NORTH-EASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA.

INTRODUCTION.

The part of the Province treated as North-eastern British Columbia in this publica-
tion lies to the east of a rather indefinite line extending south-eastward from Teslin
Lake past the south end of Dease Lake, the south-western end of Thutade Lake to the
head of Takla Lake; thence down Stuart Lake and River and south-eastward up the
Fraser River to Yellowhead Pass. The region is divided into two distinctly different
parts by the Rocky Mountain Trench which extends in an almost straight line from
Lower Post on the Liard River to Téte Jaune, near the head of the Fraser River. The
Trench is a continuous, major valley, occupied from north to south by the Kechika, Fox,
Finlay, Parsnip, and Fraser Rivers.

In the area immediately east of the Trench, the Rocky Mountains occupy a belt
having a maximum width of about 75.miles and extending north-westward from Yellow-
head Pass to their northern termination near the Liard River. The northern continua-
tion of the Plains Region of Alberta lies to the east of the mountains. The surface
of the high plains stands at an elevation of 4,000 to 4,500 feet near the mountain
front, but farther to the east becomes progressively lower.

The Cassiar-Omineca Mountain system lies to the west of the Trench. The moun-
tains of this system extend north-westward from the Nation Lakes, through the
headwaters of the Finlay, Stikine, Turnagain, and Dease Rivers to the east side of
Teslin Lake. The eastern margin of the system is sharply bounded by the Trench,
whereas on the western side the margin is less known and less sharply defined.
The mountains there become progressively lower and merge by transition into other
mountains extending farther westward, or into high plateau areas.

The mountain system between Teslin and Nation Lakes occupies a belt about 50
to 60 miles wide and about 450 miles long. Some summits, in the highest part of the
system between the headwaters of the Finlay and the Turnagain Rivers, have eleva-
tions in excess of 8,000 feet.

ACCESSIBILITY.

It is possible by one way or another, and with varying degrees of difficulty, to
reach all parts of the region. Parts closest to the lines of organized transportation
are easily accessible and transportation costs are low. On the other hand, at increas-
ing distances from organized transportation, ground travel becomes more difficult,
pack-trails are fewer, and more time is spent in travel. Travellers to remote areas

consequently are making greater use of aircraft. Transportation costs to such areas

are necessarily high. It is well, therefore, to consider this one factor “ transportation ”

before selecting any area for prospecting. Moreover, it should be realized that the

high cost of transportation necessitates the prospecting for deposits only of the highest
grade or of sufficient size to justify the improvement of present facilities.

A large part of North-eastern British Columbia is accessible from the travel route
along the Rocky Mountain Trench. Summit Lake, at the head of the Crooked River, is
reached by 32 miles of road from Prince George. From Summit Lake power-driven,
shallow-draught boats may be taken down the Crooked, Pack, and Parsnip Rivers to
Finlay Forks; thence up the Finlay River to Fort Ware at the junction of Fox River.
At certain stages of water a half-mile portage must be made at Deserters Canyon,

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