Craigellachie, B.C. is named after a village in Scotland which is the home of the world's best selling single-malt whiskey - Glenfiddich. It is also the ancestral home of George Stephen, the first president of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) making it the perfect name for this location where the Last Spike of the CPR was driven. This ceremonial last spike was driven into the railway on November 7, 1885 at 9:22 a.m.

There are as many as four last spikes associated with the events of that date and various stories and debates have circulated as to the whereabouts of those spikes today. What was known in 2012 about where 3 of those spikes ended up is as follows:

ONE: The "Ceremonial" silver Last Spike which never even got close to Craigellachie now lies in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec

TWO: The first plain iron Last Spike bent by Donald Smith at Craigellachie was later made into small brooches for the wives of CPR directors.

THREE: The second plain iron Last Spike driven home by Donald Smith at Craigellachie was later made into a carving knife and now rests in a safety deposit box in Winnipeg.

Due to many track changes and upgrades over the years, it is difficult to determine exactly where the Last Spike was actually driven, but tradition suggests that it was close to the monument where your GPS coordinates have brought you today.

The Last Spike is a symbol of the national unity in Canada. The Last Spike showed the completion of the promise that the Federal Government made to British Columbia which was that a railroad would be built to connect the Pacific to Central Canada. This railway was a huge influence on British Columbia's decision to join the Canadian Federation.

REQUIREMENTS FOR LOGGING THIS CACHE:

Canadians:

Please post a picture of your GPS by the brass plaque of your home province or territory found on the monument. (Exception: Nunavit: which became Canada's third territory in 1999 which was after the monument was placed. Nunavit visitors: Please follow instructions for International Visitors). You may also be in the picture if you like, of course.

International Visitors:

Please post a picture of your GPS by the brass plaque from Craigellacie, Scotland. You may also be in the picture if you like, of course..

NOTE: If, during the winter months, none of the plaques are visible due to a buildup of ice or snow, then it will be acceptable to post a picture of your GPS with the monument itself clearly visible in the background.

FAILURE TO FULFILL THE LOGGING REQUIREMENTS, WHICH MUST INCLUDE A PICTURE, WILL RESULT IN YOUR LOG BEING DELETED.

PLEASE DO NOT MESSAGE YOUR PICTURE TO THE CACHE OWNER, INCLUDE IT WITH YOUR LOG ONLY

Virtual Reward - 2017/2018

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.