June 8, 1793. Excerpts from the Journals of Alexander MacKenzie on this epic Voyage Of Discovery to the Pacific Ocean.
“It rained and thundered through the night, and at four in the morning we again encountered the current. Our course was…(18 miles, mostly SE)... when the mountains were in full view in this direction, and Eastward ”
“For the last two days we had been anxiously looking out for the carrying-place, but could not discover it, and our only hope was in such information as we should be able to procure from the natives. All that remained for us to do, was to push forwards till the river should be no longer navigable…it was eight at night before we could discover a place to encamp.”
“Having found plenty of wild parsnips, we gathered the tops, and boiled them with pemmican for our supper.” They have found the reason for the name of this river; in the journal he calls this part the south branch of the Peace River, a few years after completion of this famous journey it will be known from then on as the Parsnip River. Technically of course he is correct, as the parsnips are wild; however the type they are eating is the cow parsnip, not the one known today as the invasive species wild parsnip. (Pictures 1 & 2). 
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