Page:Canadian Alpine Journal I, 1.djvu/81

52 of going farther and climbing higher than even the 6000 feet altitude of the Camp site. Thus there were daily exploring and climbing trips in all directions. The mountain selected for the official climb is known as "The Vice-President," so called by Mr. Edward Whymper, of Matterhorn fame, in honor of the Vice-Presidency of the Canadian Pacific railway. Its altitude is 10,050 feet. The peak was selected on account of the varied phases of mountaineering presented.

The first official climb was made on Tuesday, July 10th, the party leaving the camp at 5.30 a.m. and arriving at the summit of the Vice-President at 11.30 a.m. The return was made in three and a half hours. Two ladies then graduated, viz.: Miss K. McLennan, of Toronto, and Miss E. B. Hobbs, of Revelstoke. Official ascents were made on the four following days, but the one named made the record time, i.e., ascent and return in nine and a half hours. In all forty-four members graduated, of whom fifteen were ladies. Not one graduating member who attempted the climb failed. Do not think, because there were no failures, the climb was an easy one. Not so! It is a peak presenting many difficulties and some danger. The average time of ascent was seven hours and of descent three and a half hours, making altogether an average climb of ten and a half hours—a pretty fair test and initiation for those who were, for the most part, absolute novices. It goes to show that right here in Canada we have the very best of mountaineering material, and it only needs a little fostering care to develop to the fullest extent this latent talent.

There were a number of other mountains climbed, eight in all, not counting Michael's mount, which was taken en route for the Vice-President. The two highest were Mt. Collie and the President, both over 10,000