The early brigade trail to the Kamloops post led down the east side of the North Thompson River south of the crossing, near modern-day Little Fort, B.C.

James Anderson's journey home to Great Slave Lake and Fort Resolution was a long upriver journey, with

The York Factory Express took the name Columbia Express when it left York Factory on its return to the Columbia District west of the Rockies.

In this section of the Two Canoes journal, Governor Simpson makes his way from Fort Alexandria to the traverse at North River, but the journal is confusing and it is difficult to discover exactly how…

The story of a ship as told by the men who saw it in the ice off Maconochie's Island, off Adelaide Peninsula. But are all the stories true?

In early November 1847, artist Paul Kane continues his journey from Boat Encampment, walking across the Rocky Mountains to Edmonton House.

The outgoing brigades' journey from Drowned Horse Lake to North River was probably the most difficult part of the journey to Kamloops and Fort Vancouver.

James Anderson, James Green Stewart, and party, have finally reached the western shore of Chantrey Inlet, which is called Adelaide Peninsula.

At Boat Encampment, Paul Kane witnessed some interesting traditional beliefs that the Métis men used to forecast the arrival of the Express.

The HBC gentlemen often wrote of the Mountain when the brigades came to the eastern edge of the Thompson Plateau. But where is the Mountain?

James Anderson's party of men have reached Montreal Island, in Chantry Inlet, where they begin their search for signs of Franklin's men.

This is the final leg of the York Factory Express story, and covers the journey down the Columbia River from Fort Colvile to Fort Vancouver.

This section of the New Caledonia brigade journals brings the brigaders from Fort Alexandria, on the Fraser River, to historic "Drowned Horse Lake."

In 1855, James Anderson and his men are heading down the Great Fish River, searching for evidence of the loss of Sir John Franklin's men.

John Greig worked for the HBC at Fort Colvile, and after his retirement he told stories of his journey across the continent with the York Factory Express.

In 2019, a resident of Williams Lake asked me if I knew anything about Dairy Fields, and I had to admit I did not. But I know more today.

From Wolf Rapids, James Anderson and James Green Stewart would make their way down the Great Fish River to a large lake called Lake Frankiin.

Here is the story of how Paul Kane made his way up the Columbia River to Boat Encampment, traveling with the outgoing York Factory Express.

In August 1820, Governor locum tenans George Simpson reaches Cumberland House, on the Saskatchewan River, where he admires its gardens.

Governor Simpson has now reached the upper waters of the Fraser River. From Fort Alexandria, he will proceed to the Kamloops post, where they are building a boat for him. He will journey down the…

James Anderson and James Green Stewart now make their way through the enormous Lake McDougall, on the Great Fish River, in 1855.

Artist Paul Kane travelled out of the territory west of the Rockies, in the outgoing Autumn Express. This is a continuation of his journey.

The second leg of the outgoing brigade journey was from Fort George to Fort Alexandria, on the Fraser River south of Quesnel, and north of Williams Lake.

James Anderson's exploring expedition has now reached Lake Garry, on the Great Fish River, on their way north to the Arctic Ocean in 1855.

In 1848, Paul Kane left the territory west of the Rocky Mountains, travelling with the New Caledonia Brigades to Fort Colvile and beyond.

The outgoing New Caledonia brigades left (Fort St. James) Stuart's Lake every spring, on their way to the HBC's Fort Vancouver, on the lower Columbia River.

The Great Fish River north of Hawk Rapid led James Anderson and his men to Pelly Lake: a monster of a lake almost impossible to navigate.

In 1841, George Traill Allan led out the York Factory Express to Hudson Bay, ten years after he had first come into the Columbia District.

The fur traders made their annual journey via the Old Brigade Trail to Fort Vancouver, with their furs, and returned to Fort St. James with the trade goods.

In 1855, James Anderson A, of the Hudson's Bay Company, continues his journey down the Back, or Great Fish River, toward the Arctic Ocean.

In this blogpost, artist Paul Kane descends the Columbia River south of Boat Encampment, with the incoming York Factory Express of 1846.

Multiple brigade trails cross the British Columbia landscape. Some are buried under cities; others still exist as trails, and some may still be found.

In this post, James Anderson begins his journey north through Beechy Lake, on his way down the Back River to the shores of the Arctic Ocean.

In the writings of both HBC men and visitors, I found three stories of Walla Walla chiefs allowing themselves to be buried alive.

There are many posts in what was once called New Caledonia, and on the northwest coast. Here is a listing of them, from north to south.

Musk Ox are Bison-like animals found in Canada's northern Barren Grounds, but are far more closely related to goats than to bison or cattle.

John Work arrives at Spokane House, an old post located on the Spokane River some three days travel from the banks of the Columbia.

There were many historic posts on the Peace River: most if not all of them were, of course, on the east side of the Rocky Mountains.

James Anderson has reached the headwaters of the Great Fish River and will now begin his journey north to the Arctic Ocean. The year is 1855.

From some York Factory Express journals we get good descriptions of the Arrow Lakes, Arrow Rock, and the Sinixt Natives who lived there in the 1800's.

Salmon Chief Kee-Kee-Tum-Nous met Sir George Simpson at Fort Colvile, and recounted from memory the agreement they reached 20 years earlier.