Page:Canadian Alpine Journal I, 1.djvu/168

Rh came enraged, descended after the maiden, and in his fury caused such terrible internal havoc that the Great Spirit commanded him to come forth out of the earth. In obedience to the command, the Spirit of Fire came forth, raising his head and shoulders above the earth, thus forming the mountain! "Now stand thou there forever," commanded the Great Spirit. The fair Spirit of Water then descended into the earth and subdued the flames caused by the enraged Spirit of Fire. Since when all has been peaceful. This beautiful legend serves to prove to us that even the aborigines of our country recognized the singular, isolated appearance of this grand old mountain. The gentle forest-clad slopes lead up on all sides to the timber line, at an altitude of about 7000 feet, and from here a perpendicular band about 500 feet in height encircles the entire mountain, after which there is a succession of steep, rocky slopes and perpendicular faces until it finally terminates in a huge symmetrical dome. From the Crow's Nest branch of the Canadian Pacific railway, the mountain looks truly majestic, and often I had cast longing eyes upon it, wondering if it were possible for amateurs to successfully make the ascent. True, Mr. Tom Wilson, the well-known mountaineer of Banff, accompanied by two Swiss guides, had reached the top; but the difficulties they had encountered did not tend much to encourage the novice. My friend, Mr. Keith Whimster, and I talked the matter over, and it was finally arranged that we should make the attempt. Mr. George Harrower of Lethbridge and Mr. L. Stauffer of Frank made up the remainder of the party.

On August 19th, 1905, we met at Coleman, the Canadian Pacific railway station nearest the mountain, and all necessary arrangements were made for the climb on the morrow. At two o'clock a.m. we were aroused from our peaceful slumbers. There was