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THE CAIRN News about Canadian Rockies’ art, history and culture and the activities and history of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.​ In the fall of 1976, the Whyte Museum published the first print version (click to view) of The Cairn newsletter to share what was going on at the Museum with the community. In that issue, Catharine Robb Whyte wrote in her greeting, “Pete and I always felt it was a way of telling our friends what is going on here and encouraging us all to work together.” In 2018, the 50th anniversary of the Whyte Museum, the print version of The Cairn ended and the monthly digital version began. All issues, print and digital, are below. Click on the covers to view. To receive the digital version of The Cairn by email subscribe to our E-newsletter, using the form at the bottom of this page . The Cairn — Digital Edition, from October 2018 The Cairn - Spring 2024 The Cairn - Winter 2024 The Cairn - Fall 2023 The Cairn - Summer 2023 The Cairn - Spring 2023 The Cairn - Winter 2023 The Cairn Fall 2022 The Cairn - Summer 2022 The Cairn - April 2022 The Cairn - January 2022 The Cairn - November 2021 The Cairn - September 2021 The Cairn - July 2021 The Cairn - May 2021 The Cairn - March 2021 The Cairn - January 2021 The Cairn - September/October 2020 The Cairn - August 2020 The Cairn - July 2020 The Cairn - June 2020 The Cairn - May 2020 The Cairn - March/April 2020 The Cairn - February 2020 The Cairn - January 2020 The Cairn_December_2019_Vol 2_Iss 12.jpg The Cairn — Print Edition, from Fall 1976 to Summer 2018 Click to view issues from the 1970s , 1980s , 1990s , 2000s and 2010s . 114_cairn_spring_summer_2018_front.jpg 113_cairn_fall_winter_2017_2018_front.jp 112_cairn_spring_summer_2017_front.jpg 111_cairn_fall_winter_2016_2017_front.jp 110_cairn_spring_summer_2016_front.jpg 109_cairn_fall_winter_2015_2016_front.jp 108_cairn_spring_summer_2015_front.jpg 107_cairn_fall_winter_2014_2015_front.jp 106_cairn_spring_summer_2014_front.jpg 105_cairn_fall_winter_2013_2014_front.jp 104_cairn_spring_summer_2013_front.jpg 103_cairn_fall_winter_2012_2013_front.jp 102_cairn_spring_summer_2012_front.jpg 101_cairn_fall_winter_2011_2012_front.jp 100_cairn_spring_summer_2011_front.jpg 099_cairn_fall_winter_2010_2011_front.jpg 098_cairn_spring_summer_2010_front.jpg 097_cairn_fall_winter_2009_2010_front.jpg 096_cairn_spring_summer_2009_front.jpg 095_cairn_fall_winter_2008_front.jpg 094_cairn_spring_summer_2008_front.jpg 093_cairn_fall_winter_2007_2008_front.jpg 092_cairn_spring_summer_2007_front.jpg 091_cairn_fall_winter_2006_2007_front.jpg 090_cairn_spring_summer_2006_front.jpg 2000s 2010s 1990s 1980s 1970s Footer

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Meet the Interns By Kylie Fineday and Kate Skelton Back to The Cairn Kylie Fineday In January, we welcomed Kylie Fineday as a student intern from the University of Lethbridge, where she majors in Art Studio. She will be working in our Curatorial Department until April, and is excited about the opportunity to learn about the history of the Whyte Museum and gain valuable skills and experience while working with us. During her time here, Kylie is cataloguing items into the heritage collection, assisting with exhibit installations, as well as taking on a curatorial project in our heritage gallery. Kate Skelton The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies welcomes Kate Skelton to her new role as Processing Archivist, starting April 1st. Kate Skelton was hired as an Archival Assistant Intern in September 2018, through the Young Canada Works at Building Careers in Heritage Internship program. Before her placement, Kate graduated from the University of Leicester, UK with a master’s degree in Museum Studies. Kate’s current work focuses on processing and digitizing materials which have been donated to the Whyte Museum – this includes numbering and labelling archival items, adding information to the Whyte Museum’s archival database and creating digital copies of photographs and documents from the Museum’s collection. In February, Kate also completed a digital exhibit on Nicholas Morant, a photographer for the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, which has recently been added to the Whyte Museum’s website . Back to The Cairn

Upcoming Programs at The Whyte! Back to The Cairn The Whyte Museum will be offering guided walks, workshops and more this Summer. Here is a glimpse of what we will be offering between July and August! Whyte Museum Walking Tour App This summer, explore Banff in a new way – using the Whyte Museum’s Walking Tour app. This app offers a safe, self-guided historical walking tour of Banff, taking you to key stops along paved pathways, sidewalks and a gentle gravel pathway by the river. The tour gives you access to the extensive archival collection at The Whyte Museum. That means stories, characters, secrets, and a fresh way to discover a deeper connection to this special place. The Whyte Museum Walking Tour app is available July 1st on Google Play and iPhone App Store. Image: Bow River Exploring the Art and Geology of Banff Lisa and Dave Christensen and the Whyte Museum Present: The Landscape Through Time Guests will be guided on an easy walk on paved pathways from the Whyte Museum to Bow Falls and back. The walk will include one flight of wooden stairs (with a hand railing) to be descended and climbed. A relaxed pace will be enjoyed with frequent stops for conversations about Canadian art, Canadian art history, and geology. Including a discussion on the fascinating story of the Great Extinction between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic periods. Leaping forward to more recent history, guests will learn about artists such as Walter J Phillips, Margaret Shelton, Peter and Catharine Whyte, William Brymner and F.M. Bell-Smith and their impact on the art history of Canada. Walks run every Thursday between July 8 and September 30, at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. Cost: $70 per person. Image: Walter J Philips, Bow Falls, Banff, 1936 watercolour on paper 25.4cm x 43.1cm. Private Collection, Ottawa Fireside Chat with Mountaineer, Artist and Photographer Glen Boles This is another in Chic Scott’s Fireside Chat Series. Due to Covid restrictions the live Fireside Chat Series was temporarily halted but using an old interview recorded in 1996 with Glen Boles, Chic and film-maker Glen Crawford have managed to make a film about this legend of the Rockies. Register between July 22 - August 22 for an exclusive viewing from the comfort of your home. Free Image: Glen Boles Registration is required for ALL programs. Please check whyte.org/events to register and for more information about upcoming programing! Looking forward to seeing you soon! Back to The Cairn

File name: fonds: Title: Date: D escription: V439_pd_360_008 Moore family fonds Album page showing Edmée Moore and friends. [ca. 1925 - 1935] Edmée Moore, [Georgia Engelhard] and Rudolph Aemmer.

Towanna Miller Corona Covid Artist Statement Title: Corona Covid Description: Mask created during the 2020 Corona Virus Pandemic. Beaded using flat style, peyote stitch and Iroquois raised beadwork. The inside is made of pleather, has holes underneath to breath and beak is open to place medicinal herbs inside. The middle layer is a thick felt. The outside is made of velveteen adorned with Iroquois beaded vines and purple flowers outlined in turquoise blue. The muse of inspiration was a crow which was beaded flat style in the center of the hat. The brim of the hat is peyote beaded. A pair of sunglasses were used for the tinted round eyes. The mask has three straps to secure to the head with buckles on the side for adjustment. Jingle Cone used for the tip of the beak. Artist Statement: I have to admit that I have a dark side. I enjoy horror movies and the paranormal. I wanted my mask to reflect the time. For me, I have always incorporated the past into my work. Long ago they had plague masks with medicinal herbs put inside. To me they always look like birds. The Crow was now my muse. I like that face that my mask has a darkness to it sprinkled with beauty, just like the time we are now in. Surrounded by so much darkness like death and sickness yet if you look around we do have beauty in our lives such as kindness and generosity. Return

Reopening July 1! Back to The Cairn Catharine Robb Whyte, O.C. (1906–1979, Canadian), Snow Dome, Columbia Icefield, 1940–1950, oil on canvas, WMCR, WyC.01.303 We can’t wait to see you! We are reopening on Wednesday, July 1. On Wednesday we will be offering free admission to the Museum. The first weekend from Friday, July 3 to 5 all front-line workers will receive free admission to the Museum. We want to show our appreciation for the sacrifices you’ve made during these difficult times–thank you. Please note that our hours of operation have now changed to 11 – 5. We are excited to share some major changes with you! We have refreshed many different sections of the Museum and have installed two brand new exhibitions for your enjoyment. Our Main Gallery will display the exhibition, Drawn to the West (July 1 – January 20). This exhibit features art and artifacts by adventuresome individuals including images of hieroglyphics and present-day creations. Artists have been drawn to western Canada for centuries. The vastness of the prairie and the magnitude of the mountain landscape has both captivated and challenged artists. In the Rummel Room you will find the Emergence (July 1 – September 20), an exhibition focused on new works created by local artists during their period of self-isolation. The theme considers our return to nature and highlights flora, birds, and wildlife. We have implemented Alberta Health Services COVID-19 health and safety guidelines to maintain a healthy workplace environment and to ensure visitor safety. Upon your arrival at the Museum, we ask that you adhere to the new visitor guidelines to ensure a smooth visit. If you would like to read our guidelines prior to visiting, click here . Please note that the Archives and Special Collections Library remains closed until Tuesday, July 14. Access to the Reference Room will be by appointment only. We will be unable to accommodate drop-in visits at this time. Be sure to check our website for details regarding appointment bookings. If you have any immediate inquiries please reach out to our staff at archives@whyte.org . Back to The Cairn

In Castle Mountain's Shadow: The Story of Silver City Back to the Cairn Discover the rise, fall, and tumultuous legacy of Silver City, a once-booming mining town nestled in Castle Mountain's shadow. By Kayla Cazes, Librarian/Reference Archivist Most people admire the towering fortress known as Castle Mountain along the eastern edge of the Trans-Canada Highway as they drive north towards Lake Louise. Originally named by Sir James Hector in 1858, this well-known landmark is a place with a tumultuous past. Before the railway was built through the Rocky Mountains the access to the region was either by foot or horse. In 1881, John Healy was shown a sample of copper ore collected from the base of Castle Mountain by a local Stoney Nakoda member. After having the ore tested, it was determined to contain high levels of copper and lead. In the same year, Canadian Pacific Railway surveyors were determining a route through the mountains. With the coming of the railway, the race was on to stake a prospect claim over an area. Healy returned to the area in 1882 and originally named it Copper Mine. It is uncertain how the name changed to Silver City, since no silver was ever mined there. Soon after, the railway would reach Siding 29—the original site of Banff. By November 1883, the railway had reached the site of Silver City and with it came a flood of prospectors. Shortly after, the town was booming with over 3000 residents. At its height there were at least five mines in operation. Hotels, pool halls, stores and homes seemed to spring to life overnight. The town would perish just as quickly. The beginning of the end seemed to come with the fraud of stakeholders of the Homestake Mine. It was rumoured that the owners Patton and Pettigrew planted gold dust on their prospected land in order to entice shareholders. They sold shares in the company for $5.00 per share and sold over 2000 shares. After collecting this money, the pair promptly left the country. With this drama, the town showed the first signs of slowing down and finally grinding to a halt by the end of 1885. In 1885, Silver City was officially surveyed and registered as Silverton. By 1888, there was no sign of life other than permanent resident, Joe Smith. A visiting English minister described the town as, "...[the] empty log houses were empty shells, the streets were grass grown and the station had little more than the water tower to supply locomotives. Two section men and their wives had a house they used, but of the prospectors and miners there were no signs." From 1886 to 1888 the towns structures were slowly torn down, moved or redistributed. Many were used to build C. P. R. section houses along the railway. Some of the materials also went into building hotels in Banff such as the Upper Hot Springs Hotel and the Grand Villa Hotel. During World War One those deemed enemy aliens were forced into internment camps. Near the old town site, a camp was constructed. These men were tasked to complete labour projects such as timbering, bridge building, quarrying, constructing fireguards and more. These men were responsible for the construction of the 1917 ice palace at the Banff Winter Carnival (see below). In 1924, Paramount Pictures produced and released the silent black and white adventure film, The Alaskan. Based on James Oliver Curwood's novel, the film was based heavily in the Banff area in particular at the old site of Silver City. The crew partially rebuilt the town in order to have an authentic set. The last resident, Joe Smith was forced to move into Calgary due to blindness in 1937. After Mr. Smith's death, Parks Canada burned the remaining buildings including Joe's home. Today, nothing but an informational plaque marks the spot of this boom and bust town. Over the years, there has been infrequent attention given to this old mining town. Through commemorations through local business like the Silver City Food and Beverage Company to interpretive brochures given out by Parks Canada. The history of Silver City was and continues to be a fascinating part of the local heritage of the Bow Valley. Back to the Cairn

"Ya Ha Tinda: The Ranch" Featured as Whyte Museum's Winter 2024 Exhibition Back to the Cairn On January 26th, 2024, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies celebrated the opening of two winter exhibitions, Ya Ha Tinda: The Ranch by Arto Djerdjerian and A Natural Solitude by Hans P. Berkout , in celebration of the 2024 Exposure Photography Festival. Both exhibitions explore varied photography styles in outdoor spaces. Both exhibitions will be on display at the Whyte Museum until April 7th, 2024. About the Exhibitions Arto Djerdjerian: Ya Ha Tinda - The Ranch In Ya Ha Tinda: The Ranch , photographer Arto Djerdjerian showcases an intimate view of the everyday lives of those at Ya Ha Tinda, a ranch where horses are wintered and trained for use by Parks Canada wardens in our national mountain parks. Djerdjerian has been photographing life at Canada's only federally owned and operated working horse ranch for six years. His work provides a window to a very special place that has rarely been photographically documented. Gallery 1 By carefully observing the workday routine at the ranch, Djerdjerian captures the ranch's gritty, hard work as well as the magnificent animals and natural beauty. Blue skies and snow-capped peaks offer a stunning backdrop to the tonal variances of the horses. This combination of landscape, horse and history creates a sense of magic in a place apart from our norm. Born in Cairo, Egypt to Armenian parents, Djerdjerian was raised in Montreal where he went on to study photography, practicing seriously since the age of sixteen. Living and working in Alberta since 1977, Djerdjerian is dedicated full-time to his practice as a photographer in Alberta. Arto Djerdjerian is interested in the integration of fine art and photography. He continues to expand his vision and environment photography, from the urban world of New York City to Montreal to the backyard to the wilderness of Alberta to Wyoming. He combines horses, people, mountains, and history in his skillful photographs taken in some of the wildest and untamed places. Hans P. Berkhout: A Natural Solitude A Natural Solitude features the brilliant black-and-white film photography of Hans P. Berkhout, with nature as his subject. These pieces will leave you captivated by the crisp beauty and beautiful process. For Berkhout, photography became a creative release from the stresses of his medical practice, while also inspiring and encouraging fellow medics to engage in the creative process. Berkhout developed a passion for photography from his early days in Holland. He is a self-taught, film-based photographer whose main interest is black-and-white photography. He works with both large format and 35mm film, processed in a conventional wet darkroom. Each photograph displays fine detail and quality, which exemplify the patience and preparation seen in these well-executed images. The art of producing these images in the wet dark room further displays dedication and talent for his craft. Berkhout was introduced to large-format photography by the late Dr. Harry S. Thompson of Calgary. Concentrating his work on nature photography, he also learned from contact over the years with Al Weber, David Vestal, and Joe Englander, whom he assisted during the 2000 and 2001 Workshops West. Since 2014 he has been mentored by Paul Caponigro Galleries: Gallery 1 : Winter 2024 exhibition opening at the Whyte Museum. Photos by Katie Goldie. Back to the Cairn

Cooking With Catharine Episode 2 – Rhubarb Upside-down Cake Back to The Cairn Join staff from the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies with a new episode of Cooking with Catharine! In this series, staff will pull recipes directly from our founder, Catharine Robb Whyte's recipe box and recreate delicious savoury and sweet dishes. In this episode, Collections Cataloguer, Amie Lalonde shows us how to bake a Rhubarb Upside-down Cake. Show us your creations by tagging us on social media with the hashtag #CookingWithCatharine Here's the recipe: Serves 8. *Note: We recommend greasing the skillet! Ingredients: 3 cups rhubarb, cut in 1 inch pieces 10 marshmallows, cut in half 3/4 cup sugar Cake Batter: 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 3/4 cups sifted enriched flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup milk Heavy cream, whipped Instructions: Preheat oven to 350°C Step 1: Arrange rhubarb in bottom of heavy 10-inch skillet. Add marshmallows and 3/4 cup sugar. Step 2: Cream together shortening and 1 cup of sugar. Step 3: Beat in eggs, one egg at a time to the wet mixture. Step 4: Sift together the dry ingredients and add alternatively with milk, stirring until smooth after each addition. Step 5: Spread over rhubarb and bake! Bake for 40-50 minutes, let cool 5 minutes. Gently loosen the edge from the skillet with a knife. Invert serving plate over the skillet and turn upside down (Careful, it may still be hot!) Beat the heavy cream with sugar and serve on top! Enjoy! Watch the Video Here: Find previous episodes here . Back to The Cairn

Exciting New Research Back to The Cairn We are pleased to announce that two new research proposals have been approved through the Lillian Agnes Jones Fellowship with the Whyte Museum. The Committee reviewed 11 applications and awarded two scholarships valued at $6000 each to Tyler Stewart and Felix Mayer. Tyler Stewart’s proposal “Listening to the Museum” will explore the role that sound plays in society and the literal and figurative “voices” that are inherent in our collections. Architecture student Felix Mayer will be exploring Canadian cultural attitudes towards the concept of “Wilderness” using writing, mapping, drawing, and architectural site investigations. In 2001, the Peter and Catharine Whyte Foundation/Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies received a bequest from the estate of Lillian Agnes Jones. Lillian Agnes Jones (1909-2000) was a cousin to Whyte Museum founder, Peter Whyte. Her mother, Elizabeth Jane, was Dave White’s sister. She and her husband Clifford Jones moved to Calgary in 1900. Their daughter, Lillian, was educated at the University of Alberta and University of Washington State, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Library Science. She was Head Librarian for Cal Standard Oil Company in Calgary, and was a member of the University Women’s Club. The Lillian Agnes Jones Fellowship was established “for study and research related to the history of Western Canada.” It is administered through the Whyte Museum with an open call for scholarly residency proposals across Canada. Successful applicants are expected to carry out their research at the Whyte, using its collections. Previous recipients were Stephanie Laine Hamilton whose “Booze and Bars in the Bow Valley” is being reviewed by a publisher, and Daniel Meister’s important research: “A ‘Red Tile in the Canadian Mosaic’? Indigenous Peoples and J. M. Gibbon’s Cultural Pluralism, 1920s-1950s” that is stirring attention among academic researchers. Back to The Cairn

An Unexpected Adventurer at Abbot Pass Hut By Tera Swanson, Marketing and Communications Manager Back to The Cairn Perched on the precipice of Abbot Pass, a stone hut once sat at nearly 3000 metres, flanked by Mount Lefroy and Mount Victoria, and bordering two worlds below. To the north, Lake Louise – the epicentre of Banff National Park which attracts millions of tourists every year. And to the south, Lake Oesa and the broader Lake O’Hara region – a sensitive alpine area with restricted visitation in an effort to preserve the fragile environment. Much like the dichotomy of worlds surrounding it, Abbot Pass Hut served myriad purposes over the years: as a basecamp for classic mountaineering routes, as a destination in and of itself, and even as a lunch stop on a day hike. No matter the occasion, it has been a welcoming refuge and nostalgic reminder of a bygone era. As the years progressed, it also served as a time capsule. Although the interior was renovated in 1968 after ownership changed from the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to Parks Canada and the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC), few changes have been made from the original layout.[1] For a century, it has reliably stood by as an old friend to return to or remember fondly. 100 years after it was first built in 1922, Abbot Pass Hut was dismantled, with substantial removal of the hut completed on June 30, 2022. With slope erosion and glacial recession caused by climate change occurring at Abbot Pass, it was deemed uninhabitable during the summer of 2018 and was closed to overnight visitors. In February 2022, Parks Canada announced the following: When planning for the substantial removal of the hut, the Agency considered attempting to deconstruct it in a way that would allow for the hut to be rebuilt, either at Abbot Pass or at another location. This option is not feasible for two reasons: The unstable condition of the hut and the slopes at Abbot Pass mean that the delicate work required for this type of removal would pose too great a risk to the health and safety of Parks Canada staff and contractors. Based on consultations with experts in historical masonry, the type of material used to construct the hut (primarily limestone) is likely to fracture if moved and is not conducive to removal and reconstruction. Plans are being made to salvage some material from the hut for use in future commemoration of the site. Parks Canada will be working with stakeholders and interested parties to identify options for commemorating the enduring national significance of the site itself, the surrounding area, and to mountaineering in Canada. [2] Early Days of Abbot Pass Hut The hut was first brought to life thanks to the inspiration of Edward Feuz Jr. and Rudolf Aemmer, both respected mountaineers of the early 20th century. In her recently published book Edward Feuz Jr.: A Story of Enchantment , author D.L. Stephen explains: The guides were tired of leading guests up and down Mount Victoria in a single day and wanted to make the climb easier and "more enjoyable" for them. Abbot Pass was the ideal location for an alpine hut. Edward and Rudolf, used to high climbing huts in Switzerland, knew what they wanted. Putting their heads together they made some drawings and approached the construction foreman for the CPR, Basil Gardom, with their sketches. "He took things in hand," said Edward. This meant he badgered the CPR until architectural plans were made. The badgering was successful, because construction was begun and completed in 1922, at a cost of $35,000.[3] A small team of Swiss mountain guides constructed the hut using stones from the pass and supplies hauled up on horseback. The journey started from Lake Louise and over the infamous Death Trap – a route directly up the Victoria Glacier which today is not recommended due to crevasse and serac hazards. Given the location, constructing a building here would be no small feat even by today’s standards, let alone with the limitations of the time. In Stories of Ice , Lynn Martel writes in detail about the challenges of this undertaking: The logistics were stupendous. Two tons of cement, lime, timbers, windows and tools, plus a stove, beds, mattresses, bedding, cooking pots and pans, right down to the cutlery, had to be ferried up to the site. Food, too, to fuel the guides. It was all loaded onto a raft and paddled from the hotel to the southwest end of (Lake Louise). From there every piece was unloaded and carefully packed onto horses led by a wrangler who coaxed them onto the glacier – then extending some two kilometres lower than it does today – carefully guiding them around one crevasse and then the next. The steeds plodded upward on the bare summer ice until they reached a large gaping crevasse that stopped them in their tracks. From there the guides took over the Sisyphean job of man-hauling everything up the steep slope by rigging the jumbled icefall with a series of ladders and winches to facilitate carrying loads on a sled, each parcel weighing up to 35 kilograms. Anything that couldn't be loaded onto the sled they carried on their backs as they continued up the Death Trap – as they named the steep upper reaches of the glacier in apt reference to the unpredictable blocks and chunks that crash down from the unstable ice cliffs above. Once they were at the pass, thankfully, all the stones they needed to build the walls of the hut were already strewn all over the ground. With the help of a skilled stonemason they'd hired, the guides just had to gather up enough of them in the right sizes and shapes. The structure was then fastened to the bedrock with cables. Naturally, their work efforts were interrupted from time to time by howling gales. Abbot Pass Hut opened its doors to guests early in the summer of 1923. "The cabin had a big room for the kitchen and dining, a gentleman's dormitory, an attic with lots of mattresses," Feuz described. "There was even a sleeping room for ladies." For a time, there was even a pump organ for musical entertainment. As it was equipped with a pot-bellied stove, the guides carried firewood up to a spot below the hut where they kept it hidden, and then sold it by the bundle to hut users. No doubt they'd earned every cent, not an extra crumb of which was ever offered by the railway.[4] Gallery 1 An Unexpected Adventurer When news broke of the decision to dismantle Abbot Pass Hut, staff at the Whyte Museum dug into the vault of the Archives and Special Collections Library, bringing out Alpine Club of Canada hut registers that are stored here. Familiar stories jumped from the pages, both tragic and legendary. One related entry from Ernest Feuz in 1954 was also told on the walls of the hut itself, in a historic hut plaque written by Meghan J. Ward. It read: On July 30, 1954, Abbot Pass Hut played an integral role in sheltering and warming survivors of a tragic mountaineering accident on Mount Victoria in which three Mexican women and their guide were killed. In the safety of the hut, the rescuers, led by Ernest Feuz, “took off the girls’ boots and rubbed their feet, wrapped them in blankets and poured hot soup and tea into them,” wrote Harry Green in the 1955 CAJ.[5] In another entry from 1965,19-year-olds Charlie Locke and Don Gardner refer to themselves as "amateurs" on their traverse of the Ten Peaks. This still unrepeated route covered 22 peaks above Moraine Lake and Lake Louise over six-and-a-half days.[6] But a particular, peculiar entry stood out. It may be unusual for most to see a child’s drawings and “Count Dracula” signature in the logbook of the highest structure in Canada in the '60s, but for the author, Shauna Gillies-Smith, this wasn’t out of the ordinary. Having grown up at the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse, trips up to Abbot Pass – over the Death Trap, no less – were a treat to look forward to. Shauna recounts her experience as a young seven-year-old girl on her first trip to Abbot Pass Hut with Pierre Lemire, a hired hand at the teahouse who frequently went up the pass. “We went up as a trip for my birthday present, late in the afternoon,” Shauna recalls. “Pierre was like a big brother to us so we’d go on lots of hikes and scrambles, but this one was kind of epic. I remember the snow bridges and being pulled across things really quickly by Pierre to make sure we were in good shape. I remember it being very steep. But I had absolute trust in him." Then in his early 20s, Pierre was at the start of his career as a respected photographer and mountain guide. His path toward becoming an ACMG mountain guide began around the same time as his summers working at the teahouse, making various trips in the nearby mountain ranges, and eventually passing his first guide's exam in 1971 with Hans Gmoser and Leo Grillmair as his examiners.[7] "As we started getting up, the weather got more and more intense," Shauna continued. "By the time we got to the top, the weather had turned for the worse. Pierre had a big sense of humor so he had me take off all of my mountaineering gear, and he sent me into the hut full of people all by myself. I made quite an entrance walking in there alone with the stormy weather outside, the snow and rain, and everybody cozy and warm inside.” She recalls the laughter from the mountaineers shocked to see a child in their midst, seemingly appearing from thin air in nothing more than climbing boots and the clothes on her back. The next morning they awoke to beautiful, clear skies for their descent to Lake Oesa, a stark contrast to her experience the day before. Shauna and her family have a special connection to Abbot Pass Hut and the Feuz family, as it was because of this hut that her childhood home was created. A few years after it was built in 1924, Edward once again persuaded the CPR to build the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse in the valley below, under the supervision of the same foreman. Although he initially, and unsuccessfully, pitched it as a personal residence, the CPR agreed to the structure serving as a teahouse for tourists. Feuz often used the teahouse as an overnight stop with clients en route to Abbot Pass for mountaineering objectives.[3] His family owned and operated the teahouse until the '50s, serving pie and tea to guests from Chateau Lake Louise. To this day, the teahouse is open every summer serving visiting hikers. In 1959, the Feuz family sold the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse to Joy Kimball who raised her two daughters, Shauna and Susanne, right on the mountain. The younger of the two, Susanne, still runs the Teahouse today. “Abbot Pass Hut has always felt like a part of our teahouse home, as if they were siblings or a part of our family,” Shauna says. “It had been there for so long and as kids we’d always try to track the climbers, watching them going up and down. So going up there was an incredible source of pride, but also a coming of age. It’s really special to us to look back on.” — The Whyte Museum Archives and Special Collections Library houses several resources to aid in research for stories like these, including the Canadian Alpine Journal, Alpine Club of Canada fonds, archival photographs including the Edward Feuz fonds, and much more. Explore for yourself online at www.archives.whyte.org – or book an appointment to visit in person. Purchase your own copy of Edward Feuz Jr: A Story of Enchantment by D.L. Stephen and Stories of Ice: Adventure, Commerce and Creativity on Canada's Glaciers by Lynn Martel at the Whyte Museum Book Shop, located at 111 Bear Street. Back to The Cairn Endnotes: [1] Parks Canada Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, Government of Canada. “Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin.” December 24, 1999. https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_fhbro_eng.aspx?id=8717&i=75126. [2] Parks Canada Agency, Government of Canada. “Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site.” Abbot Pass Refuge Cabin National Historic Site, July 13, 2022. https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/yoho/culture/abbot/info. [3] Stephen, D. L. Edward Feuz Jr.: A Story of Enchantment . Rocky Mountain Books, 2021. [4] Martel, Lynn. Stories of Ice: Adventure, Commerce and Creativity on Canada's Glaciers . Rocky Mountain Books, 2021. [5] Ward, Meghan. “Farewell to Abbot Pass Hut.” Meghan J. Ward, February 24, 2022. https://www.meghanjoyward.com/blog/abbot-pass-hut. [6] Scott, Chic. Pushing the Limits: The Story of Canadian Mountaineering . Rocky Mountain Books, 2000. [7] “Rockies Guide and Photographer Awarded Summit of Excellence.” RMOToday.com. Rocky Mountain Outlook, October 21, 2015. https://www.rmotoday.com/mountain-guide/rockies-guide-and-photographer-awarded-summit-of-excellence-1567911. Source: Gillies-Smith, Shauna. Interview by Tera Swanson. Personal Interview. Banff, AB, March 15, 2022. Image Captions: Abbot Pass Hut and the Death Trap from Victoria Glacier, 1929, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Peter and Catharine Whyte fonds ( V683/III/A/15/PA-18) Packing supplies to Abbot Pass, Alpine Cabin, 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Joe Warner fonds (V301/lC/ACCN/3044/NA66-1216) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -79) Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Alpine Club of Canada fonds (M200). [Shauna Gillies-Smith at Abbot Pass Hut], 1969. Photo by Pierre Lemire. Personal Collection of Shauna Gillies-Smith. Gallery Captions: Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -77) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -76) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -75) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -68a) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -72a) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -72c) Construction of Abbott Pass Hut , 1922, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Edward Feuz fonds (V200/I/A/II/PA -69)