The Buffalo Head

by R.M. Patterson

The wildest, loveliest and least-travelled region of Alberta was R.M. Patterson’s home territory in the 1930s and ’40s. The Buffalo Head ranch was located in the foothills of the majestic Canadian Rockies. With the mountains as a backdrop, this dude ranch hosted visitors from around the world. Patterson bought it from its founder, a wild Italian named George Pocaterra, and explored the steep valleys and high mountain passes. Patterson’s tales of the ranch in The Buffalo Head culminate with a fantastic story of meeting a growling grizzly while crossing the Continental Divide in an October snowstorm.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read this book because I had already been mesmerized by R.M. Patterson's "Dangerous River." In that book, he wrote of his adventures as he rode the wild Nahanni River in the Canadian Northwest Territories deep into areas where no white man had ever traveled. It takes a skilled writer to put into words their love, awe and appreciation for the wilderness, so when I heard that Mr. Patterson had written a book about his life on the Buffalo Head Ranch in the 1920's and 30's, I was definitely interested. He & his wife Marigold spent many years running this ranching operation in one of the most remote areas of Alberta Province in the Canadian Rockies. Some of the best parts of the story are the chapters devoted to their explorations throughout the Rockies on foot and on horseback; the beauty, the challenges and the dangers. If you love the wild places and enjoy being transported there, you will enjoy this book!

[Rouleauville · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you explore or hike in Kananaskis this book is a must read. Get out your maps and follow along Patterson's days in the Canadian Rocky mountains. Not only are the tales in the book eye-opening, they are very well written and at times evoked in me comparisons to Steinbeck .

While the events in the book occurred many decades ago - they do not feel dated at all and actually brought meaning to events we are experiencing in the current age (for one example - the volatility of forest fires which has been even more apparent the past few years).

One caution: after reading The Buffalo Head you will likely be spending much more time outdoors in the Highwood area , visiting places that Patterson has brought into your imagination. And when you do go out exploring to those places you will feel yourself walking in the Patterson's footprints. You will experience the hills and mountains and lakes like you hadn't envisioned before - imbued with a new spirit.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part one of this book is Patterson's autobiography up to 1930. It covers his formative years, his military experiences in WWI, postwar studies at Oxford, employment at the Bank of England, emigration to Canada, homesteading in Northern Alberta and canoeing adventures on the Liard and Nahanni Rivers. Part two of the book deals with the period from 1930 to 1946 and Patterson's life at the Buffalo Head ranch near the Highwood River in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, S.W. of Calgary. This part of the book includes a wide range of ranching adventures, searches for high elevation summer pastures, exploration of remote mountain passes and even a forest fire. There are stunning descriptions of alpine meadows, wildlife, craggy mountains and every imaginable kind of weather. It's clear that the author has a deep affection for this corner of the world and this is reflected in the writing. It's hard not to like a book like this one. 4 stars

[Dan Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real gem of Canadian history

R.M.Patterson is a pleasant surprise and I am reading everything by him. He writes with such humour and clear descriptive observation that makes one wish they had experienced just a taste of his lifestyle.