JUNE, 2003 NEWSLETTER

Peakfinder Updates
During the past month a major effort has been made to connect the "Peaks," "Passes," and "People" sections of the website through adding links. We're not finished with this yet but users will notice the hypertext that enables quick access from one database to the others. As an example take a look at the Mount Assiniboine entry. There are about fifteen people mentioned in the article and if you'd like to know about any of them as you read the article their biographies are just a click away. Similarly, information about eight other mountains and a pass may be quickly accessed.

Thanks to Glen Boles for a number of outstanding photographs including Mount Hooker, Dais Mountain, and Mount Mike.

The poignant story of a group of young men who spent countless happy days in the Canadian Rockies together prior to facing the tragedies of war has been added to Mount Morro, Mount Haley, Flett Peak, and Mount Dingley. These peaks were all named to honour members of this group who did not return from service overseas during World War II. Thanks to Dan Mills of the East Kootenay newspaper group for the story.

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Please note that all of the previous newsletters have been archived and are available on the site.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. 


June's Unusual Canadian Rockies Name

MOUNT ROMULUS
Romulus and Remus were the legendary founders of Rome. Twin sons of Mars and Rhea Silvia, they were abandoned and cast adrift on the Tiber, ultimately washing ashore where they were suckled by a wolf and fed by a woodpecker. They were then adopted by a shepherd and later founded the city that was to become Rome. Romulus surrounded it with a wall, but Remus in contempt jumped over it so Romulus killed him and reigned alone in the city which was named for him.

Mount Romulus is easily recognized from the City of Calgary and south of the city. Neighbouring Mount Remus is not as high or as distinctive.
Enter "Mount Romulus" in the Finding Peaks search box to learn more about this mountain. 

Look who's honoured in the Canadian Rockies

DUNCAN MCGILLIVRAY
 In November of 1800, Duncan McGillivray and David Thompson rode south from the recently established Rocky Mountain House. The mountains were, "everywhere covered with snow," and seemed to, "present an impenetrable bank." After passing the present site of the City of Calgary and travelling south to the Highwood River, they rode west up the Bow Valley as far as what is now Mount McGillivray.

On November 30th, they decided to ascend a peak to determine the lay of the land (likely Door Jamb Mountain). They described this ascent as, "steep with many small stones which gave way to more solid rock" as they got higher, but this had sharp points, like an enormous rasp which cut our shoes, socks &  all to pieces in a trice." But it was late in the season and not practical to travel farther up the valley to search for a pass into the headwaters of the Columbia. After further explorations west of Rocky Mountain House McGillivray returned to Rocky Mountain House for the remainder of the winter. In the spring, he was too ill with rheumatism to carry on his explorations and he returned to the East on crutches.

Duncan McGillivray was highly regarded by David Thompson and others in the North West Company for whom they were exploring in 1800. Evidence of this is that on the map of western Canada that Thompson completed following his travels he referred to all of the Rocky Mountains south of the Saskatchewan River as "Duncan's Mountains."
For information about Mount McGillivray enter the name in the "Finding Peaks" search box on the main page.

June's Esoteric List

THE PASSES OF BANFF NATIONAL PARK
Consolation Pass, Crowfoot Pass, Deception Pass, Devil's Gap, Dolomite Pass, Dormer Pass, Edith Pass, Edith-Cory Pass, Fatigue Pass, Fortress Pass, Forty Mile Summit, Gibbon Pass, Halstead Pass, Healy Pass, Hector Pass, Howse Pass, Jones Pass, Kicking Horse Pass, Marvel Pass, Molar Pass, Nigel Pass, North Fork Pass, North Molar Pass, Og Pass, Packer Pass, Palliser Pass, Pipestone Pass, Pulsatilla Pass, Red Man Pass, Redearth Pass, Sentinel Pass, Simpson Pass, Spray Pass, Stoney Pass, Sundance Pass, Sunset Pass , Sunwapta Pass, Taylor Pass, Thompson Pass, Vermilion Pass, Wastach Pass, Wenkchemna Pass, Whistling Pass, White Man Pass, Whiterabbit Pass, Wilcox Pass, Wonder Pass
For information regarding any of these passes enter the name in the "Finding Passes" section on the front page.

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