You will either have to phone the 24 hour information line
(250.426.7352) or the visitor center (250.417.6000), or email
(Info@FortSteele.bc.ca) or visit the website
(http://www.fortsteele.ca/) to determine the hours of operation as
it is only when the Heritage Town is open that you may enter to
find the cache. (Essentially 9:30 to 5:00 in the Spring and Fall,
9:30 to 6:00 during the summer, and 10:00 to 4:00 from October to
the end of April) In addition, there is an entrance fee
(information and rates also available from the above contacts)
which is $5.00 per person.
Let your GPS guide you to ground zero. You will notice a number
of rocks leaning up against the structure. The cache is behind the
rock that is closest to the bottom stair . . . please replace
exactly as found . . . there is zero need to displace or disturb
any other object(s)!
The cache is located at the McVittie house so as to celebrate
the connection between the McVittie brothers who worked as
surveyors contributing to the work of David Thompson. This cache
has been placed in conjunction with the arrival of the 2011 David
Thompson Brigade, a 1000-mile North Canoe (25’ long, 6-man
canoes) trip from Invermere, BC to Astoria, OR. The trip is
commemorating the 1811 voyage of David Thompson and will land at
Astoria 200 years to the day that Thompson arrived there.
This trip is significant in the fur trade because it opened up
the first trans-continental fur trade route by water to the
Pacific; it was the principle route used for the next 50 years.
David Thompson was arguably the greatest surveyor/cartographer in
North American history. In 29 years he traveled over 55,000 miles
by horse, canoe and foot and mapped 1/5th of North America
including most of Canada west of Hudson Bay. Lewis and Clark used
his data and his maps were used into the early 1900’s.
In conjunction with the North Canoe arrivals, there are events
planned with paddlers in voyageur dress, flags flying and the
charge to shore. Displays related to Thompson will be available and
there will be a geocaching booth with geocoin displays, drawings
and a chance to meet the voyageurs and fellow geocachers.
You can learn more at the following websites: 2011 David
Thompson Columbia Brigade: www.2011brigade.org Brigade geocaching
activities:
http://webpages.charter.net/nwc_voyageur/dtcbgeo.html