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
To find the final stage, find the plaque which says "Winter
1x8x with the Peigans" . . . the missing numbers are
the same numbers missing from the final coordinates . . . and in
the same order! The final coordinates are: N50 30.6x2 and
W116 01.42x