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"The
first white man to cross the Ponoka district was David THOMPSON. He travelled
south from Fort Augustes, the first part of April, 1800, guided by a Chief
of the Water Fall Band of Blackfoot. He describes his trip.
They left Peace Hills at noon, and travelled across a treeless plain to
Bears Hill, which was covered with heavy timber and camped for the night.
The next morning they went south-east to Battle River Leavings. Here the
trail divided; one went to the east and south to Buffalo Lake and Tail
Creek (crossing the Red Deer River), the other went up the west bank of
the Battle River. The trail going on the west bank of the Battle was four
to six feet wide to the Barr of stones, just south of the north bridge
in Ponoka. On the Barr of Stones the trail crossed the Battle to the east
side and turned southwest to Wolf Creek crossing where the party camped
for the night. The trail again; one crossed the creek and was called the
Plains Trail, the other being the Wolf Creek Trail. The Plains trail crossed
Pretty Plains by Pleasant Hill. The Hudson Bay Company had their storehouse
on Wolf Creek near Pleasant Hill. To this day this same trail has been
used as a road to link Ponoka and Lacombe. THOMPSON went the Wolf Creek
trail, or the wet weather trail. This trail went south on the east side
of Wolf Creek, across the school section and across the Vold Land to what
is now the C.P.R. right of way. The railroad was built on this same trail
to just north of Lacombe. South of Lacombe, the Mountain House trail turned
west and passed Gull Lake on the south and went over the Lodgepole Medicine
Hills and came out at the Big Stone, a mile north of Mountain House.
The next fur trader to travel this way and leave an account, was Alexander
HENRY in October, 1810. He travelled from White Mud House near Pakan to
Rocky Mountain House.
George McDOUGALL and his son John travelled the trail in 1863. John used
the trail several times in 1867 and 1868.
W.F. BUTLER when sent by the Dominion Government to look into law and
order, used this trail. His advice was used in forming the N.W.M.P."
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