Mission Ridge (British Columbia) facts for kids
Mission Ridge, also known as Mission Mountain, is a long, narrow mountain ridge in British Columbia, Canada. It stretches west from the town of Lillooet along the north side of Seton Lake. The ridge reaches Mission Pass, which is located above the community of Shalalth. The road over this pass is also called Mission Mountain Road.
Mission Creek flows on the north side of the pass and joins the Bridge River. This river runs along the north side of the ridge. For a long time, the Bridge River was the only way to get into the upper Bridge River Country by road. Most of Mission Ridge is made up of Indian Reserves. These lands belong to Indigenous communities like the Seton Lake Indian Band, the Bridge River Indian Band, and the Lillooet Indian Band. Some parts of the ridge near Lillooet were once called St. Mary's Mount, but this name is no longer used.
Why is it Called Mission Ridge?
The name "Mission Ridge" comes from a former religious mission located in Shalalth. This mission was run by a group called the Oblates. The ridge is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) long. People first called it "Mission Mountain." However, there was already another "Mission Mountain" recorded in British Columbia. Also, the area is more like a long ridge than a single mountain. So, in 1931, the name "Mission Ridge" was officially chosen.
The official records place the ridge's coordinates on Mission Peak. This is the westernmost of the ridge's three main summits. The other two summits are together known as Mount McLean. The highest point of these two is not officially named. This is because it is hard to see from the lake or other common viewpoints. Mount McLean is named after Donald McLean. He was a fur trader with the Hudson's Bay Company and was involved in the Chilcotin War.
What Can You Find on Mission Ridge?
At the western end of the ridge, near Shalalth, there is a microwave station. You can reach it by road from Mission Pass. A powerline road also runs along the north side of the ridge from Mission Peak. However, a landslide blocks this road, so you cannot drive all the way through.
There are many small ponds on the ridge. One of these is Moon Lake. It is located in a high, open area of the ridge. This area is mostly meadows or tundra, which are treeless plains. The south side of the ridge, above Seton Lake, is very steep. It has high cliffs and rock slides. The northwestern side of the ridge forms the edge of the Bridge River Canyon. This canyon stretches from the Terzaghi Dam to Moha. The far eastern end of the ridge forms the north wall of a short canyon. This canyon connects Seton Lake to the Cayoosh Creek canyon.
How is Mission Ridge Classified?
Sometimes, Mission Ridge is mistakenly called part of the "Chilcotin Mountains." However, these mountains actually end at the Bridge River. Mission Ridge is officially part of the Pacific Ranges. The Pacific Ranges are a large group of mountains in western North America.
