Travel party at Ootsa Lake.

To the south, a motor-road leads to Ootsa Lake, with the interven-
tion of a modern ferry from Francois Lake to Southbank. Ootsa Lake
forms one of a strikingly scenic group comprising Ootsa, Whitesail,
Eutsuk, Tetachuck, Euchu, Natalkuz, and Intata Lakes, the circuit of
which is known as the “ Great Circle Tour.” This is the first stage of
the journey for those who enter Tweedsmuir Park by its northern portal
and the grand finale for those who come in from the south. A detailed
description is given later, but years ago the beauties of the region were
SO apparent as to induce special mention in a staidly technical report on
the geology of the Eutsuk Lake District by Dr. R. W. Brock (1920).
“Tt should prove an attractive spot for tourists, combining plateau,
mountain, and lake country, fishing, duck and goose shooting, and big-
game hunting. For scenery it can not be excelled. Not only is there
the contrast between the mountain with its snow-fields and glaciers and
the lake and plain in one view, but there are colour effects due to the
red, purple, green, and white rocks of the mountains that are seldom
seen outside the desert. These desert tints combine with the character-
istic tints of the snow-capped mountains and the blues of the distant
hills across the plains and down the lakes, to make a picture of surpass-
ing beauty.”

From Bella Coola, the southern gateway, to Stuie is a distance of
42 miles by a well-constructed road, a portion of what will eventually
be a Trans-Provincial Highway. Stuie, which means “ place of refuge,”

Nine.