Forgotten Highways: Wilderness Journeys Down the Historic Trails of the Canadian Rockies

by Nicky L. Brink, Stephen R. Bown

Traversing the historic trails of the Rockies today is done in much the same manner as it was two centuries agoprimarily on foot with heavy packs, with little better defence against mosquitoes or the elements. Although accurate maps are available, and modern technology such as global positioning systems stand as a bulwark to a complete wilderness experience, in many cases it is as difficult and challenging to cross these mountain passes, or even more so, than it was two centuries ago. Routes such as Athabasca Pass are far less travelled today than they were in the golden era of the fur trade. If our society has become so rich that we continually seek out physical and mental challenges in the wildernessadventure and eco-travelperhaps it would be a sign of respect to follow at least for a while in the footsteps of those who in many ways paved the way for gernerations to come. We began to form the idea of hiking all the significant historical trails to see what we could learn from the early pathfinders, about the difficulty of wilderness life and travel. What window would be opened to times past in a land where the terrain has remained essentially unchanged?

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Travel

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2007

Reviews

[Björn · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in the history and current practice of exploration in the Eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains between Waterton and Jasper National parks, this may be the book for you. Also, if you're enamoured with David Thompson, the search for the Columbia River, or the early mountain enthusiasts like Mary Schaffer, again, this may be just thing while, of course, you're waiting for the mountain passes to clear of snow or waiting for those precious vacation days to arrive. I loved the format of a historical chapter followed by Nicky's IRL experience of the same terrain. It's interesting that 2 centuries later, many of the routes described have returned to the wilderness state the early travellers found them in.

About half of the journeys that Nicky Brink documents are valuable because, based on her descriptions, I will never take them. The other half are part wish-list, and part affirmation that in our mountain wanderings maybe we shouldn't be so summit/lake/ridge obsessed: sometimes it's spectacular enough to know that the ground we tread has been trod by human feet who faced similar, or worse, obstacles centuries before. The experience of pressing out into our personal terra incognita on our own journeys of exploration is valuable - to discover a new route, a new crag, a new pass, a new Way... Even a new route to the grocery store, or a new alley or green space or hole-in-the-wall... Because if your eyes have never seen it, your lungs have never breathed it, your skin has never felt it, you've just now discovered it, right?

Let's see if I get to the eerily silent pass containing Committee Punchbowl lake, or spend a misty morning on the shores of Maligne toasting Mary Schaffer. With the Ghosts of the past...

[Sidney E. Carlstrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable & educational as you learn about the history of the Canadian Rockies. The author thought it was important enough to experience what the early explorers went through & personally go on hikes to these mountain passes. Not an easy thing to do in our society today.

[Jérôme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read as you make your way Banff and Jasper and want to learn some of the history behind the crossing of the Rockies. Good mix of outdoor narrative and history.