Today in History – 15 September 1813

It rained hard in the night with lightening & thunder we all got completely drenched- the rain ceased and we set off, but it soon began again we continued going on in the rain till 11 o clock when we were forced to put up on South side opposite a Lopt Stick at the Sugar Loaf Hill.- It continued to rain for the rest of the day.

- Journal of Miles Macdonell

Macdonell wrote this during his return trip from York Factory to the RRS, illustrating some of the discomforts of travelling in open boats, as the Settlers were forced to do.

Lobsticks were tall trees that were stripped of their branches either on one side or all the way up to the uppermost branches, which were left intact. These trees were named – this one could have been called Sugar Loaf Lobstick, for example – and served as landmarks along the main travel routes. Traders would often arrange to meet each other at particular lobsticks to discuss plans or exchange packets, etc.

(reference: pages 16852 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives)

Tags: lobsticks, Miles Macdonell, Miles Macdonell's Journal, weather, York Factory to RRS

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