Echoes from the Alps to the Rockies: The Story of Swiss Guides in the Canadian Mountain History- Focusing on Abbot Pass Hut

Abstract ID: 3.13458 | Accepted as Poster | Talk | TBA | TBA

Hossein Rasaei (1)
(1) University of Alberta, 116 St and 85 Ave Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3

Categories: Anthropology, Culture, History
Keywords: Swiss Guides, Mountain Climbing, Mountain Heritage, Abbot Pass Hut, Climate Change

Categories: Anthropology, Culture, History
Keywords: Swiss Guides, Mountain Climbing, Mountain Heritage, Abbot Pass Hut, Climate Change

Edelweiss; not only is a famous endemic flower in the European Alps, but for centuries it has been a cultural symbol to alpine local communities, a pride of a mountaineering heritage in the Alps. Far from away in another continent, Edelweiss Village in Golden British Colombia has been home to Swiss mountain guides who reside in this golden destination in the heart of the Western Canadian Mountains. Last October 2024, many scholars and mountain enthusiasts gathered in Golden BC to celebrate the 125 anniversary of the Swiss Guides in Canada. Participating in this event made me conduct a historical and archival investigation of the Swiss guides’ legacy in the mountaineering history in Canada. To narrow down the research dinged into the story of Abbot Pass Hut, an iconic mountain hut that was built in 1922 by Swiss guides sponsored by The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). In addition to analyzing the written archives based on the published stories in the Canadian Alpine Journal (CAJ), this study also scrutinized the visual historical photographs stored in The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies. The findings in a documentary style indicate that for centuries the hut has been a vital alpine shelter for climbing parties and expeditions. During the 1920s to 1950s, by taking advantage of the hut, many first ascents were made on Mt Victoria, Mt Lefroy, and Mt Huber by Swiss guides. Due to its socio-cultural importance in the Canadian mountaineering heritage, the hut was designated a national historic site in 1992. However, in 2022, after 100 years, the hut was dismantled due to geological erosion and climate change. In addition to the physical removal of the hut, its written and visual narratives were also buried in the Whyte Museum. In this study, we rejuvenate those stories to acknowledge the legacy of Swiss guides who not only revolutionized the mountaineering style in Canada but also built many socio-cultural connections in the Canadian mountaineering history.

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