Whyte Museum | Pushing the Limits: The Legacy

Pushing the Limits: The Legacy

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In 1996 and 1997 while researching for his book Pushing the Limits: the Story of Canadian Mountaineering, Banff-based historian Chic Scott videotaped 84 interviews across Canada with the leading climbers of the era. They discussed their pursuits here in the great Canadian mountain ranges and also their climbs around the world.

For 25 years those interviews were safely stored in the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies in Banff, Alberta. Through recent efforts of the Whyte Museum Archives, Chic Scott, and filmmaker Glen Crawford, they have been digitized and revitalized. These digitized interviews will be incorporated into a multimedia project entitled Pushing the Limits: The Legacy which will launch in various stages over the next several years.

Three main components comprise the legacy project.

Non-edited interviews by Chic Scott recorded for his 1996 book Pushing the Limits served as the foundation of the legacy project and can be available to researches by appointment.
Working with Canmore filmmaker Glen Crawford, 11 of the best interviews were selected to edit and enhance with supporting archival photos.
Selected interviews culminated in a series of theme-based films relating to Canadian mountaineering, produced by Glen Crawford. Climbing Pioneers of Yamnuska was released in December 2021 and Pioneers of Waterfall Ice Climbing was released in December 2022. Theme-based films will continue based on funding availability.

This project is made possible through the generous donations of the Lake Louise Ski Resort and Dr. Bill Hanlon.

Themed Mountaineering Films

PIONEERS OF WATERFALL ICE CLIMBING

This film tells the story of the development of the sport of waterfall ice climbing during the 1970s, 80s and 90s and celebrates the pioneers of this activity.

The Canadian Rockies are endowed with three things that make for great waterfall ice climbing — big cliffs, lots of water and cold temperatures in winter. Consequently, there are lots of frozen waterfalls which are perfect for ice climbers. And Canmore and the Bow Valley are the centre for this sport.

During the 70s, the new sport of waterfall ice climbing was born. Scottish mountaineer Hamish McInnes invented a new type of ice axe with a steeply drooping pick that allowed climbers to hook into steep ice and pull themselves up. He called this new ice axe the Terradactyl, revolutionizing how mountaineers climb ice. It was now possible to climb even the steepest frozen waterfalls.

In this film by Glen Crawford with interview film footage from Chic Scott, Rob Wood, Jack Firth, Laurie Skreslet, Jeff Marshall, Guy Lacelle, Bruce Hendricks and Joe Josephson tell epic stories of their pioneering waterfall ice climbs. Enhanced with historical photographs and linked with explanatory narration, the development of this sport, which is now popular all around the world, is explained.

As well as telling the stories of their historic ascents, these climbers speak of their passion and love for the sport. Filmed 25 years ago, this film shows them in their prime.

CLIMBING PIONEERS OF YAMNUSKA

Climbing Pioneers of Yamnuska is about Iyamnathka, the “flat-faced mountain” on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, overlooking the prairies, which has been sacred to the Stoney People for millennia. More recently, the mountain, also known as Yamnuska, has become special to thousands of rock climbers.

Since the early fifties, many climbing routes have been established up the south face. Using interviews videotaped by Chic Scott in the 1990s, this film tells the story of those climbing pioneers and their adventures — Leo Grillmair, Hans Gmoser, Franz Dopf, Brian Greenwood, Don Vockeroth, Dick Lofthouse and Urs Kallen.

Enhanced Interviews

Glen Crawford and Chic Scott selected 11 of the best interviews to be edited and enhanced with added photographs from Scott's collection. These interviews are with Tim Auger, Sharon Wood, Hans Gmoser, Kevin Doyle, Brian Greenwood, Barry Blanchard, Leo Grillmair, Pat Morrow, Don Vockeroth, Charlie Locke, and Laurie Skreslet.

These interviews capture some of Canada's finest mountaineers telling stories of their adventures. The interviews vary from 25 to 90 minutes in length and will be released each month of 2022.

EPISODE 1 - TIM AUGER

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EPISODE 3 - HANS GMOSER