Bralorne, BC

For the last few years I've used a dentist in downtown Vancouver for my checkups and follow-up work.  I've got to know the dental assistant a little bit in casual conversation.  On one visit I mentioned that I was working "up North" in BC.  "Oh!" she said "My husband and I have a cabin up North."  I asked where it was, expecting to hear it was near Dease Lake or some other northern town and was surprised when she said "Near Bralorne."  I chuckled a bit because I don't consider Bralorne to be "up North" but I guess for someone born and raised in Vancouver it can be considered "up North."

Bralorne is a gold mining community nestled into the coastal mountains where it was once was home for several thousand people but today holds only 63 inhabitants according to the sign as one enters town.  Nowadays there are two ways to get there.  The easy way is via Lillooet, along the semi paved road to Bridge River.  The second and much more adventurous was is via Pemberton and over the Hurley Pass Road, a washboard gravel back entry to Bridge River, open only in the summer when snow is gone.  I've done both trips several times in recent years but I would only recommend the Hurley route to visitors with 4WD vehicles who don't mind rough back roads.

When I lived there in the early 1950's Bralorne was very isolated.  This was before the internet, direct dial phones and even before television.  The small post war clock radio that sat on top of our counter was the main contact with the world.  Few homes had telephones and mail was irregular due to harsh winter conditions.

This link to the Bralorne Museum provides a lot of the history of the town and area.  I highly recommend spending a couple of hours at the museum itself if you decide to visit Bralorne.

https://www.facebook.com/bralornepioneermuseum/