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FEBRUARY, 2006 NEWSLETTER
| Peakfinder Updates
Plans are being made to commemorate the bi-centennial of David Thompson's 1807 crossing of Howse Pass into the Columbia Valley. As part of this it's being recommended that Mount David be re-named Mount David Thompson so that people will know that this is the David that was honoured. Please see http://www.davidthompson200.ca/ for details and read the Mount David information on Peakfinder to learn why it wasn't just called Mount Thompson to begin with. Halstead Pass has always been a bit of a mystery. It's been on the maps for a long time but its location doesn't appear very "pass-like." David Henry and Nolan Hindmarsh have visited the area in the past couple of years and their observations have been added to the Halstead Pass page. Google Earth now has high resolution photos in the area Mount Hector and Goodsir Towers. Thanks to Marta Wojnarowska, Peakfinder is being integrated with "Google Earth" and this provides an almost incredible way to look at the Canadian Rockies. We are just beginning with this but there is one temporary file available through Peakfinder that will lead you to Mount Hector and to the Goodsirs. Google Earth presents a view of satellite photos that are draped over topography for the entire world. The angle of view may be adjusted as can the point of view. The resolution of the photos varies -it's best over big cities - but take a look at the area in the vicinity of Mount Hector and the Goodsirs in the Rockies. To me it's almost unbelievable. The slideshow section is updated from time to time. Last month many of the photos in the Peaks of Waterton show were updated with better quality images. As well we're working on a photo tour of the Rockies seen by driving up the Bow Valley on Highways #1 and #93. Check out the monthly panorama on the site. Previously they were photos from "50 Roadside Panoramas in the Canadian Rockies. Now we're using new colour photos from different locations. As all the photos available on Peakfinder, sometimes errors are made in their captions. Several Peakfinder users have located errors and advised us so that they can be corrected. Please let us know if you find an error. 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 Please note that all of the previous newsletters have been archived and are available on the site.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 esoteric lists, unusual mountain names, etcetera, browse through the earlier issues. |
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Enter "Draco Peak" to learn more about the mountain. |
| Look who's honoured in the Canadian Rockies RAPHAEL LOUIS ZENGEL Sgt. Raphael Louis Zengel rushed ahead to single-handedly attack an enemy machine gun emplacement which was firing into his platoon's advancing line. He demonstrated this, "most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty" while serving with the 45th Battalion in the Saskatchewan Regiment. The Victoria Cross citation reads, "On 9 August 1918 east of Warvillers, France, Sergeant Zengel was leading his platoon forward to the attack when he realised that an enemy machine-gun was firing into the advancing line. He rushed forward ahead of the platoon to the gun emplacement, killed the officer and operator of the gun and dispersed the crew. Later in the day he was rendered temporarily unconscious by an enemy shell but on recovering continued to direct harassing fire on the enemy. His utter disregard for personal safety and the confidence he inspired in all ranks greatly assisted in the successful outcome of the attack." 2006 is the 250th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. Sgt. Zengel passed away in 1977 and was buried at Pine Cemetery, Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. For information about Mount Zengel enter the mountain's name in the appropriate search box on the main page. |