FEBRUARY, 2003 NEWSLETTER

Peakfinder Updates

The latest feature that has been added to the website is one that tells the user which highway or highways a mountain can be seen from. Some, like Mount Sparrowhawk, may be seen from as many as three different highways. You may, or may not, be interested in knowing that 150 peaks may be seen from Highway No. 93 between Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 16.

Many people with an interest in a particular peak or a particular person who has a mountain named after them end up at the website after doing a search. A relative of Reverend Samuel Dwight Chown was thrilled to read about Mount Chown and to find a photo of it on the website. She now plans on travelling to the vicinity of the mountain to have a look at it. 

Peakfinder includes carefully selected links to related sites. Dan Neil has taken a number of  fantastic panorama photos from a variety of locations in the Rockies. He then identifies the peaks. Visit his website at www.cloudtoground.com to see the kind of work he does.

If you have a favourite mountain photo or any information about the peaks of the Canadian Rockies that you would like included in Peakfinder please contact <dave@peakfinder.com>.

Please note that all of the previous newsletters have been archived and are available on the site. If you're interested in other esoteric lists, unusual mountain names, etc. browse through the earlier issues. 


February's Unusual Canadian Rockies Name

MOUNT FABLE
This peak, located in the Exshaw Creek Valley north of the Bow River, features steeply dipping, contorted layers. It is said that a group attempted to climb the mountain in 1947 but claimed that they were unsuccessful due to heavy bush. A subsequent attempt was successful, declaring the story of the heavy bush was a "fable." The name is unofficial.

Enter "Mount Fable" in the Finding Peaks search box to learn more about this mountain. 

Look who's honoured in the Canadian Rockies

STAN WATERS
Stan Waters joined the Calgary Regiment (Tank) in 1940 and, while serving in the First Special Service Forces (also known as the Devil's Brigade), was awarded the US Silver Star for gallantry in action in Italy. Serving as a major and temporarily in charge of a casualty-stricken battalion, Waters walked under direct fire to co-ordinate his infantry unit with as supporting tank regiment for a successful attack on an enemy-held mountain village. Later, he commanded the first battalion to liberate Rome in June, 1944 and in 1945 saw action as a company commander with the First Canadian Parachute Battalion.

After the war, Waters helped pioneer Canada's emergence as a peacekeeping nation, serving in a variety of roles with the United Nations and NATO. After retiring from the military in 1975 with the rank of Lieutenant General and in command of the entire Canadian Army, he had a successful business career and was involved with a wide variety of community service organizations in Calgary before being appointed to the Canadian Senate.

Stan Waters Peak is one of five that make up Ex Coelis Mountain in the North Saskatchewan Valley, east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. In September, 2000, a monument honouring the First Canadian Parachute Battalion was unveiled at a viewpoint parking area off of Highway #11 near the mountain.
For information about Stan Waters Peak enter the name in the "Finding Peaks" search box on the main page.

February's Esoteric List

MOUNTAINS SEEN FROM HIGHWAY #11 (The David Thompson Highway)
Abraham Mountain , Ardennes Peak , Bison Tower , Coliseum Mountain, Corona Ridge, Elbe Peak, Elliott Peak, Engelhard Tower, Mount Ernest Ross, Ex Coelis Mountain, Mount Fuhrer, Hall Tower, Mount Michener, Mount Murchison, Normandy Peak, Mount Peskett, Rhine Peak, Sentinel Mountain, Shunda Mountain, Siffleur Mountain, Stan Waters Peak, Mount Stelfox, Mount William Booth, Mount Wilson

For information regarding any of these mountains enter the name in the "Finding Peaks" section on the front page.

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