Sept 9 -
While in Port Alberni we will take a steam train to the National Historic site of the McLean sawmill. Guides will take us through each step of the milling process in this restored steam powered sawmill. We will see how the loggers and mill workers of that era lived.
Next stop will be Jasper, located in Canada’s largest National Park. We will spend the day exploring the local sites and activities. If you are a golfer you may wish to rent clubs and play the award winning golf course which has won many international awards for its layout and vistas.
Nearby is Maligne Canyon – a must see. It is one of the most spectacular gorges in the Canadian Rockies featuring sheer limestone walls plunging down to the river over 165 ft. below. No one can explain why the gorge is there or how it was developed.
Spend some time looking at the Mountain Type steam engine number 1605 that is on display on the main street. It was used on passenger trains through the Rockies at speeds up to a 100 mph. On fast freight runs through the mountains it would use 10,000 gallons of water and 17 tons of coal.
The tour will then head south down the Ice Field Parkway which National Geographic rates as one of the five most beautiful drives in the world. Every turn in the highway brings new vistas, more mountains, more glaciers and more turquoise mountain lakes into view. This will probably be the most spectacular drive you have ever taken. You will want to take many pictures to show the folks back home.
The tour route will take us right to the doorstep of the Columbia Glacier which is a major glacier that you can walk or take a ride out to. You will see how glaciers are receding and learn how this affects people all the way from BC to California as much of the water used in irrigation in CA originates from this and other glaciers.
The tour will be staying in Lake Louise, which is located in the oldest Canadian National Park and the third oldest in the world. Historic Banff is close by, which you must visit and explore its beautiful mountain setting. You may wish to attend some of the Banff Arts Festival events featuring exceptional artists from around the world. Banff also has wonderful hot springs so bring your bathing suit and soak in the pools. They are guaranteed to cure whatever ails you or at least make you feel better. 
POSTED 12./05/2011
The tour next visits Kelowna, which is a major wine and fruit producing area located in the mountains. It has a beautiful setting on Lake Okanagan and is a major retirement center for many Americans.
In the late 1800s silver was discovered in the nearby Kootenays. To develop the deposit a railway was built through difficult terrain requiring many spectacular bridges and trestles and extraordinary engineering for the period. Now that the deposit is depleted the railway no longer runs over its full length. A portion has been maintained and steam trains are run over it. We will ride this train out of Summerland pulled by a 1912 steam engine numbered 3716 along one of the major scenic railways anywhere, crossing 16 wood trestles and two tunnels. One of the trestles is 300 ft. high. Don’t be surprised if the train is robbed along the way.
Around Spencer’s Bridge we likely will see herds of big horn sheep. In fact you may have to slow down or stop to avoid hitting them
The tour now proceeds to a spectacular and historic site at the Fraser Canyon known as Hell’s Gate. This canyon is very narrow but has been carved out to allow two major railways and the TransCanada Highway to pass through. This required the construction of side crevasses, bridges and trestles. At the location called Hell’s Gate the canyon walls rise about 3,000 feet above the rapids below. You may be interested to view the fish ladders that allow Pacific salmon to get farther up the river for spawning.
Hell’s gate was the major obstacle for the 10,000 gold seekers to get by. You will learn how they did it. It wasn’t easy.
Harrison Hot Springs will be the last stop before Vancouver. Known for its natural hot mineral springs – three outdoor and two inside – the springs offer great relaxation. Again, don’t forget to bring your bathing suit.
There is so much to do in Vancouver that all the events and places can’t all be listed. A ‘must do’ is to either visit Stanley Park or drive around it. It is recognized around the globe as one of the great parks of the world covering over 1,000 acres close to the downtown. A great experience is to walk some of the 5 mile scenic seawall in the park.
Vancouver has an extensive Chinatown and a wonderful old Gastown area plus many more highlights.
The tour will end back at the Pacific Model A clubhouse that is the envy of many Clubs. A farewell dinner will conclude the tour.
If you haven’t registered yet for the tour please do so no later than Feb 1st. You will never see more great scenery and historic features than on this MATC tour.
NOTE: Non-
The tour will then drive north to Prince George, the largest city in northern BC. One of the local attractions
The next stop will be Whistler which hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games. You will enjoy visiting the many world class facilities constructed for the Olympics such as the Sliding Center, the Olympic Park and the Medals Plaza. There is much to see and do including many unique bars and restaurants.
On to Hundred Mile House, where there is lots of cowboy culture and history to soak up. The Gang Ranch near 100 Mile was once the largest ranch in the world. 100 Mile was originally established in the mid 1800s as a major supply station for the more than 10,000 gold seekers who passed through on their way to Barkerville. More than 20 miles of the original wagon road known as the Cariboo Trail leading to Barkerville is still visible. You will marvel at how they built this road over such difficult terrain. We will have the opportunity to visit the “83 Mile” Farm Equipment Museum and Historic Site which contains a fascinating collection of antique farm equipment.
Unlike many of the early gold rush towns which have long disappeared, historic Barkersville, a gold rush town that was the largest town north of San Francisco and west of St. Louis during its heyday, has been restored to reflect what the miners and prospectors did during the original gold rush. You can witness the notorious Judge Begbie hand out his idea of justice, watch authentic gold rush theater, pan for gold and see a real Cornish Waterwheel in action. As well, there is a well preserved Chinatown. Each year thousands of visitors from all over the world come to relive the gold rush days.
