Author Archives: Swany

A. L. Withers

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A. L. (Pete) Withers

Sources of biographical information about Withers:

  • Bennett, Russell H. “The Ski Ascent of Snow Dome.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol 20 (1931):100-101
  • Scott, Chic. “Jasper to Banff on skis.” Mountain Heritage Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1 (1999) Whyte Museum
Withers is the namesake of the following places in the Mount Robson region:

Events in the Mount Robson region in which Withers was involved:

  • 1924 Chamberlin party Cariboos

Rollin Thomas Chamberlin

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Rollin Thomas Chamberlin [1881–1948]

b. 1881 — Beloit, Wisconsin, USA
d. 1948

Rollin Thomas Chamberlin, 1881-1948, was a geologist and mountaineer at Chicago, Illinois. Chamberlin was an eminent Professor of Geology at the University of Chicago who, in 1910, made numerous guided climbs in the Rocky and Selkirk Mountains, including the Lake Louise, Lake O’Hara, Field and Glacier areas. In 1924, Chamberlin, Allen Carpe and A. L. Withers made a number of first ascents in the Cariboo Mountains, including Mount Titan (now Mount Sir Wilfred Laurier) and Mount Challenger.

Sources of biographical information about Chamberlin:

  • Pettijohn, F. J. “Rollin Thomas Chamberlin: a Biographical Memoir.” (1970) National Academy of Sciences
  • Chamberlin, Rollin Thomas [1881–1948]. Rollin T. Chamberlin fonds V22. 1910–1927 Whyte Museum
Chamberlin is the namesake of the following places in the Mount Robson region:

Events in the Mount Robson region in which Chamberlin was involved:

  • 1924 Chamberlin party Cariboos
Works pertinent to the Mount Robson region of which Chamberlin was author or co-author:

  • —   Rollin T. Chamberlin fonds. V22 (1910–1927).
  • —   Rollin T. Chamberlin fonds V22. 1910–1927
  • —   “Exploration of the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia.” Bulletin of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia, 25 (1925):59-76

Allen Carpé

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Allen Carpe. Courtesy Am. A.J.

Allen Carpe. Courtesy Am. A.J.
Canadian Alpine Journal 1932


Rollin T. Chamberlin, L. E. “Slim” Goodell, Allen Carpe, A. L. Withers. Photo George Burns

Rollin T. Chamberlin, L. E. “Slim” Goodell, Allen Carpe, A. L. Withers. Photo George Burns
University of Chicago

Allen Carpé [1894–1932]

b. 1894 — Chicago
d. 1932 — Mount McKinley, Alaska

Allen Carpé was an American engineer and mountaineer who was a member of the Alpine Club of Canada from 1920.

In 1924 Carpé, Rollin Thomas Chamberlin [1881–1948], and A. L. (Pete) Withers went up Tête Creek “and made some fine climbs, among them Mount Sir Wilfrid Laurier.” (1)

In 1925, he was a member of the expedition that made the first ascent of Mount Logan. He lost his life on Mount McKinley in May 1932, as the leader of a party making scientific observations relating to cosmic rays.

Carpé’s name appears with and without an accent in various documents.

Sources of biographical information about Carpé:

  • Annual Report of the Director of the National Park Service to the Secretary of the Interior for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1932, and the Travel Season, 1932. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1932 Google Books
  • Wikipedia. Allen Carpé
Carpé is the namesake of the following places in the Mount Robson region:

Events in the Mount Robson region in which Carpé was involved:

  • 1924 Chamberlin party Cariboos
Works pertinent to the Mount Robson region of which Carpé was author or co-author:

  • —   “Climbs in Cariboo Mts. and Northern Gold Range, Interior Ranges of British Columbia.” Alpine Journal, Vol. 37 (1925):63
  • —   “Albreda Mountain.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 16 (1927–1927):177
  • —   “The Cariboo Mountains – Correction.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 16 (1927–1927):177
References:

  • 1. Zillmer, Raymond T. [1887–1960]. “Explorations in the Southern Cariboos.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 27 (1939):48-61

Wapumun Lake

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British Columbia. Lake
S of Kakwa Lake
53.9942 N 120.1706 W — Map 093H16 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1925
Official in BC – Topo map from Canadian Geographical Names
This lake appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 39 (surveyed in 1924)

Adopted in 1925 as labelled on BC-Alberta Boundary sheets 38 & 39. In lieu of original paperwork this name was reconfirmed 16 July 1963. May have previously been labeled as Wapumoon Lake.

A descriptive name given by Samuel Prescott Fay [1884–1971] in 1914, spelled by him “Wapumoon.”

“Wapumun” is recorded as being a Cree word interpreted as “mirror” or “reflection.”

References:

Mount Ruth

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British Columbia. Mount
E side of Kakwa Lake
54.0061 N 120.0986 W — Map 093I01 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1925
Official in BC – Topo map from Canadian Geographical Names
This mount appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 39 (surveyed in 1924)

Named by George D. Kilpatrick, minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa from 1920 to 1925, while climbing in this area in 1923, after his wife Ruth. (30 November 1923 letter from Kilpatrick to Geographic Board; Ottawa file OBF 0841, 93I.)

The well-established local name was Elliot Mountain or Mount Elliot, predating 1923 Kilpatrick’s holiday in this vicinity. Mount Elliot is identified in the 1930 BC Gazetteer.

References:

Cecilia Creek

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British Columbia. Creek: Smoky River drainage
Flows NW into Kakwa River NE of Kakwa Lake
54.0753 N 120.0858 W — Map 093I01 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1925
Official in BC – Canada
This creek appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 39 (surveyed in 1924)

The lake is a very beautiful one, of a rich deep blue colour, some two miles in length by half a mile wide. Situated in a pocket of the surrounding heights, it is so closely encircled that it is very nearly reached before being seen. In consequence it is known locally as “Surprise” Lake. The name, Cecilia Lake, was given by Mr. Lambart and as there are a number of other Surprise Lakes, it has been adopted.

The upper valley of the lake is fairly open with scattered bodies of spruce and balsam of small size. The slopes encircling the basin of the lake are densely forested. The outlet, Cecilia Creek, flows in a broad valley showing much open meadowland along the bottom and densely forested side slopes. It has a northwesterly course of some nine miles to its junction with the Kakwa River. The 120th meridian passes within an eighth of a mile of the most northerly extremity of the lake.

— Wheeler

References:

  • Cautley, Richard William [1873–1953], and Wheeler, Arthur Oliver [1860–1945]. Report of the Commission Appointed to Delimit the Boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Parts IIIA & IIIB, 1918 to 1924. From Yellowhead Pass Northerly. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1925. Whyte Museum
Also see:

Copton Creek

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Alberta. Creek: Smoky River drainage
Flows N into Kakwa River
54.2681 N 119.2728 W — Map 083L06 — Google — GeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1917 (Jobe)
Name officially adopted in 1950
Official in Canada
This creek appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 38 (surveyed in 1924)
Boundary Commission Sheet 39 (surveyed in 1924)

Origin of the name unknown. Mary Lenore Jobe Akeley [1878–1966] mentions Copton Creek in the report on a 1917 winter journey.

References:

  • Jobe Akeley, Mary Lenore [1878–1966]. “A winter journey to Mt. Sir Alexander and the Wapiti.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 9 (1918):58-65