The Othello Tunnels

December 9, 2009 by Editor
Filed under About Town, Othello Tunnels, Places to See

The skies were a little agitated the May morning we set off for the Othello Tunnels, but mercifully stayed calm whilst we headed towards Hope. Being new not only to Chilliwack but also to Canada we were not sure what to expect. Tunnels? And? But disappointed we were not. The scenery on the drive was breathtaking, somewhat ethereal under the greying skies and the directions we were given very easy to follow. We were a little apprehensive as it was one of the first times our new puppy had been out but we needn’t have worried. Dogs on a leash were perfectly acceptable, the parking facilities were good and there were a couple of washrooms close by, albeit the non-flushing kind. A little odd for us former city dwellers.The pathways towards and through the tunnels are a little uneven but people with strollers and wheelchairs seemed to be coping very well with the terrain. Onwards through the tunnels and beyond the path will take you all the way to Hope, for those hardcore hikers. The path meanders away from the thunderous river only to be surrounded by springtime flora and fauna. Majestic trees serve as a cooling canopy or a little shelter from the spring rain. The walk on to Hope was very tempting but for us and a small, very tired puppy the rest of our journey was to be the return to the car and a hot flask of tea. The walk towards the tunnels had us all mesmeriesed. The children were enthralled and intrigued by the many cracks, crevices and fissures in the rocks and us adults amazed at the sheer hard work and dedication that must have gone into the railway. We were in awe of the dangers these workers must have faced daily to ensure the completion of this particular section of the Kettle Valley Railway. As we strolled along the pathways the thunderous sound of the Coquilhalla River was a constant, only quietening when we were in the dark, dripping tunnels themselves. We stopped on the bridges to watch the river cascading over the rocks, eroded and smoothed by time, lingering long enough to make a wish on a penny and toss it into the white water below The pathways towards and through the tunnels are a little uneven but people with strollers and wheelchairs seemed to be coping very well with the terrain. Onwards through the tunnels and beyond the path will take you all the way to Hope, for those hardcore hikers. The path meanders away from the thunderous river only to be surrounded by springtime flora and fauna. Majestic trees serve as a cooling canopy or a little shelter from the spring rain. The walk on to Hope was very tempting but for us and a small, very tired puppy the rest of our journey was to be the return to the car and a hot flask of tea.