Author Archives: Swany

North Fork, Fraser River

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British Columbia. Former name: Fraser River drainage
McGregor River
54.1794 N 122.0336 W Google — GeoHack
Not currently an official name.
This former name appears on:
John Arrowsmith’s map BC 1859
Trutch’s map of BC 1871
Hanington’s map Smoky River Pass 1875
Tolmie and Dawson map Indian Tribes of BC 1884
References:

  • Arrowsmith, John [1790–1873]. Provinces of British Columbia and Vancouver Island; with portions of the United States and Hudson’s Bay Territories. 1859. UVic
  • Trutch, Joseph William [1826–1904]. Map of British Columbia to the 56th Parallel North Latitude. Victoria, B.C.: Lands and Works Office, 1871. University of Victoria
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Miette River

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Alberta. River: Athabasca River drainage
Headwaters on Continental Divide N of Yellowhead Pass, flows E to Jasper
52.8653 N 118.0694 W — Map 083D16 — Google — GeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1827 (McDougall)
Name officially adopted in 1951
Topo map from Canadian Geographical Names
This river appears on:
John Arrowsmith’s map BC 1859
Milton and Cheadle’s map 1865
Trutch’s map of BC 1871
Tolmie and Dawson map Indian Tribes of BC 1884
McEvoy’s map Yellowhead Pass 1900
Frederick Talbot’s map GTP 1910
Schäffer map of visits in 1907 and 1908
Collie’s map Yellowhead Pass 1912
Wheeler’s map Mount Robson 1912
Boundary Commission Sheet 29 (surveyed in 1917)
Boundary Commission Sheet 29 B (surveyed in 1917)
Boundary Commission Sheet 30 (surveyed in 1924)

Baptiste Millette, an employee of the fur-trading North West Company, was the namesake of Roche Miette and other “Miette” place names in the vicinity.

The Miette was called “Cow Dung River” by Hudson’s Bay Company governor George Simpson [1792–1860], who crossed the Athabasca Pass in 1824:

“Our route is about due West through defiles in the Mountains; the track for Cranberry Lake takes a Northerly direction by Cow Dung River which falls into the Main Stream at Henrys House.”(1)

Fur-trader George McDougall [1788–1849] crossed the pass in 1827. His journal has been lost, but a copy of doubtful authenticity (2) reproduced in Yellowhead Pass and its People (3) states,

May First — On this day we came to the winter house of William Henry, having had nothing to eat for two days. My people were exhausted, and but for coming upon fresh snow-shoe tracks at the Miette River, which gave them courage to struggle on we might have all perished. (4)

References:

  • 1. Simpson, George [1792–1860], and Merk, Frederick [1887–1977], editor. Fur trade and empire. George Simpson’s journal entitled Remarks connected with fur trade in consequence of a voyage from York Factory to Fort George and back to York Factory 1824-25. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1931. University of British Columbia Library
  • 2. Harvey, Athelstan George [1884–1950]. “The mystery of Mount Robson.” B.C. Historical Quarterly, (1937)
  • 3. Valemount Historic Society. Yellowhead Pass and its People. Valemount, B.C.: 1984
  • 4. McDougall, George [1788–1849]. Diary of trip from Fort St James to Fort Carlton via the Leather or Yellowhead Pass. 1827
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Rau’ Shuswap

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British Columbia. Former name of river: Fraser River drainage
Former name of Raush River
53.2 N 120 W Google — GeoHack
Not currently an official name.
This former name of river appears on:
Trutch’s map of BC 1871

This name appears on B.C. Surveyor General Joseph Trutch’s 1871 map.

References:

  • Trutch, Joseph William [1826–1904]. Map of British Columbia to the 56th Parallel North Latitude. Victoria, B.C.: Lands and Works Office, 1871. University of Victoria

Cowdung Lake

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British Columbia. Former unofficial name: Fraser River drainage
Yellowhead Lake
52.8667 N 118.5333 W Google — GeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1871 (Trutch)
Not currently an official name.
This former unofficial name appears on:
Milton and Cheadle’s map 1865
Trutch’s map of BC 1871
Detail of Trutch 1871 showing “Cowdung L.”

Detail of Trutch 1871 showing “Cowdung L.”

The name “Cowdung L.” appears on B.C. Surveyor General Joseph Trutch’s 1871 map of British Columbia, between Moose Lake and the Yellowhead or Leather Pass.

The name appeared as “Cow dung L.” on John Arrowsmith’s 1859 map.

References:

  • Trutch, Joseph William [1826–1904]. Map of British Columbia to the 56th Parallel North Latitude. Victoria, B.C.: Lands and Works Office, 1871. University of Victoria
  • British Columbia Geographical Names. Yellowhead Lake
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Avalanche Creek

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British Columbia. Creek: Columbia River drainage
Former name of tributary of Canoe River
52.7444 N 119.0972 W Google — GeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1900 (McEvoy)
Not currently an official name.
This creek appears on:
McEvoy’s map Yellowhead Pass 1900
Collie’s map Yellowhead Pass 1912

Location approximater. Flows south into Canoe River south of Valemount. Possibly Dave Henry Creek, Yellowjacket Creek, Horse Creek.

References:

  • McEvoy, James [1862–1935]. “Map Showing Yellowhead Pass Route From Edmonton To Tête-Jaune Cache.” (1900). Natural Resources Canada
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Diamond Willow Creek

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British Columbia. Creek: Fraser River drainage
Flows S into Fraser River N of Dunster
53.1472 N 119.8389 W — Map 83E/4 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1994
Official in BC – Canada

No previous local name; recent community involvement in construction of campsite and picnic area here suggested that a name was desirable. Various suggestions were made by Dunster residents before they agreed with the 4-H Club proposal to name the creek and facilities for the abundance of “diamond” willow trees (Salix plenifolia, ssp pulchra) in the area.

References:

Dunster Creek

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British Columbia. Creek: Fraser River drainage
Flows N into Fraser River at Dunster
53.1336 N 119.8353 W Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 2019
Official in BC – Canada

Adopted in 2019 as required by water licensing. Because no traditional or local name was brought forward, “Dunster Creek” was chosen because the stream flows through the community of Dunster.

References:

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