My wife Carol and I enjoy hiking. Most of the hiking we have done has been in the mountains, in Yoho Banff National Parks. Since moving to Coldstream under three years ago we have not had the opportunity to explore the hiking trails in this part of B.C.., although we have talked about it often. Renovations to our "new" 25 year old house plus looking after and "renovating" our large yard has taken up a lot of the time we otherwise might have dedicated to exploring the countryside. Unfamiliarity with where we might go to hike also played a part in our "sticking around the house". You can imagine how quickly we said "yes" to a group of friends who asked if we would like to join them in their weekly hiking jaunts.

The second hike I went on with the group was to a spot just south of Vernon which we were told was referred to as "Emily's Mountain". After a short drive out Commonage Road we left our vehicles on the roadside and began a pleasant walk upward along an infrequently used partially overgrown roadway. It was a beautiful day for a hike and some nature explorations. On our way we were told there was a memorial marker at the top in honour of a woman who loved to come to this area.

When we reached the top of the hill we discovered not only a stunning view of Kalarnalka Lake and valley but also that there was more than one memorial marker. In fact, there were three. At the highest point, near the edge there is a marker with a memorial plaque that reads: "Emily Narcissus ANDERSON 1886-1959". It became obvious why this hill was known as "Emily's Mountain".

Nearby was a second marker the plaque on which reads: "Ron ANDERSON 1960-1979" with an engraved scene showing a fish- erman in a rowboat and the legend: "Gone Fishing". Farther along, on the other side of the hill top is located the third marker with two memorial plaques attached. The one plaque reads: "Robert (Bob) S. RICHARDS -A Scout -" with a Scout Badge engraved on the plaque between the dates "1904 1981". The other plaque is engraved with a landscape scene between the dates and the wording: "Anne (SWIFT) RICHARDS 1915 1991 Loved This Valley". (The style of printing on the plaques is not necessarily reproduced in this article, as we like to highlight names so they stand out within an article.)

Our guide for the hike had some knowledge of the people memorialized in these plaques, but I called upon Arlene SMITH, the vice president of the Vernon and District Family History Society and the Society's researcher, to find out more about the people whose memorials are on "Emily's Mountain". Arlene contributed the following information.

Emily was born to Doctor Hugh COX (doctor was his first name not a title) in the l880's. The Cox family travelled from Kentucky where Emily's father was born to the Canadian Prairies and then in the early part of the 20th century they moved to Vernon where Doc Cox bought a hotel.

In 1910 Emily married George ANDERSON the son of Vernon Pioneer Peter ANDERSON. They first lived in a small home on the Commonage but later moved out to Swan Lake.

Emily was an excellent horsewoman and loved riding all over the Commonage. When she died her sons decided to bury her ashes in a place to which she rode often to view her valley.

Robert ANDERSON, a great grandson of Emily and George, died at the early age of 17. The family buried his ashes near his great grandmother's ashes.

Ann RICHARDS was the daughter of Vernon Pioneer Reuben SWIFT and his wife, Mary BARON. Reuben Swift, was the builder and owner of one of the early hotels in Vernon.

Ann hiked the hills of Vernon all her life. As an adult she became a cub scout leader and passed her love of nature and the hills of Vernon and District to any boy who was lucky enough to be in her cub pack.

Her husband Robert S. RICHARDS was also a leader in the Scouting movement in Vernon. He took children on many hikes to enjoy the sights and the sounds of the birds surrounding Vernon when he wasn't handling the baggage at the local Train Station.

When Ann died her son buried her ashes along with his father's up on Emily's hill under the wild flowers Ann loved.

Vernon and District Family History Society Journal-Volume 20 no.2 June 2004