|
|
History
Before European settlers, the greater Pemberton Valley area was the traditional territory of First Nations peoples of the Interior Salish tribe. Today, Pemberton's closest neighbouring community, Mount Currie, is the administrative seat of the Lil'wat Nation and their governing body, the Mount Currie Band Council.
Named for Joseph Despard Pemberton, a Surveyor General for the Hudson's Bay Company in the 1850s, "Port Pemberton" first appeared on a map in 1859. One of the supply stops that sprung up to service the influx of gold seekers, Port Pemberton was originally situated at the north end of Lillooet Lake where travelers would dock to continue their journey overland to present-day Lillooet.
By the early 1880s, as gold fever dwindled, more and more people chose to settle away from the original site of Port Pemberton and on the rich farm lands of the Pemberton Valley. Accordingly, the Village site shifted to the present day location to better service the agriculturally-based population.
The first passenger train rolled through Pemberton in 1914, further opening the area to settlers and trade. Throughout its history, agriculture and forestry have been the mainstays of the local economy. The Pemberton Valley is known for its seed potatoes, and is affectionately referred to as “Spud Valley†by locals. In 1967, this area became the first commercial seed potato area in the world to grow virus-free seed potatoes.
Travel in and out of Pemberton was largely regulated by the railway until 1975, when southern highway access was punched through from Whistler. North of Pemberton, the Duffey Lake road was paved in the late 1980s and completed the last section of a scenic automotive route called the Coast Mountain Circle Tour. Pemberton had become a gateway to the interior of the province rather than an out-of-the-way destination. With this improved accessibility, road traffic increased and a new industry began to evolve in Pemberton: tourism.
As the fastest growing community in BC, the Village has seen many changes in a short period of time. Agriculture and forestry are still important aspects of local economy, but tourism and its related services employ the highest percentages of residents.
Location
The Village of Pemberton is a spectacular 20-minute drive north of Whistler Resort, accessible directly off Highway 99. The Village, located at the foot of majestic Mt Currie, is the hub for the Pemberton Valley and district. The district includes the Village, the first nations community of Mt. Currie, plus the Pemberton Valley, D'Arcy, and Birken.
Places to See
- Pemberton & District Visitor Info Centre
The Pemberton & District Visitor Info Centre is located at the intersection of Highway 99 and Portage Road, across the highway from the PetroCan gas station and convenience store. When you need tourism or related information about the Village of Pemberton, Pemberton Valley, Mt. Currie, D'Arcy, Birken, Lillooet Lake or District, the info centre is your best resource.
- Pemberton Museum
Features gold rush exhibits and a settler's home, as well as two homes originally belonging to aboriginals.
- Mount Currie
Just east of Pemberton on Hwy. 99, the busy heart of the Mount Currie Reserve of the Lil'wat group of the Stl'atl'lmx Nation. Noted for a rodeo on long weekends in May and September.
- Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park
Birkenhead Lake Provincial Park was first established in 1963 to provide lakeside camping and other recreation experiences for travellers between Whistler and Lillooet. The park was expanded in 1996 from 3,642 hectares to 9,755 hectares, adding significant conservation values of the Sockeye Creek watershed.
The park protects important habitat for a variety of wildlife, including spotted owls, mountain goats, black bears, and grizzly bears. Old growth forests, subalpine and alpine environments, large and small lakes all contribute to the park's diversity.
- Joffre Lakes Provincial Park
Steeply rising from Lower Joffre Lake, the glacier-laden peaks are visible from an easily accessible viewpoint 500 metres from the parking lot. If you carry on, the trail becomes a rough, rocky, and steep hike through the Coast Mountain range. Evidence of the park's glacial history can be found in the U-shaped valleys, glacial silts, and lateral moraines. This magnificent area of jagged peaks, icefields, cold rushing streams, and turquoise blue lakes was established as a recreation area in 1988 and became a Class A park in 1996. A highlight of the park is the turquoise blue waters of Lower, Middle, and Upper Joffre lakes, all three of which are located along the trail, and each more stunning than the last. Their striking, saturated blue colour is caused by "rockflour" - or glacial silt - that is suspended in the water and reflects green and blue wavelengths of sunlight. Joffre Lakes Provincial Park has opportunities for hiking, camping, mountaineering, wildlife viewing, and fishing.
Things to Do
- Side Trips
Take the Hurley Road to see ice fields from a distance. In winter, a snowmobile tour lets you lunch on these massive frozen fields. About 10 kkilometres (6 miles) from the start of Duffey Lake Road, Joffre Lakes Provincial Recreation Area features a trail that connects three turquoise lakes. The gold rush towns of Bralorne and Gold Bridge are still welcoming visitors who are just passing through. Adult sockeye salmon pass through a fish hatchery at Anderson Lake near D'Arcy from mid-August to mid-September.
- Horseback Riding
Pemberton Stables provides three different tours; enjoy the beautiful fields, forests, mountains, and creeks on horseback. There are also pony rides for children.
- Heliskiing
Coast Range Heliskiing is offers the ultimate backcountry experience with small, intimate groups of only four to five guests to each guide. The A-star helicopters are the ultimate in mountain flying machines. They are sleek, light and nimble, allowing you to access the most spectacular mountain and ski terrain in the world.
- Golf
Pemberton is home to two challenging world-class golf courses: Big Sky Gold & Country Club and the Pemberton Valley Golf & Country Club.
Big Sky Golf & Country Club is a classic links design built on gentle rolling terrain that integrates seven lakes connected by a serpentine creek. Big Sky is the longest of four championship courses that comprise the Whistler Village golf community, with four sets of tees ranging from 7,001 to 5,208 yards (18 holes, Par 72).
Pemberton Valley Golf & Country Club is designed for both casual and serious golfers. The 18-hole championship course (par 72, 6,407 yards) is nestled under majestic Mt. Currie, offering a spectacular setting for golf.
- Cycling
Pemberton has four great options for the road cyclist. Pemberton Meadows Road is a straight, flat 27-kilometre ride through the potatoe farming community. On the return trip, the beautiful view of Mt. Currie will lead you home. Heading north on Highway 99 toward Lillooet, the road winds along the valley bottom for 10 km, followed by a daunting 15-km switchback climb!
- Hiking
One of the oldest hiking routes in the Pemberton Valley leads 7.5 miles (12 km) from the trailhead off the Hurley River Road to Tenquille Lake. During the first half of the 20th century, miners used pack-horse routes to reach the subalpine region surrounding Tenquille and Owl Lakes. More recently, some of these overgrown trails have been reopened for hiking and mountain biking.
Events
- Pemberton Festival
One of Canada's most popular music festivals, this three-day event features performances on two different stages by artists from all over the world. Previous festivals have included artists like Coldplay, Nine Inch Nails, Jay-Z, the Tragically Hip, and Flaming Lips.
Contact Information
Pemberton & District Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 370
Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0
Canada
Telephone: 604-894-6477
Fax: 604-894-5571
E-mail: info@pembertonchamber.com
Website: www.pembertonchamber.com
Village of Pemberton
PO Box 100
7400 Prospect Street
Pemberton, BC V0N 2L0
Canada
Telephone: 1-604-894-6135
Fax: 1-604-894-6136
E-mail: admin@pemberton.ca
Website: www.pemberton.ca/
|
|
