In 1789 Mackenzie departed for the Pacific via the supposed route on the Mackenzie River. 1,500 miles later, at the Arctic Ocean, Mackenzie realized that he had failed to find the trade route, and returned that September to Fort Chipewyan. Mackenzie's second expedition in 1793 however, had a different outcome. Launching from Fort Fork in October, Mackenzie managed to navigate the Peace River which would eventually connect to the Fraser River. After navigating the Frasier through modern day B.C., Mackenzie decided to turn West by land, and twelve days later arrived at the Bella Coola Gorge. The Nuxalk (tribe) allowed the party to borrow canoes and travel the remaining distance on the Bella Coola river to the Pacific Ocean. Mackenzie arrived on July 22nd, and made his mark as the first explorer to find the Pacific, on a nearby rock.