David Thompson - Who Knew?

 Learning about David Thompson and Exploring Pyramid Lake

We had several places on our agenda this day, starting at a museum in Jasper.  We saw the most fascinating film about an early Rockies explorer David Thompson (1770-1857).  Why we never heard of him in our history books is beyond me. He is credited with surveying 3.9 million square kilometers of the Pacific Northwest.  He is called the "greatest land geographer who ever lived."  He spent 28 years in the Rockies, knew all the Indian tribes, their customs and languages,  made extensive maps of the area, including down the Columbia River. He married a Metis woman (Sottish and Cree) and they were married 58 years.  This marriage is considered the longest pre confederation marriage known. And they had thirteen children.   He fell into disfavor for a few years, but his extensive journals are now being studied and recognized.  He also drew pictures that are providing ecological information on how the terrain and vegetation has changed.  His extensive map of Canada is still being used 100 years later and is considered extremely accurate.    This is a guy to rival Lewis and Clark’s expeditions, and one you could spend a great deal of time studying.

We then drove a short distance to Pyramid Lake, which is right below --- Pyramid Mountain!   It also had an island that provided spectacular views all around.  We had lunch there.

Rocinante waiting by the shore

Type of rock that gives Pyramid Mountain its color

We aren’t tired of taking pictures of squirrels and chipmunks yet!