Refusing to let the rich history of legendary packer, Jean Caux “Cataline” deteriorate, two former BCHBC Northwest Chapter chairmen made it their personal project to reconstruct his cairn in Hazelton, BC.
Jean Caux “Cataline”
If you’re not familiar with Cataline, think 1800’s back country freight company, using upwards of 60 mules to deliver his customer’s goods over rough terrain. A packer had to know how to read the landscape and weather, and get the best from their animals. Born in France in 1835, Cataline arrived in America in his twenties, a bit late for the California gold rush, but realized there might be more guaranteed income moving freight, rather than struggling for a successful claim, anyways. Coming north with a Mexican packing outfit, Cataline started working out of Yale, BC in 1858, moving fur bundles, supplies, tools, and even the occasional piano, by mule. He used the Spanish influenced “aparejo saddles” on his pack animals – straw stuffed leather sacks with attached wide britchen of sorts. With the eventual building of the Caribou Wagon Road, Cataline’s outfit moved further north where pack strings were still essential, packing out of Quesnel and Hazelton, taking freight as far as Telegraph Creek and up to the Yukon.
Cataline packtrain. Hazelton, circa 1911
He was known as an honest, reliable man, who kept track of all his freight and handshake deals in his head. A man of folklore, there are tales of him rubbing rum in his hair to prevent baldness, never wearing socks, buying a new white shirt at the end of each long trip, and being a heck of a knife handler. Only once in his career were goods not delivered: when an employee of Cataline’s mistakenly thought some expensive (and smelly) cheese had gone bad and tossed it into a river. For anyone who’s packed animals and seen a wreck, we know that is an impressive track record! Cataline packed for 54 years, steady into old age, retiring in 1912, and spent his last years in Hazelton, passing away in 1922. History buff and former NW Chapter chairman, Tom Roper, went looking for Cataline’s gravesite a couple of years ago, and once he found it, was disappointed to find the plaque and horse shoe missing, and the rock cairn crumbling. He took it upon himself to discuss the idea of fixing up another plaque with the Gitanmaax Band, in whose cemetery the grave lies. After receiving approval, Tom brought the plan to make a new plaque to Floyd Kennedy, another former BCHBC NW chairman, who’s a hand at welding. Floyd, never one to do anything halfway, contacted a former stone mason, Trevor Doerksen, who found a day in his schedule when he could lend his skills to the project.
On November 6, 2025, with concrete generously donated from Smithers Lumber Yard, the small but mighty crew rebuilt the cairn, finishing up the day with a shot of rum each, and a splash for their hair – Cataline style. They returned on November 11 to attach the capstone, and plaque which was made by Floyd and also engraved with Cataline’s portrait by two NW Chapter members, Blair Andrews and Jana Harmati. The project was a wrap!
Trevor and Tom with remade Cairn
Except Tom and Floyd have now extended the vision. They’d like to see a pack horse/mule parade from the paddle wheeler in Old Hazelton, up an original pack trail to the gravesite, to celebrate and respect this grand figure in BC’s history. The ride is in the planning stages, with sights set for it to be part of Hazelton’s “Pioneer Days” in August 2026. Spectators and riders will be welcome to join in on the festivities as we tip our hats in respect to the legendary packer, Cataline.
Written by Joy Kessels, NW Chapter
BCHBC is privileged to have Saddle Up Magazine as ‘the official voice’ of our province-wide organization. We value this partnership and encourage you to check out Saddle Up magazine online and consider supporting this BC-based publication by purchasing a subscription. You may also pick up printed copies of Saddle Up in 156 cities/towns with 340 outlets, mainly in BC and Alberta, as well as other parts of Canada and the US. It’s free!
Read the April Saddle Up online, including the BCHBC story. Or enjoy our feature story right here.
