I agreed with much of Neil Godbout's editorial, How to benefit from Valemount Glacier, especially his support for a World Heritage Site designation proposed for the Ancient Forest/Chun T'oh Whudujut Provincial Park.
But I shook my head in disbelief at his characterization of Highway 16 East of Prince George as "... a windy two-lane road that is prone to washouts and is a horribly dull drive that doesn't get interesting until Tte Jaune Cache." Perhaps he was being provocative to elicit just this sort of response and, if so, he succeeded.
First, the highway is generally well maintained and more than adequate for the volume and flow of traffic.
Contrary to Godbout's assertion, its route is mostly straight except where it winds around major topological features that are one of its aesthetic assets. It is a wonderfully scenic route along one of the planet's outstanding geological features, the Rocky Mountain Trench, with snow-capped mountains rising on both sides, many beautiful creek and river crossings, primordial forests, side trails, amazing wildlife viewing, historical interpretation and more. I have driven it countless times over the last four decades, and it is my favourite stretch of highway anywhere.
Yes, Prince George could do many of the things that Godbout suggests in his editorial, but we should also celebrate and promote rather than denigrate our stretch of Highway 16 East for what it is, one of the best drives anywhere in the world.
So here's my challenge, come on a daylong drive this spring or summer to Mount Robson and Valemount and experience what we already have to promote the link between B.C.'s Northern Capital with North America's newest year-round destination ski resort.
Mike Nash
Prince George
