There are six stages in 4"D x 3"H clear tubs with blue lids,
containing a muggle sheet and the coordinates of the next stage.
The Final Stage is in a clear Lock and Lock, 6" x 6" x 2". Items
left in the Final Stage were: deck of cards, yo-yo, toy car, video
cables, plus log book, pen & pencil. All stages have a photo
and description of the nearby Pictograph. The Caches are placed so
that they are not in a direct line-of-sight of a Muggle viewing the
paintings, and the cooordinates are for the Cache, not the
Pictograph. Once you get close, they are in plain view.
Start from Princeton, and enjoy this easy, scenic drive along
the (paved) Old Hedley Road, on the North side of the Similkameen
River. All the Pictographs are within sight of the road, on your
left as you travel East. The Pictographs (red in colour, and found
on light grey rock faces, usually overhanging) are hundreds of
years old, and are protected by law. DO NOT TOUCH. The Natives used
this valley as a trade route, bringing red ochre (the dye in the
Pictographs) from Vermillion Cliffs in the Tulameen Valley to a
trading camp on the South side of the Similkameen River just East
of the present bridge where Hwy. 3 crosses the river. The
Similkameen Band did not allow other tribes (some of which
travelled from as far as the Great Plains) to travel further
upstream, to protect the source of their precious red ochre. "Long
Camp", a major encampment for the Similkaneen tribes, was located
on the bench on the North side of the river, just East of the
bridge. Some of the Pictograph sites in the Similkameen Valley have
nearby evidence of habitation dating back over 3500 years.
When the Dewdney Trail was built in 1860-61, it followed the
same route used by the Indians. Later the Welby Stagecoach, which
ran from 1905-13, travelled along the Old Hedley Road / Dewdney
Trail. Even Hwy. 5 followed this route originally, until it was
moved to the South shore of the river.
Rattlesnakes are sometimes found in the area, particularly in the
Eastern section, so take care where you walk and when reaching for
Caches! There are several Campgrounds and Picnic sites along the
way, so why not make a day of it !
BEAR COUNTRY - DO NOT PLACE SCENTED ITEMS OR
FOODSTUFFS IN CACHE (even if sealed)