Dickson Range
Encyclopedia
The Dickson Range is a subrange of the Chilcotin Ranges
subset of the Pacific Ranges
of the Coast Mountains
in southwest-central British Columbia
. It is located just west of the town of Gold Bridge
between the valley of Slim Creek to the north (a tributary of Gun Creek) and Downton Lake
Reservoir to the south. At its eastern foot is Gun Lake; its western limit is at a pass between Slim Creek and Nichols Creek (which feeds the upper Bridge River
just before it enters Downton Lake
) near the pass which separates the Bridge River
basin from that of the Lord River
, which feeds the Taseko Lakes
.
The range is approximately 3,500 km² (1350 sq mi) in area and about 35 km in length. Its highest Peak, Dickson Peak (aka Mount Dickson), is 2809 m (9216 ft), is a stunning pyramidal peak towards the eastern end of the range, overlooking the middle Bridge River Valley to the east and also visible on the canyon road between Gold Bridge
and Bralorne
. The drop from Dickson's summit to Downton Lake
is c.2075m (6775') in only 5 km (3.1 mi).
Just southeast of Dickson Peak is Mount Penrose
2634 m (8642 ft), which a cockscomb-like summit which stands immediately above Gun Lake and its resort community. Penrose was named for Republican Senator Boies Penrose
(November 1, 1860–December 31, 1921) who climbed it in the 1920s while hunting with famed local big-game outfitter W.G. (Bill) Manson. Penrose was an avid outdoorsman and another mountain in the Flathead
area of Montana
also bears his name.
Penrose is the best-known summit in the Dickson after Dickson Peak, but farther east along the range are Scherle Peak 2677 m (8783 ft) and Tillworth Mountain 2631 m (8632 ft). A peak named Sorcerer 2602 m (8537 ft) occupies a separate ridge on the northwest end of the range, adjacent to the Leckie Range just north across Slim Creek.
To the north and northeast of the Dickson Range is the Spruce Lake Protected Area
aka the "South Chilcotin", while to the northwest is Ts'il?os Provincial Park
.
Chilcotin Ranges
The Chilcotin Ranges are a subdivision of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains . They lie on the inland lea of the Pacific Ranges, abutting the Interior Plateau of British Columbia...
subset of the Pacific Ranges
Pacific Ranges
The Pacific Ranges are the southernmost subdivision of the Coast Mountains portion of the Pacific Cordillera. Located entirely within British Columbia, Canada, they run northwest from the lower stretches of the Fraser River to Bella Coola, north of which are the Kitimat Ranges.The Pacific Ranges...
of the Coast Mountains
Coast Mountains
The Coast Mountains are a major mountain range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, of western North America, extending from southwestern Yukon through the Alaska Panhandle and virtually all of the Coast of British Columbia. They are so-named because of their proximity to the sea coast, and are often...
in southwest-central British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. It is located just west of the town of Gold Bridge
Gold Bridge, British Columbia
Gold Bridge is an unincorporated community in the Bridge River Country of British Columbia, Canada. Although numbering only around 250 inhabitants, Gold Bridge is the service and supply centre for the upper basin of the Bridge River Valley, which includes recreation-residential areas at the Gun...
between the valley of Slim Creek to the north (a tributary of Gun Creek) and Downton Lake
Downton Lake
Downton Lake, originally Downton Reservoir, and also known as Downton Lake Reservoir, is a reservoir in the Bridge River Country of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada, formed by Lajoie Dam, the uppermost of the series of dams and diversions of the Bridge River Power Project.It was named for...
Reservoir to the south. At its eastern foot is Gun Lake; its western limit is at a pass between Slim Creek and Nichols Creek (which feeds the upper Bridge River
Bridge River
The Bridge River is, or was, a major tributary of British Columbia's Fraser River, entering that stream about six miles upstream from the town of Lillooet.-Name:Its name in the Lillooet language is Xwisten , sometimes spelled Nxwisten or Nxo-isten)...
just before it enters Downton Lake
Downton Lake
Downton Lake, originally Downton Reservoir, and also known as Downton Lake Reservoir, is a reservoir in the Bridge River Country of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada, formed by Lajoie Dam, the uppermost of the series of dams and diversions of the Bridge River Power Project.It was named for...
) near the pass which separates the Bridge River
Bridge River
The Bridge River is, or was, a major tributary of British Columbia's Fraser River, entering that stream about six miles upstream from the town of Lillooet.-Name:Its name in the Lillooet language is Xwisten , sometimes spelled Nxwisten or Nxo-isten)...
basin from that of the Lord River
Lord River
The Lord River is a tributary of the Taseko River in the southern Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada, joining that river via the head of Upper Taseko Lake, which is also fed by the upper reaches of the Taseko River proper. The Lord River rises in the area of...
, which feeds the Taseko Lakes
Taseko Lakes
The Taseko Lakes are a pair of lakes, Upper Taseko Lake and Lower Taseko Lake, which are expansions of the upper Taseko River in the southern Chilcotin District of the Central Interior of British Columbia, Canada...
.
The range is approximately 3,500 km² (1350 sq mi) in area and about 35 km in length. Its highest Peak, Dickson Peak (aka Mount Dickson), is 2809 m (9216 ft), is a stunning pyramidal peak towards the eastern end of the range, overlooking the middle Bridge River Valley to the east and also visible on the canyon road between Gold Bridge
Gold Bridge, British Columbia
Gold Bridge is an unincorporated community in the Bridge River Country of British Columbia, Canada. Although numbering only around 250 inhabitants, Gold Bridge is the service and supply centre for the upper basin of the Bridge River Valley, which includes recreation-residential areas at the Gun...
and Bralorne
Bralorne, British Columbia
Bralorne is an historic underground gold mining community in the Bridge River District, some sixty dirt road miles west of the town of Lillooet.-Background:...
. The drop from Dickson's summit to Downton Lake
Downton Lake
Downton Lake, originally Downton Reservoir, and also known as Downton Lake Reservoir, is a reservoir in the Bridge River Country of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada, formed by Lajoie Dam, the uppermost of the series of dams and diversions of the Bridge River Power Project.It was named for...
is c.2075m (6775') in only 5 km (3.1 mi).
Just southeast of Dickson Peak is Mount Penrose
Mount Penrose
Mount Penrose, known locally as Penrose, , is the easternmost summit of the Dickson Range, a subrange of the Chilcotin Ranges, near Gold Bridge, British Columbia, Canada and immediately above and to the west of Gun Lake. It was named for Senator Boies Penrose, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who...
2634 m (8642 ft), which a cockscomb-like summit which stands immediately above Gun Lake and its resort community. Penrose was named for Republican Senator Boies Penrose
Boies Penrose
Boies Penrose was an American lawyer and Republican politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate from 1897 until his death in 1921.-Biography:...
(November 1, 1860–December 31, 1921) who climbed it in the 1920s while hunting with famed local big-game outfitter W.G. (Bill) Manson. Penrose was an avid outdoorsman and another mountain in the Flathead
Flathead
Flathead may refer to:* Flat-head screwdriver, a screwdriver designed to turn slotted screws* Flat-head screw, a screw with a flat top, designed to be installed in a countersunk hole* Flathead engine, a valve configuration...
area of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
also bears his name.
Penrose is the best-known summit in the Dickson after Dickson Peak, but farther east along the range are Scherle Peak 2677 m (8783 ft) and Tillworth Mountain 2631 m (8632 ft). A peak named Sorcerer 2602 m (8537 ft) occupies a separate ridge on the northwest end of the range, adjacent to the Leckie Range just north across Slim Creek.
To the north and northeast of the Dickson Range is the Spruce Lake Protected Area
Spruce Lake Protected Area
The Spruce Lake Protected Area, was a 71,347-hectare Protected Area in the British Columbia provincial parks system 200 km north of Vancouver. The area had been the subject of an ongoing preservationist controversy since the 1930s. Formerly known variously as the Southern Chilcotin Mountains...
aka the "South Chilcotin", while to the northwest is Ts'il?os Provincial Park
Ts'il?os Provincial Park
Ts'il?os Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. Ts'il?os is the official BC Parks designation for this provincial park, though sometimes it is written as "Ts'il-os", "Ts'yl-os", or "Tsylos"...
.