River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-06-06
A ar az ROGADNURN

There are sections Of the Rockies in
Canada as well as the United States
which are every whit as picturesque
and grand as the Alps and which offer
as fine opportunities for the enthusi-
asst in mountain climbing as ever did
the peaks in Switzerland. There has
been an American Alpine club for
number of years whose membership is
made up almost entirely of residents
Of the United States. The members
Of this club have not only climbed
and explored many of the peaks of the
Rockies in this country, but in Can
ada as well. And now Canada has an
Alpine club which was organized lit
tie more than year ago and which
is now planning for it's summer out
ing. When the movement began pres
sure was brought to bear by the presi-
dent of the American Alpine club to
have the new club organize as
branch Of that club to be known as
the Canadian section of the American
Alpine club. But objection was
raised to the name, as well as the
eagle, the crest of the American club
It was then proposed to change the
name and even the emblem of the
club, calling it the Alpine Club of
North America, but this did not
appeal to the Canadian mountaineers
and organization was affected
along independent lines, and Prof
Fay. of the American Alpine
club, was elected an honorary mem
Der, following which fully a dozen
Americans have become active mem
bers of the new club and are counted
among the most enthusiastic of the
clubs members.
1t is no secret that there are now no
more virgin peaks in United States
territory, except Mount Mckinley, in
Alaska, which is nearly as high above
the sea as Mount Everest, and very
much higher above it's base. More
over, 1t is declared to be an impossible
heightA American mountaineerS,
therefore, of whom there is a steadily
increasing number, have their eyes
on the Canadian Rockies, where there
are still vast regions of unconquered
glacier mountains worthy of their
prowess For the Canadian Alps cover
an area of 600 miles from the eastern
foothills to the coast, and a thousand
miles from the forty-ninth parallel to
as far north as a man can win.
And so there will remain for many
years to come lofty maiden mountains,
splendid and remote, to challenge the
ambitious strenuous climber. For to
the valiant who have once tasted
blood, this of mountaineering is not
only the noblest but the most insatia-
BILE of all noble sports.
The aims of the new club are: ID
The promotion of scientific study and
exploration of Canadian Alpine and
glacial regions; (2) The cultivation
of art in relation to mountain scenery;
go The education of Canadians to an
appreciation Of their mountain heri-
tage: (4) The encouragement of the
mountain craft, and the opening of
new regions as a national playground;
(5) The preservation of the natural
beauties of the mountain places. and
of the flora and fauna in their habitat;
CD The interchange of literature with
other Alpine and geographical organi-
cations.
1t is thus obvious that the Alpine
Club of Canada differs from most Al
pine clubs in that it proposes to make
mountaineering popular among the
people, and is in no wise exclusive.
The president and father of the club is
Mr.. Arthur o. Wheeler, F. R. G. S.
He is also its right arm "and spoon
and necessary of life" The venerable
Sir Sandford Fleming is patron, and
there are eight associate members,
who pay an annual fee of $25. The
present membership is 160, and appli-
cations are still coming in.
The constitution provides for a sum-
mer school of mountaineering in some
strategic place where members may