Listed as post no. 227 in Ernest Voorhis [1859–1933], “Historic Forts” [1] :

Originally this was a North West Co. fort on the north bank of Peace river at the mouth of Middle river. Built by Simon Fraser 1805 as a base for his British Columbia explorations. It was known as “Rocky Mountain House, or Fort,” also as “Old Hudson’s Hope,” and “Rocky Mountain Portage Fort.” This post was operated by the Hudson’s Bay Co. after the coalition of 1821. It was abandoned for a time in 1825 to punish the Indians for the massacre at St. John in 1823. New Hudson’s Hope was built about 1875 on the south bank about 12 miles further upstream from Old Hudson’s Hope, at the east end of the portage, near east end of Cañon at its foot. Sometime after 1880 this post was again moved to its present location on the north side. Harmon in his journal 1810, October 15th, calls Hudson’s Hope the “Rocky Mountain Portage Fort.” Cust’s House and an old Hudson’s Bay Co. post are shown on Arrowsmith map 1832 (No. 100) at the west end of the portage from Rocky Mountain House. The location of the original fort is shown on the Dawson map 1879 (No. 81) and marked “abandoned.”

The account of Daniel Williams Harmon [1778–1843]:

Sunday, February 21, 1813. Rocky Mountain Portage Fort. Here I arrived this afternoon, accompanied by five Canadians and one Carrier. We left Stuart’s Lake on the 6th inst. and are on our way to Dunvegan, where I am going to transact some business with Mr. John McGillivray, who is there. As the mountains, on both sides of the river, for the distance of seventy or eighty miles, are very lofty, there is generally a strong wind passing, either up or down the stream, which, at this season, renders it extremely cold and disagreeable travelling. On the 18th, we were in the heart of those mountains; and we had to encounter such a strong head wind, that my upper lip became very much frozen, without my having perceived it at the time. It is now much swollen, and very painful. We all caught severe colds, in consequence of a fall of snow upon us, to the depth of eight inches, after we had encamped and resigned ourselves to sleep, the second, night after leaving Stuart’s Lake ; and I have become unable to speak, excepting in a whisper. It requires indeed, a strong constitution, to conflict with the hardships, incident to our mode of life.

We here find no person, excepting two Canadians. Mr. A. R. McLeod, who has charge of this place, is now absent on a visit to his hunter’s tent, which is five days’ march from this. From such a distance, provisions are obtained for this post, as there are very few large animals at this season, in this vicinity, in consequence, I presume, of the great depth of snow, which always falls in places, so near the mountain, as this. The people who are here say, that the hunters had such difficulty in finding animals of any kind, the last fall, that they all passed five days, without any kind of food.[2]

Various theories for name: prospector with hopes of finding gold; Hudson’s hopes of finding northwest passage; “a small enclosed valley, esp. ‘a smaller opening branching out from the main dale, and running up to the mountain ranges; the upland part of a mountain valley’; a blind valley.” “an inlet, small bay, haven.” used until the late 19th century; place names ending in “hope” common in Scotland and northern EnglandvVarious theories for name: prospector with hopes of finding gold; Hudson’s hopes of finding northwest passage; “a small enclosed valley, esp. ‘a smaller opening branching out from the main dale, and running up to the mountain ranges; the upland part of a mountain valley’; a blind valley.” “an inlet, small bay, haven.” used until the late 19th century; place names ending in “hope” common in Scotland and northern England [3].