Author Archives: Swany

Eremite Mountain

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Alberta. Mountain
ead of Eremite Creek
52.6325 N 118.2453 W — Map 083D09 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1935
Official in Canada
This mountain appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 28 (surveyed in 1921)

The descriptive name for this mountain was applied in 1916 by surveyor Morrison Parsons Bridgland [1878–1948]. The remote position of this mountain reminds one of an eremite, a hermit. The other features take their names from this mountain.

References:

  • Karamitsanis, Aphrodite [1961–]. Place names of Alberta. Volume 1: Mountains, Mountain Parks and Foothills. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, 1991
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Wates-Gibson Hut

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Alberta. Backcountry hut
Tonquin Valley near headwaters of Astoria River
52.6633 N 118.2567 W Google — GeoHack
Not currently an official name.
Cyril G. Wates.

Cyril G. Wates. Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol 29, No. 2, p. 277

The hut is named for Cyril G. Wates [1883–1946] and E. Rex Gibson [1892–1957].

Three successive huts have stood in the Eremite Creek valley of Jasper National Park, providing access to numerous hikes, climbs, and ski trips in the Eremite and Tonquin valleys. The present Wates-Gibson-Memorial Hut, built in 1967, is the third: the original Memorial Cabin was built in 1930, and replaced in 1947 by the Wates-Memorial Hut.

This third version of the Wates-Gibson Hut was built in 1959 after two previous structures in different locations were found to be inadequate.

As of 2023, there is a seasonal closure in place for mountain caribou conservation. No access to this backcountry area is permitted between November 1 and May 15.

References:

  • Bulyea, H. E. “A trip to the Geikie valley.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 13 (1923):140
  • Wates, Cyril G. [1883–1946], and Gibson, E. Rex [1892–1957]. “The Ramparts in 1927.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 16 (1927):85-95
  • Kariel, Herbert G. [1927–], and Kariel, Patricia E. Alpine huts in the Rockies, Selkirks and Purcells. Banff, Alberta: Alpine Club of Canada, 1986
  • Hayes, Scott. “End of an era as outfitters leave Tonquin Valley.” Jasper Fitzhugh, December 21 (2022). Jasper Fitzhugh
  • Hayes, Scott. “Eco groups support ‘difficult decision’ to buy out Tonquin Valley leases.” Jasper Fitzhugh, January 11 (2023). Jasper Fitzhugh

Tonquin Valley

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Alberta. Valley: Athabasca River drainage
Leads to Tonquin Pass and Amethyst Lakes from the Athabasca River side of the Continental Divide
52.7181 N 118.2678 W — Map 083D09 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1935
Topo map from Canadian Geographical Names
This valley appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 28 (surveyed in 1921)

As of 2023, here is a seasonal closure in place for caribou conservation. No access to this backcountry area is permitted between November 1 and May 15.

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Amethyst Lakes

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Alberta. Lakes: Athabasca River drainage
Headwaters of Astoria River
52.7 N 118.2769 W — Map 083D09 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1935
Official in Canada
This lakes appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 28 (surveyed in 1921)
Anethyst Lake. A. Y. Jackson, 1927

Anethyst Lake. A. Y. Jackson, 1927
Jasper National Park, Canadian National Railways

Richard William Cautley [1873–1953] in his report on the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission survey notes that “the Amethyst Lakes, both a beautiful blue, add colour to the scene.”

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. Part II. 1917 to 1921. From Kicking Horse Pass to Yellowhead Pass.. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1924. Whyte Museum
  • Holmgren, Eric J., and Holmgren, Patricia M. Over 2,000 place names of Alberta. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Modern Press, 1973. Internet Archive

Moat Lake

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Alberta. Lake: Athabasca River drainage
Head of Moat Creek near Tonquin Hill
52.7233 N 118.3081 W — Map 083D09 — Google — GeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1978
Official in Canada
This lake appears on:
Boundary Commission Sheet 28 (surveyed in 1921)

Referenced by Cyril G. Wates [1883–1946] in 1923.

James Monroe Thorington [1895–1989] visited the region in 1924:

Moat Lake is finely situated in the eastern hollow of Tonquin Pass and sends a stream to join with a northern outflow from Amethyst Lakes; and, in an expanse of willow-covered, marshy ground, drains both to Meadow and Maccarib Creeks.

References:

  • Wates, Cyril G. [1883–1946]. “Mount Geikie.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 13 (1923):47-53
  • Thorington, James Monroe [1895–1989]. The Glittering Mountains of Canada. A record of exploration and pioneering ascents in the Canadian Rockies 1914-1924. Philadelphia: John W. Lea, 1925, p. 213. Internet Archive
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Conrad Kain

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Conrad Kain [1883–1934]

b. 1883 — Nasswald, Austria
d. 1934 — Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada

Kain was an Austrian mountain guide who guided extensively in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand, and was responsible for the first ascents of more than 60 routes in British Columbia. He is particularly known for pioneering climbs in the Purcell Mountains and the first ascents of Mount Robson (1913), Mount Louis (1916) and Bugaboo Spire (1916).

Sources of biographical information about Kain:

  • Thorington, James Monroe [1895–1989]. “Conrad Kain, In memoriam.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 22 (1933):184-187
  • Kain, Conrad [1883–1934], and Thorington, James Monroe [1895–1989], editor. Where the Clouds Can Go. New York City: American Alpine Club, 1935
  • Wikipedia Conrad Kain
Kain is the namesake of the following places in the Mount Robson region:

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

  • 1911 ACC-Smithsonian Robson expedition (guide)
  • 1913 ACC Camp – Mount Robson (guide)
  • 1924 Thorington to Tonquin Valley (guide)
  • 1924 ACC Camp – Mount Robson (guide)
Works pertinent to the Mount Robson region of which Kain was author or co-author:

  • —   Banff: Whyte Museum Archives. Die Erstbesteigung des Höchsten Giflei der Rockies, Mt. Robson (1913).
  • —   “The ascent of Mt. Robson.” Alpine Journal, Vol. 28 (1914):35
  • —   “The first ascent of Mt. Robson, the highest peak of the Rockies.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 6 (1914–1915):22-
  • —   “First ascent of Mt. Whitehorn.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 6 (1914–1915):42-43
  • —  and Thorington, James Monroe [1895–1989], editor. Where the Clouds Can Go. New York City: American Alpine Club, 1935