Day 3 and we continue up the Yellowhead Highway, #5, along the North Thompson River. Alexander Ross, an early western Canadian explorer in the employ of the Hudson’s Bay Company, is generally credited as the first European to travel the North Thompson River. Today we follow in those footsteps albeit via black hardtop, not rushing waters. Somewhere between Clearwater and Valemont we see a sign saying “Little Hells Gates” Well the point of this trip is to explore these out of the way points of interest so off we go down this narrow gravel single lane track through the trees. We see a sign that says “Little Hells Gate 3kms”. Man I hope we don’t meet anyone coming towards us. Sure enough, about half way in we meet an oncoming truck. The road is not wide enough for two vehicles to pass. I ain’t backing up. Fortunately it was a short back up for the truck and as I came along side I stop and roll down the window. ” Is there somewhere to turn around up here” I ask. “Yes” the driver replied “but don’t drive down the hill as you won’t get back up pulling your trailer.” Good thing I ran into this fellow. Great advice it turns out to be as I would not have gotten back up the hill. Anyway we stop, managed to get the truck and trailer turned around and heading the right way to get out. We hike down to the Little Hells Gate. Wild water surges through a narrow gap in the canyon. A CN train snakes it’s way along a ledge higher up the canyon wall. A scene representative of the ruggedness being tamed by the industry of mankind.

Well needless to say we made it back to the highway, continuing up the Yellowhead to the junction with Highway 16, the northern TransCanada. We turn east and soon see in front of us the striated visage of Mt Robson rising against the morning sun. It is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. Called YUH-HAI-HAS-KUN which means “Mountain of the Spirit Road” in the Secwepemc language, the first Europeans to officially climb it were Austrian Mountain guide Conrad Kain, Canadian William Foster and American Albert MacCarthy in 1913. An earlier attempt in 1909 by two Canadians, Rev. George Kinney and Donald Philips who claimed to have reached the summit but it is generally believed they were unsuccessful.

A little later on it’s time for a comfort break so we pull into the Mt Terry Fox Rest area. Obviously dedicated to the memory of Terry Fox it offers an inspiring view of the mountain named after the Canadian hero.

Soon we roll into Jasper National Park and our destination for tonight. We find a great spot at the Whistler’s Campground and settle in for the night. All in all an interesting day. More Details on Jasper tomorrow.

“Ec k etic-ucw” which means “sleep well” in the Secwepemc language