We drove down Highway 5A from Kamloops to Merritt this morning. There was light snow and some fog. And some mysteries. How, for example, did this carcass (species unknown) get into the middle of frozen Trapp Lake? We wondered if it might be the way the highways crew deals with road-kill, dragging it to the centre of the lake so that birds could feed from it and then once the ice melts, the remains will simply sink to the bottom of the lake. But there were no marks of its having been dragged. So did a deer try to cross the frozen lake and then break through the ice, floundering until it died? The ravens were awfully happy, in any case, and there were eagles earlier when we drove down. (We took the photograph on our return.)
We noticed this perfectly shaped Ponderosa pine near Peter Hope Lake Road
and slowed to admire it. Then we saw a small brass plaque on it.
Who was Eleanore MacVicar and who was Mac?
This is a ranch I notice every time we drive this road. I’ve imagined myself into it, a hundred years ago, many times and realize now that Margaret Stuart would have ridden past it in my novel, Sisters of Grass. I love its plain beauty, its vistas.
And here’s a pair of swans, on ice, in Nicola Lake. The rest of the flock was swimming nearby but this pair wanted to ride a small section of ice.
There was nowhere to pull over when we saw the newborn calves at the Willow Ranch or I’d end this post with them — tiny, black, their ears already pierced with bright red tags. Instead, I’ll end it with a pinecone from Eleanore MacVicar’s tree.
...Theresa Kishkan 
I’ve often wondered about those memorial plaques. They’re touching, but I would always like to know more about the people they are dedicated to. Btw – My brother and his 3 kids live in Kamloops. Great town.
Kamloops strikes me as a perfect size. And what I love — we stay at the old Plaza Hotel, down on Victoria Street — is that I can see beyond the city from almost any point. Looking out the window, I can see the mountains to the north-east and when I go out to the car later this morning, I’ll see the hills to the south. Good restaurants — the Brownstone, Terra…And I have sage in my pocket from the Kenna Cartwright trails — again, right within the city limits.
Eleanor MacVicar was my Grandmother and D.C. MacVicar (Mac) was my Grandfather and the story goes that he saved that tree for her when they were putting the highway through. I took my sons to that tree just the other day and polished the plaque and took pictures of the tree with my family. I am trying to piece the whole story together . I am glad you noticed it and enjoyed the tree.It is still one of the largest trees along that route.
Thank you so much for finding this post and solving that mystery. The tree is almost iconic and I loved the way my husband noticed the plaque first, compelling us to stop and take a closer look. How lovely that your grandfather commemorated her in such a loving way. I hope her tree lasts forever.
What is the name of the ranch?
I don’t know the name of this one. It’s quite close to Kamloops, on the right as you drive north from Merritt on 5A. Almost at Knutsford…
[…] beautiful grasslands on earth, and stopping to look at lakes, particular pines, like the one in this post for example. and maybe driving to Monck Park where we camped every summer when our children […]
Mac and eleanore are my long since passed uncle and aunt from Kamloops bc. Mac was a road engineer who rose to become I think the assistant deputy minister of roads and highways for British Columbia. I think he retired in 1985 or so. I didn’t know about this tree.
He was amazing guy and very funny. A real prankster as was a close friend of his. I got caught in the middle of their shenanigans as a teenager. They tried to outdo each other with pranks.
We stop at their tree every time we drive up 5A. I think I like it best in winter…
This is from their daughters…
“There is definitely a story that goes along with the beautiful Ponderosa Pine tree on the old highway to Merritt. My sister will also respond with her memories! Dad was a Highways manager in Merritt BC in 1954. There was a project to improve the road by straightening the existing path. Our Mom, Eleanore, couldn’t imagine cutting down the beautiful Ponderosa, for the sake of a small highway improvement! Dad, being a Civil Engineer, somehow redesigned the roadway and saved the tree! Dad put up a plaque and dedicated it to Mom. We are always hopeful that no disease hits this beautiful pine tree, and so far after 69 years, it is still standing! That is my memory of the lone Ponderosa Pine!”
“That plaque is definitely part of our family history! In the late 1950’s, Dad (Mac) had it mounted on the tree after mom (Eleanore) lobbied dad hard to make sure that tree did NOT get cut down as part of the highway project there. It is on the right of way, and back then (maybe still today, I don’t know) all trees on right of ways were to be removed. Mom just loved the big pine (I think she was “the” pioneer tree-hugger, she loved nature 🤗) and could not let it be taken down, and dad loved mom, so it stayed and is there to this day. It has endured the pine beetle infestation and fires, it is a survivor! ”
So there you have it from the family, Theresa. The daughters still visit it on occasion when in the neighbourhood. Thanks for posting.
Thank you for this! I remember vividly the time we drove along the highway and saw the plaque; knowing more of its history is wonderful. The next time I’m on that stretch of highway, I’ll stop and think of Mac and Eleanore and say a few words to their tree.