The only way to cover ground in the Chilcotins, winter or summer, was on horseback or team. Living in the Chilcotins meant overcoming obstacles, day and day out just to survive.

Sir Alexander Mackenzie was the first white man to cross the Rocky Mountains and view the Pacific Ocean from a North American shore twelve years before the more famous Lewis and Clark expedition. Mackenzie set out from Lake Athabaska in 1793 in search of an overland passage to the Pacific and arrived at his destination 72 days and 1250 miles later.

The trail left from the mouth of the Blackwater River west of Quesnel, followed the upper Blackwater up past Eliguk Lake, over the Rainbow Mountains and through what is now Tweedsmuir Park to Bella Coola and was designated as a Heritage Trail in 1987.

It's thought that the first occupiers of land west of the Fraser were the Shushwap Tribe which was nearly wiped out by smallpox in 1862. The Chilcotin or Tsilhqot'in people moved in to take their place from their traditional territory in the west (Alexis Creek to Ulkatcho).

While the tribes and white people had their problems, the Chilcotin Wars being most notable, most of the chiefs were very friendly and cooperative with the white settlers, particularly when treated with equality and respect. As a result, many natives went to work with the settlers as ranch hands, cowboys, packers and guides.

Tom Hance put up a trading post and post office at what become known as Hanceville (turn off to Chaunigan Lake). His wife Nellie was the first white women to come into the Chilcotin had a long trip to get to Hanceville in 1887 on horseback. She rode the whole three hundred miles (510 km) sidesaddle. Tom's place and later Lee's became a jumping off point for all points west and adventuresome men gradually spread through the country, settling their homestead and acquiring ranching stock. While many of their wives were brought from England, the States or Victoria, many married lasses from one of the Chilcotin tribes and more than one family, especially in the Anahim area, has a long history of intermingled families.

Take Care
Tom