The Wilderness Trip
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The first settlers to arrive in the Peace River country traveled into the northwest wilderness by wagon, on barge or raft, and muddy trails. Many of them faced traveling the Long Trail by wagons from Edmonton to Athabasca Landing, then by barge, raft, or later steamboat up the Athabaska River to the Lesser Slave River. They would then make their way across the Lesser Slave Lake. The travelers would have to move their belongings over the rough, muddy Grouard-Peace River Trail to Peace River Crossing. Those settlers who wanted to go to what is now Grande Prairie had to travel another hundred miles.
In 1909, a group of settlers from Ontario formed what became known as the “Bull Outfit.” The group was made up of 18 ox teams that followed the Long Trail on their way to Beverlodge. Once they arrived, they broke the land, seeded crops, and harvested. They provided for their own needs and sold the surplus to local buyers like the North West Mounted Police, and Indian reserves.
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Those who traveled to the Peace River country by winter used a caboose that was a covered sledge that had a bed and a stove to stay warm. There was little feed for animals, and those who did not bring their own would face the potential starvation of their animals. They also faced the potential problem of an animal falling through the ice or breaking a leg. Many could get lost in one of the sudden storms that were known to happen.
Many families of those who traveled the Long Trail are proud of the achievement of their ancestors as their hardships were critical to the early development of the Peace River country.