June 18, 1793. White Ducks.

June 18, 1793. Day 41.

Excerpts from the Journal of Alexander MacKenzie on this day, 227 years ago.

      “It rained throughout the night and till seven in the morning; nor was I sorry that the weather gave me an excuse for indulging my people with that additional rest…Before eight, however, we were on the water, and driven by a strong current…”

What a difference a day makes.

Sleeping in, and paddling downstream. Finally. 

     They have made at least 40 river miles down the MacGregor, which is a big change from only making 2 or 3 miles progress in a day. It’s really paid off because they have finally reached “the great fork”, where this river meets the one we know today as the Fraser. Smooth sailing ahead, and downstream in a fast current.  “The current now was very strong, but perfectly safe…”   

          “Here was the great fork, of which our guide had informed us, and it appeared to be the largest branch from the South-East. It is about half a mile in breadth...we steered West, and sounded in 16 feet water.”

     Following the course of the river down, he has passed by the future site of Huble Homestead. Ironically, at this point the Fraser is only a few miles overland from Summit Lake; which is also the Divide of the waters to Arctic and Pacific. Simon Fraser, and all future explorers and gold-seekers will cross over this ancient native Portage; they will enter or leave the river here. The Lhedli T'enneh first named the trail Lhedesti. Today the 8.5 kilometre trail is called the Giscome Heritage Trail. If MacKenzie had only known, he could have saved a week or ten days of precious time and eliminated the many tortuous miles of the terrible route they have endured over the past few days.

     “Where a small river flowed in on the right; South-West by South...South-West by West...here we landed for the night.” 

The “river that flowed in on the right” is the Salmon River.

     “When we passed the last river we observed smoke rising from it...I therefore concluded that there were natives on its banks; but I was unwilling to fatigue my people, by pulling back against the current in order to go in search of them...we saw a flock of ducks which were entirely white, except the bill and parts of the wings.”

The encampment of this day I reckon was about about 4 river miles downstream from the mouth of the Salmon River, and they have made a total of about 80 river miles on this day.