The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-28
JOY N MAKING
FIRST ASCENIS
Alphine Climbing Surpassed
in Canadian Rockies.
ON UNEMPLOYED PEAKS
Magnificent Views Which Can
be Obtained in the North.

throughout the civilized world for the
splendor of its mountain scenry. For
variety and charm. as we'll as accessibility
1t has weil-grOunded claims to the title OF
the prince of Fairgrounds. But though
its scenery is unchangingly beautiful and
the familiar Alpine monarchs retain a
ceaseless fascination for the mountaineer.
yet his souk will crave-and rightly So
for the chief joy of the climbers ambi-
tion-a first ascent
He turns naturally, therefore, to the
great continent of America, where he ex-
poets to find plenty of new things. anu
generally finds them on a larger scale
In mountaineering his confidence is not
misplaced, and the paradise of the entire
hemisphere is reached among the rocky
mountains in the northern part of Canada.
Here, and here alone the multitudinous
conditions of Switzerland are combined
the wondrous glacial fields, the massing
Of majestic ranges the striking precipices
and snow-crowned peaks. the forest areas.
clear lakes, and peaceful valleys Much
Of IL may be enjoyed without passing
from the sight or sound of the transcon-
inental railroad: but to view the grand
est mountains and obtain the finest
climbs it is necessary to camp out for
short or long period, and. as this mode
OF life is one of the most delightful of
experiences, the necessity enhances the
pleasure OF ones holiday
Durir,; the summer of 1901 I made three
pleasant camping expeditions: into the
Yoho valley, among the mountains of the
Ottertail group and to Mt. Assiniboine:
the last by an extremely picturesque and
interesting route, eliminating in the most
sensational climb yet experienced in Can
ada This year 1 was tempted further
afield by tales of mountains along the
watershed north of the railroad and by
distant vision of some of them from
the two northernmost peaks assembled in
1901 at the head of the Ohio ice-fields.
OF the several excellent outfitters | Sc
lected Bill Peyto of Banff, who had done
wonders for me on my trip to ut. ASSN
fboine, to provide the horses, tents, pro-
visions and other equipment for an eight
weeks sOjourn beyond the limits OF hu-
man habitation. Accompanied by two
packers and Christian Kaufman, one of
the c. p. r. r. Swiss guides. we set out
f,om Laggan wI.-. It string Of fourteen
ed up the valley of the upper Bow River
to its source at the Bow Pass, $500 feet
above the sea. Two large mountain lakes
are skirted on the way. each overshad-
owed b5 huge cliffs and fed by glaciers
descending in broken ice-falls from the
vast snow-iields of the main range
Early astir. breakfast was over. tents
struck and horses packed by seven o'clock
usually, and the march continued for
about five or six hours. as a rule, and
then camp was pitched in some sheltered
spot beside a lakelet or the tumblins
waters of an ice-fed stream There is no
lack of water in these mountain valleys:
lakes, waterfalls, and rushing torrents
abound; plenty of wood for fuel is also
always close at hand: the only desidera-
tum for ideal camping that was occasion
ally lacking was good feed for the horses
though. fortunately. the Indian cayuse is
not very particular about his daily menu
Some of the swamps we had to cross
were very anxious propositions, and the
fording or swimming of some of the rivers
quite exciting. The desolate tracts of fire.
swept forest lands provided a mass of
fallen tree trunks which had to be jump
- % NHh tAipLSh iaboiiOnSiNs anu the
ups and downs were frequent and fatigu-
ing.
But the views all along the route were
magnificent. and varied constantly. One
OF the most enhancing is that from the
lofty bow pass. Across the fiower-strewn
summit a grand outlook opens TO the
north down long. narrow valley. Sew
eral bright lakes are glistening IN the
somhre depths of the pine forests: state
iy cliffs rise in imposing majesty on
either hand. and glaciers hang upon their
lofty sides and sweep down far below the
timber line. This is the smallest Of the
three forks OF the North Saskatchewan /
The other two drain the Atlantic slopes
OF the great group of noble mountains /
which il was my object to explore. The /
southern portion. access to which is by /
middle fork. comprises the Freshfieid !
group (curving around the head OF an ex- I
tsnsive glacier, the peaks that border |
Glacier Lake upon the north and west. 4
and IN the centre the magnificent. three 7
aided pyramid, Mt Forbes. head and /
shoulders taller than it's neighbors. with 4
rrecipioes and serrated ridges that evoke I
the admiration OF the least emotional be- (
holder and fire the ardor of the noun 1
taineer enthusiast So far we were fol- !
lowing the footsteps OF the celebrated DIR.
Hector, TO whose enthusiasm, skill. and 7.
boundless energy. when member OF /
Capt Palliser's exploring expedition in
iS9. We are indebted for the earliest
knowledge OF this region His objects.
however. embraced the exploration Of the
valleys and larger glaciers alone. and
tqrty-three years elapsed ere any OF the
higher peaks were scaled.
The marvellous extent II these mountain
TOT views is extremely striking. especially
n such untrodcen regions as the Cana
dian Rockies freely offer. The charm OF
the unknown is mingled with the pleasure
OF recognition. The climber knows not
no one living knows-wkat awaits him
on the summit Of peak or pass Be
wfldering hosts OF splendid mountains.
many unviewed by any one before: new
valleys with their glaciers and foaming
torrents. hitherto undreamt OF tributaries
VI familiar rivers; the now revealed lire
81 the erratic watershed. laid down by
suesseork in the past; these are scme Of
tne more fascinating revelations Of the
eour. And equally enjcya bic. amid this
world Of the unknown. Is the tracing OF
me journeys course over yonder pass and
along those familiar valleys TO the spot
far below where the white tents convey
70 you fancied congratu!ation and wei
come back again Pleasant. 100. is the
recognition OF old friends among the near
Or distant SUBMITS fran u-bencs che |