequence affords the most princely vacation in all Canada, the prince of Summer playgrounds.
Gold can still be found by individuals but is predominantly being mined by big mining conglomerates. The older route still exists but has been replaced by paved highways.
Today the area offers new types of economic opportunity ranging from investment to real estate. It is also a key support route in the development of the northern boom that is currently occurring in Western Canada oilfields, mining, logging, shipping natural gas and the Alaska Pipeline.
The Road Side Analyst is going to feature this area of North America in future episodes and invites your comments and questions - Thank You
