Happy 150th Birthday British Columbia! On this day, November 19th, 1858, James Douglas stood in the Big House at Fort Langley and read out the proclamation that declared British Columbia a Crown Colony.
As I write this I am at the Summit of Rogers Pass- 1330 metres above sea level. It was a tough 45 km run today, but well worth the adventure. Even the 400 metre climb at the end over the last 15 kms! Rogers Pass is known for its snowfall- 10 metres per year! To keep the Trans-Canada Highway open during the winter, the Royal Canadian Military uses 105mm howitzers to knock down the avalanches under controlled circumstances so traffic is not caught in unexpected avalanches.
Rogers Pass is named in honour of Major A.B. Rogers who was hired in 1881 by the Canadian Pacific Railway to find the best rail route from the Kicking Horse Valley, in BC, to the west coast. To avoid the delay of avalanches on the railway a 14.5 km tunnel exists. As well, on the Trans-Canada Highway there are a series a tunnels protecting it from potential avalanches.
Over the next 70 kms, on route to Revelstoke, the elevation will drop 800 metres! Amazing!
The Dream Continues...
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