Chilliwack: the "Heart of the Valley" is made up of 14 Villages - In this series of 14 caches we will introduce you to each of those Villages. When you have solved the puzzle for all 14 of the caches your smiley faces will produce the shape of a heart in the Eastern portion of Chilliwack. In each of the 14 caches you will find information which you must record in order to find the Final cache in this series, the "Heart of Hearts" cache.
We hope you enjoy your trip around the area and the cache locations we have selected for this series. Have fun and if possible involve the whole family in solving the puzzles and finding the caches, they are meant to be "family friendly".
The community of Columbia Valley lies adjacent to the American border, at the southern end of Cultus Lake. A number of small hobby farms and larger commercial agricultural operations are located in the area. Today, a drive around Columbia Valley offers visitors a chance to visit tree nurseries, swine operations, a wine-making business and raspberry farms.
Three important features mark the Columbia Valley. The first is the Canada/United States border that runs through the Valley and over the mountains between Canada and the United States. The second is a collection of four old barns located close to this border, all built around 1900. The third is the network of roads that begin at Lindell Beach and circle Columbia Valley, ending up back at Lindell Beach.
In 1887, when the first families began arriving in Columbia Valley many believed that they were settling in the United States. The border, laid out in 1859/60 by the Royal Engineers, was overgrown and not obvious to these families. Access to the Columbia Valley was via Maple Falls, Washington, a booming logging and mining town, through which Columbia Valley residents received supplies and mail. Sometime around 1905/06 the border was resurveyed and residents confirmed that they were in Canada, not the United States. Poor roads meant that Columbia Valley residents remained oriented to the United States until the Second World War, when access to the United States was greatly restricted. Today, along Henderson Road, which parallels the border, it remains possible to stop at a border monument and, circling the monument, pass in and out of the United States.
The Jarabek’s, Minnick’s, Kosiker’s and Dorko’s are the local residents who built the large cedar barns. Their styles are similar, locally split cedar boards, with cedar shake roofs. Long straight beams extend the length of the barns and each features a peaked roof, flaring from the centre to the low side walls. Inside are large haylofts with milking parlours found adjacent to the side walls. All of the barns, circa 1900, are in remarkably wonderful condition. The Jarabek and Minnick barns are located on Henderson Road. The Kosiker and Dorko barns are located on Maple Falls Road.
In 1916, a road, more accurately described as a cart path, was built beside Cultus Lake, connecting Columbia Valley to Chilliwack. However there were times when this road was impassable and residents continued to travel to the United States for supplies. In 1956 this road was improved substantially, giving year round access to Chilliwack.
Other roads in Columbia Valley date to the 1920s when the Campbell River Logging Company began large-scale railroad logging in the Valley. Before then small mill operations used the abundant forest resources. The Campbell River Logging Company had several logging camps located in the Valley, segregated by race. Camps for Japanese and East Indian workers were located near Henderson Road. When the company pulled out of the area around 1930, the former rail beds were converted into roads. Most of the roads in Columbia Valley date to this era.
Old tree stumps still dot the landscape of Columbia Valley. The barns, roads and border are unique features that define the community. Anchoring all of this are about 370 people, the current population of the Valley, living on about 3,000 acres of land. Local residents are extremely proud and conscious of the past and recognize the unique features that define the Columbia Valley.
All information was obtained from the Chilliwack Museum and Archives Website- Visit them "here"
In order to find this cache you will need to answer the questions below.
Cache is at: N49 0A.BCD and W121 EF.GHI
A = The fourth digit of the year the road around Cultus Lake was substantially improved, giving year round access to Columbia Valley.
B = Add "E", "F" and "G" and divide by "D"
C = Subtract the second and third digits of the year the first families began arriving in Columbia Valley.
D = Divide the number of present day residents by 74.
E = Circa 1900 a number of distinctive barns were built in Columbia Valley, How many residents built these barns?
F = Subtract 20 from the difference between the year the cart path road was built around Cultus Lake and the year the first families began arriving in Columbia Valley.
G = Campbell Valley Logging Co. had segregated camps for it's workers. How many of those camps were located near Henderson road.
H = Subtract the third digit of the year Campbell River Logging Co. left the area from the third digit of the year they began large-scale railroad logging.
I = The number of border monuments mentioned in the text.
