It was quite dark before we descended into the valley by a faint trail leading through burnt woods to an open rocky spot beside one of the lakes, where we encamped. Bourgeau has named the lakes Lacs des Arcs...





Eugene Bourgeau being French chose a French name. Arc is French for bow. Here the Bow River expands to form a lake "The lakes of the Bow"

Hector goes on to say: "This damming back the river has given rise to several large lakes that occupy the width of the valley, excepting the channel of the river with which they only communicate in flood season."

The natural damming of the river takes place at today's Exshaw.


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