We planned our route through Whistler about a year ago when we invited the girls to meet us before we left for Alaska. Friends who we asked said the drive up Rte 99 was a beautiful, scenic way to join Rte 97 up to Prince George. After driving the first leg from Whistler up through Pemberton to Lillooet we can add a few more adjectives to that description: steep, slow and winding! 
As you leave Whistler you drive down the canyon to Pemberton and follow the river a few miles east to Lillooet Lake and then turn left to climb up over the Cayoose Range of the Coastal Mountains on what was originally an old logging road. The climb up is steep and so is the ride down the east side into Lillooet with several 13% grades with sharp hairpin curves.
The reward for the three hour drive is truly spectacular scenery including rushing rivers, snow pack, granite cliffs, beautiful high country meadows, and several lakes.
We stopped for lunch up in the high country and the view out the windows made the food even more enjoyable. 
We arrived at The Fraser Cove RV Park (PA) in Lillooet (Lill oo et) around 3:00PM and had plenty of time to enjoy a warm dry afternoon. The campground is located on the east banks of the Fraser River that is now roaring and turbulent from the heavy spring runoff from melting snow and the rainy weather. 
Lillooet is known as Mile Zero on the Gold Rush Trail up through British Columbia and the Yukon Territories to Alaska. The area was first surveyed by Simon Fraser in 1807 and except for a few fur traders largely ignored until the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush of 1858. At one time in the 1860’s Lillooet had 15,000 residents and was the largest settlement west of Chicago and North of Denver.
First nation members trace their history in Lillooet back thousands of years. The area just upriver know as the fishing rocks allowed them to wind dry salmon, a major factor in their diet. Several large reservations are in the area.
We roamed around town enjoying the first sunshine and mid 70 temperatures in a week and local points of interests including the Hanging Tree, the Suspension Bridge, and The Lillooet Museum including a large collection of jade rock that is native to the area.
We finished the day with chinese at the Totem Restaurant and headed back to the m/h and bed. Tomorrow we follow the Gold Rush Trail towards Prince George.
