OCTOBER, 2002 NEWSLETTER

Peakfinder Updates

 We regularly receive inquiries from Peakfinder users who question why particular peaks have not been included in the database. Generally this is because the mountain is not in the Canadian Rockies.

 Although it is often thought that the Canadian Rockies include the entire area from the eastern foothills to the Pacific Ocean, this is not the case. Their eastern limit is the eastern foothills, but the Rockies are bounded on the west by the topographical feature known as the Rocky Mountain Trench, which stretches from the US border almost to the NWT border. This system of deep, broad valleys contains major rivers such as the Fraser, Columbia and Kootenay.

The United States border acts as the southern limit of the area covered by PeakFinder. The northern limit has been arbitrarily set at latitude 54 degrees 15 minutes. Peakfinder includes what are said to be the northernmost of the significant peaks of the Canadian Rockies, Mount Sir Alexander and Mount Ida.

We appreciate users who note errors and email us with corrections. This month it was politely pointed out that Mount Fernie is not northwest of Field and a resident of the village of Hollebeke (Hollebeke Mountain) advised that he lives in Belgium, not France.

If you have a favourite mountain photo or any information about the peaks of the Canadian Rockies that you would like included 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Please note that all of the previous newsletters have been archived and are available on the site.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. look through the earlier issues. 


October's Unusual Canadian Rockies Name

FELUCCA MOUNTAIN

A felucca was a small sailing vessel equipped with oars. There is not record as to why the name was chosen but Frigate Mountain and Privateer Mountain are nearby. "Place Names of the Canadian Alps" suggests that the outline of the 

Enter "Felucca Mountain" in the Finding Peaks search box to learn more about this mountain. 
Look who's honoured in the Canadian Rockies

JAMES SINCLAIR

In 1841 James Sinclair, a University of Edinburgh trained leader of the Red River Metis, led a party of emigrants from the Red River Colony in present day Manitoba to Oregon in the United States. The journey was instigated by Sir George Simpson, governor of the Hudson Bay Company, in order to reinforce the British and Hudson Bay Company's presence in the area.

The party was made up of 23 Metis families totalling 121 people, including a 75 year old man and babies born during the trip. They travelled first to Fort Edmonton and then, guided by the Cree chief Maskepetoon, proceeded south and entered the mountains at Devil's Gap. They travelled along the south side of Lake Minnewanka, over a pass between Mount Peechee and Princess Margaret Mountain, and then down Carrot Creek to the Bow Valley. After travelling a few kilometres down the Bow Valley they abandoned their Red River Carts and ascended to White Man Gap between Ha Ling Peak and Mount Rundle, travelled up the Spray valley to White Man Pass, descended the Cross River to the Kootenay River from which they crossed Sinclair Pass (below Mount Sinclair) to the Columbia and eventually reached Oregon.

In 1854, Sinclair, again guided by Maskepetoon, led a second party to Oregon from Red River, this time a group of about one hundred driving 250 head of cattle. After receiving reports of a shorter route, they travelled up the Kananaskis River and are thought to have crossed North Kananaskis Pass, a remarkable accomplishment.

Sadly, James Sinclair was shot and killed in 1856 when Indians attacked an American post on the Columbia River that he happened to be visiting.

For information about Simon Peak, Bennington Peak, and McDonnell Peak enter the names in the Finding Peaks search box on the main page.
October's Esoteric List

THESE PEAKS HONOUR MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE WHO WERE KILLED DURING WORLD WAR II

Mount Dingley, Mount Doolan, Flett Peak, Mount Harrison, Mount Hunter (Alberta), Mount Kuleski, Mount Laut, Mount Lyne, Mount Matkin, Mount McBeath (BC), Mount McCullagh, Melvin Peak, O'Neil Peak, Robinson Peaks, Mount Swiderski

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

Return to Peakfinder Top Level