Tragedy at Priest Rapids

In 1838, a group of fur traders travelled from the east to Jasper and across the Athabasca Pass to Boat Encampment, at the top of the Big Bend of the Columbia River. Among them were the first two Catholic priests to come into this region. The priests and other members of the group safely made it past the treacherous Death Rapids and Priest Rapids, but one of the boats capsized at Priest Rapids, leaving 12 people dead, including several children. Learn more about this fascinating story of the fur trade and the dangers of navigation on the Columbia River.