Pat's Creek Cache Traditional Cache
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For the more ambitious geocacher. This cache will take you on a little tour of Peace River's history. You'll take a walk up or down the old highway 2 coming into the East of town now known as the Wilderness Interpretive Trail. Enjoy some scenery by the creek or take some time to take in the serenity of the world around at one of the many benches along the way. This cache will take about an hour there and back but is a nice family adventure. Cache started with many tradeables as well as a ready to go cache and some micros for those wanting to share your hide for others. "While the 1935 Pat's Creek flood nearly wiped the town off the map, it more than redeemed itself by saving a large portion of the town in 1962. On a quiet Sunday evening, September 30, the driver of a truck carrying 4,250 gallons of aviation fuel (19,320 litres) from Edmonton, stopped at the top of the hill of the original Highway 2 overlooking the town before the steep downward trek. The driver duly checked his brakes and his load. Satisfied, he slowly put the truck into gear and started down the hill. To his utter shock, the brakes on the trailer suddenly gave out - a runaway. Rapidly, the truck picked up speed heading to town. Trying desperately to maintain control of the truck, the driver swerved around parked vehicles and other obstacles as he turned sharply toward Main Street. The trailer skidded sideways, rolled, the tank ruptured, sending aviation fuel gushing toward nearby businesses. An immense fireball soon ignited near the theatre, the nearest building to the accident. The driver jumped from the truck's cab, rolling to the curb, to escape with only minor bruises. The fire spread quickly, completely destroying the theatre, the drive-in restaurant, a furniture store, a pharmacy, an insurance office, café, bakery, and dry cleaners. The burning fuel continued to race downhill on its way to what is currently Subway. It was there it finally met its demise - at a now cemented Pat's Creek, which then stood as a 15 foot wide and 8 foot deep canal. The canal diverted the burning fuel into sewers leading to the river and away from the rest of the homes and businesses in town. A total of 12 businesses were destroyed before the blaze was extinguished. Amazingly, no one was killed or seriously injured. Today, from the outskirts of town, Pat's Creek goes from sunlight into a pitch black 3 metre-wide culvert which winds its way for nearly 1.5 km[ under roads, sidewalks, and parks before emerging to join the Mighty Peace River. Though largely hidden from view, as a tributary to the Peace River, Pat's Creek continues to shape the surrounding landscape. Located near the former steep Hwy. 2 road into Peace River, closed since the late 1960s, one can find Northern Sunrise County's Pat's Creek Interpretive Trail. This 3 km trail offers hikers, runners, mountain bikers, snowshoers a wonderful scenic journey from town to the agricultural fairgrounds.". http://www.prrecordgazette.com/2010/10/21/pats-creek-saga-runs-through-peace-rivers-history
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Treasures
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