Nyan Wheti is an ancient land route in northern

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

from the

Dakelh The Dakelh (pronounced ) or Carrier are a First Nations in Canada, First Nations Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous people living a large portion of the British Columbia Interior, Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The Dakel ...

villages on Fraser Lake (''Nadlehbunk'ut'') to villages on

Stuart Lake Stuart Lake, or Nak'albun ("Mount Pope Lake", ) in the Carrier (Dakelh) language is a lake situated in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. The town of Fort St. James is situated by the lake near the outlet ( Stuart River or Nak' ...

(''Nak'albun''), about 50 km to the north. The name in Carrier means "The Way Across." The trail, was part of the vast network called the Grease Trail which was used by the Dakelh people for as a major trade, travel and communication line. and its use only increased when European

fur trade The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of a world fur market in the early modern period, furs of boreal ecosystem, boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals h ...

forts were set up on the two lakes, Fort Fraser and Fort St. James respectively. From Stuart Lake, the route follows Sowchea Creek south to Nanna (''Chus-Kan'') Lake, then past Marie (''Kwah'') Lake, Sutherland Lake, and Pitka Mountain, where it passes through the ''Porte de l'enfer'' (Hell's Gate) Pass, ending finally in Nadleh Village on Fraser Lake. From Nadleh, the Cheslatta Trail continues south to

Cheslatta Lake Cheslatta Lake is a large freshwater lake located between François Lake and the western end of the Nechako Reservoir, Range 4 Coast Land District. It is in the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako,The boundaries of the Regional District of Bu ...

. At present, the trailhead in Fort St. James is located at the end of Baker Drive, off Sowchea road, between Paarens Beach Provincial Park and Sowchea Bay Provincial Park. It ends near the Nadleh Whut'en First Nation reserve, just off the

Yellowhead Highway The Yellowhead Highway () is a major interprovincial highway in Western Canada that runs from Winnipeg west to Graham Island off the coast of British Columbia via Saskatoon and Edmonton. It stretches across the four western provinces of Britis ...

. It is a class 5 trail, and it recommended only for skilled hikers.

References

Further reading