DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

Peakfinder Updates This month we have added archival photographs of over two dozen of the personalities in our "Mountain People" section. As well we have added a few new individuals so that 77 biographies are available. All of these people have played significant roles in the history of the Canadian Rockies. Have a look at the Jimmy Simpson biography to see what we mean. A few of the biographies are too brief. If you encounter one and can direct us as to where additional information is available please let us know. Thanks to Alan Kane who pointed out the incorrect elevation given for Mount Fitzwilliam and to others who have emailed with comments and suggestions.

December's Unusual Canadian Rockies name BUCEPHELAS PEAK Bucephelas was the name of a horse which Dr. Cheadle rode through the Rockies in 1863. The original "Bucephelas" belonged to Alexander the Great and is said to have had a royal funeral after dying of his wounds at the age of thirty. Read about Walter Cheadle in the "Mountain People" section and enter "Bucephelas Peak" to learn more about the mountain.

December's estoteric list of mountains MOUNTAINS IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES THAT HONOUR GEOLOGISTS The first director of the Geological Survey of Canada, Sir William Logan, has been in the news recently due to the controversy over the renaming of Mount Logan in the St. Elias Range in the Yukon. There are no mountains in the Canadian Rockies named after Sir William Logan but 25 other geologists are honoured by the following names. Mount Allan, Mount Barlow, Mount Bauerman, Mount Cairnes, Mount Coleman, Mount De Margerie, Mount Bogart, Mount Drysdale, Mount Gagnebin, Mount Gray, Mount Lambe, Mount Lawson, Mount Leroy, Mount Lyell, Mount Malloch, Mount McConnell, Mount Murchison, Mount Niles, Mount Peck, Mount Strahan, Mount Termier, Mount Tyrrell, Walcott Peak, Mount Whiteaves, Mount Yarrell        Enter their names to find out who they were and where their mountain is.

Look who's honoured in the Canadian Rockies BILLY BISHOP William Avery "Billy" Bishop VC, was Canada's top flying ace in World War I. Known as a flamboyant extrovert, Bishop shot down a total of 72 enemy aircraft including three on the daring, solo, dawn attack on a German airfield for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Capt. Bishop's combat report for this day is as follows: "I fired on seven machines on the aerodrome, some of which had their engines running. One of them took off and I fired 15 rounds at him from close range (60') and he crashed. A second one was taking off, I opened fire and fired 30 rounds at 150 yds. range, he crashed into a tree. Two more were then taking off together. I climbed and engaged one at 1000' finishing my drum, and he crashed 300 yds. from the aerodrome. I changed drums and climbed E. A fourth Hun aircraft came after me and I fired one whole drum into him. He flew away and I then flew 1000' under 4 Scouts at 5000' for one mile and turned W. climbing. The aerodrome was armed with one or more machine guns. Machines on the ground were 6 Scouts (Albatross type I or II) and one two-seater.”                                                                         (Sgd) W.A. Bishop, Capt.   Bishop's squadron commander comments were added to the bottom of the report: "Capt. Bishop had been encouraged to catch the Hun aircraft referred to in VII Corps Daily Intelligence Summary No. 151. His method was not quite what I intended. He was several times at a height of 50 ft. over this enemy aerodrome at  least 17 miles E. of the lines. His machine is full of holes caused by machine gun fire from the ground."             During the Second World War Billy Bishop served as an Air Marshall, playing an important role in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan by inspiring a new generation of pilots to serve their country in the air at its time of need.        Enter Mount Bishop to learn more about this peak.

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