|
Rivers
of Canada:
British Columbia's Mighty
Fraser
by
Jerry W. Bird
 Having
listened to songs and ballads about the Mighty
Fraser since I was old enough to turn on a radio or
strum a guitar, I never tire of visiting familiar
and newly discovered places along its winding path.
"My Home by the Fraser" by Kerry Reagan, was a hit
song for generations on radio station CKNW. One
evening during a break from high school, a bunch of
us piled into the back of a Canadian Army truck
near Stanley Park in Vancouver, and tumbled out
sometime later on a pitch-black location near
Abbotsford Airport. The Fraser River flood scene
was chaotic - sandbags were strewn everywhere and
loud voices barked orders throughout the long
night.
 That's
when I learned how 'connected' the Fraser River
System is to BC's life-line. Today, the Fraser's
waters are more serene and placid, from its muddy
mouth in the Delta, past Fort Langley and Hope, to
Yale, once the head of navigation for riverboats
carrying hordes of fur traders
and gold seekers. Having worked two summers on
the
SS Keno, a
Yukon paddle wheeler, I know the lure of the river,
which is recaptured by the Fraser River Connection,
berthed at New Westminster Quay Public
Market. The
Route Map
will help you locate the various cities, towns,
villages, whistle-stops and hamlets, each a
springboard to adventure in Mighty Fraser country.
Examples of Water Wonderland hot spots and cool
locations are as follows:
 Cultus
and Chilliwack Lakes have been on our agenda
since the days when BC Electric Railway's brick red
trams (a
super-streetcar)
carried picnickers and vacationers from Vancouver.
They tell me the fishing around here is as good as
ever, year after year; in fact the city of
Chilliwack itself has become a magnet for fishing
and boating in BC's Lower Mainland.
Not far from Chilliwack is
beautiful Bridal Falls - a place where you
can cool off in the misty spray by the side of the
road, or take the gang for a fast tumble down the
popular Trans Canada Water Slides. A refreshing
thought! And, as they say, "along life's path,
don't forget to stop and smell the
flowers."
Brian Minter would
love that idea. His family has operated the
world-famous Minter Gardens for decades. Perfume of
the Gods.Harrison Lake and Hot Springs: Speaking of
voyages into history, Harrison became popular
thanks to the CNR Railroad, whose main line runs
south of the current resort. The lodge's gallery of
photos shows a Horse and Buggy 'limo' that met
every train and carried visitors to the lodge all
year round. Many of these visitors were Hollywood
stars and other celebrities. I first discovered
Harrison as a passenger in my grandparents Buick ,
and rediscovered it later as a young parent.
My boys were fascinated by
the Legend of the Sasquatch as was
illustrated on an entrance sign. These days, one of
the softer adventures is building 'sandcastles' on
the lakeshore during a worldwide competition. Try
it. If you're flying in from Calgary, Edmonton,
Victoria or Toronto on business -- this is a great
place to combine work and pleasure. Fire up the
creative juices and recharge the batteries- right?
In addition to the thermal springs at the Harrison
Hot Springs Resort Hotel, there is a community spa
for the public. Other natural hot springs in the
area include a popular spot you can bathe for free
near the Pitt River Canyon.
More
Water Adventures
Experience
the sights, and sounds of Mighty Fraser Country's
untamed waterways and
lakes. Ride the white water
on a raft expedition or fish along the shores for
salmon while the sun dies the glacier coated
mountains red as it sets. Take a soft adventure
journey along the quiet rivers and lakes to digest
the region's majestic terrain. Mighty Fraser
country offers so many water adventures, it is hard
to decide what to do. Mighty Fraser Country abounds
with wild rivers and serene lakes. Mighty Fraser
Country will set you in awe. Captivating the
landscape is the Coast Mountains surrounding the
lush Fraser Valley, rich with raspberry fields and
other flavourful harvests. Cutting through the
Region's mountains is the raging Fraser River,
which drains the Region's lakes and rivers.
Comparable to only a few regions in the world,
Mighty Fraser Country offers some of the best
outdoor water adventures.
Fishing
the Lower Fraser : As one of the worlds last
remaining great salmon runs, the mighty Fraser is
famous for its sport fishing. Along its banks, try
your luck at catching king salmon and chinook after
April, or five species of salmon (coho, chum, pink,
sokeye , chinook) during the fall spawning
migration. The Valley's Vedder River in
Abbotsford and Chilliwack, which feeds the Fraser,
has runs of 100,000 Chinook and 50,000 coho
annually. On the Vedder you can fish for Steelhead
on a fly-only restriction in May. While visiting
the Valley, don't neglect to visit Harrison River,
which drains Harrison Lake into the Fraser. You'll
find this river bountiful with Salmon, Trout, and
Surgeon. Surgeon are pleintiful in the valley,
living sometimes more than 100 years and growing to
450 kilograms, so have your camera
ready!
Witnessing
the salmon turn bright red in the rivers as they
travel to the spawning grounds in the fall is
amazing. There are many locations in Mighty Fraser
Country to view this spectacle including Maple
Ridge, Mission, Harrison Hot Springs, Chilliwack,
Agassiz, and Hope. Weaver Creek near Harrison Bay
is the Region's best viewing area for sockeye from
Mid-October to late November.
Pitt Lake
and Canyon: Pitt Lake is one of Mighty Fraser
Country's most stunning water bodies; it covers
5,380 hectares. The lake is fed from Garibaldi
Park's ice fields 40-km north through the majestic
Pitt river, which flows through a deep valley that
it has carved out of the Earth. Enjoy your day
fishing on the lake for Trout or Dolly Varden. For
those who like exploring, you can captain a cruise
up the Pitt River Canyon. You'll probably want to
visit Widgeon Valley National Wildlife Reserve, an
area home to a variety of marsh bird species, at
the lake's north end, if you're a bird lover. To
cool off on those sun drenching afternoons, you may
want to test your water sport skills, perhaps a lap
or two around the lake on a wake board would be in
order.
Cultus
Lake, Harrison Lake and Hot
Springs:Don't
forget to allow time in your itinerary for Cultus
Lake. There are more than a dozen public beaches at
this popular Lake for you to enjoy, with a vast
menu of water activities available Visitors will
find may entertainment options on and off the lake
at Cultus Principal Park. Rent your own personal
watercraft to discover the lakes hidden secrets, or
stay ashore and test your miniature golf skills. If
you like being pampered, you may want to visit
Harrison Lake - the largest in south western
British Columbia. Check into the world class
Harrison  Hot
Springs Resort (above) or nearby Rowena's
Inn (right) on the River for the ultimate in
luxury accommodations. If you enjoy boating, you
may want to charter your own or take a guided tour.
Thermal wind gusts up to 30 knots and waves more
than a metre high makes Harrison Lake great for
windsurfing and sailing. Harrison is recognized for
its Hot Springs, originally used by the Coast
Salish people a "healing place'
REO
RAFTING ADVENTURE RESORT
Call REO Rafting Adventures to book you next
vacation. In greater Vancouver call (6040 461-7238
(RAFT) or in North America call toll free
1-800-736-7238 (REO RAFT) www.reorafting.com,
e-mai:
info@reorafting.com
Fraser
Port is located at the mouth of the Fraser
River, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean,
south of Vancouver, British Columbia. It offers a
complete range of services at terminals equipped
for efficient container and breakbulk handling. It
offers integrated services for the coastal forest
industry. It is also the largest autoport in
Canada. Fraser Port is fully integrated with global
transportation networks. On average, more than 22
million tonnes of cargo move through Fraser Port
terminals each year. This creates 10,700 direct
jobs in the Lower Mainland alone. Waterborne
commerce through Fraser Port also has a $2.1
billion effect on Canada's GDP, and the total
economic output is valued at $4.8 billion. Fraser
Port is administered by the Fraser River Port
Authority. In addition to overseeing trade and
shipping, the Port Authority manages federal and
provincial Crown Lands within its jurisdiction.
Web
site: Fraser Port authority
|
