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History of the Trail Guide

First published in 1971, the guides such as Jasper Trails Canadian Rockies Trail Guide was written by M.B. Williams and the first comprehensive hiking published by the Department of guide to the region and was one the Interior in the 1930s. of the first hiking guides in North America. During research for the 1st edition of the Canadian Rockies Many early hiking guidebooks Trail Guide, a trail wheel was were produced by non-profit used to measure hiking trails. mountain clubs, including 100 Parks had previously Hikes in Western Washington measured trails in Yoho and (1966), the first title for The Waterton Lakes, but Brian Patton Mountaineers Books. From a and Bart Robinson were the first similar era was Tom Winnett’s to undertake the ambitious task Sierra North (1967), the of measuring trails in Banff, beginning of Wilderness Press, Thorington’s 1966 4th edition Jasper and Kootenay National and 100 Oregon Hiking Trails, was an inspiration for the Parks (and they re-measured published by Don and Roberta Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. those in Yoho and Waterton Lowe under the Touchstone (Coincidently, the authors met Lakes as well). Before the authors Press imprint in 1969. Thorington at Lake O’Hara while set out with their trail wheel, they were doing fieldwork for the distances had mostly been Climbing guides to the Canadian 1st edition of their own book). estimated by wardens on Rockies were published as early horseback, who thought they as the 1920s, including J. Monroe Other local guidebooks knew how fast their horses Thorington's A Climber's Guide to predating the Canadian Rockies travelled and extrapolated from the of Canada. Trail Guide were general park that. Brian Patton relates the

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 1 following: “In 1971, after Don Beers described the trails of Over 45 years since the Canadian measuring the trail from Yoho’s best-known hiking Rockies Trail Guide was first Sunshine Village to Mt. destination in his 1981 book The published, the original authors Assiniboine, I met Assiniboine Magic of Lake O’Hara, and continue to spend much of their pioneer Erling Strom. When I told followed up with numerous other summers hiking, exploring, and him my measurement of 17 books to specific regions of the photographing the Canadian miles, he just smiled and said ‘we Canadian Rockies. Rockies. But input from readers always said it was 20,’ and you has been greatly appreciated could see he didn't believe this through the years, and has led to young whipper-snapper with a many long-term friendships. One bicycle wheel.” such correspondent is Mike McReynolds, who first visited the Many publishers have been region in 1976 and provided inspired by the success of the extensive information gathered Canadian Rockies Trail Guide. In on several epic backpacking the early 1980s, Vicky Spring summers over the ensuing (daughter of decade. photographer/conservationist Ira In 1994, two more hiking guides Spring) came to the Canadian were published, Classic Hikes in Rockies and co-authored two the Canadian Rockies (Graeme impressive hiking guides Pole, Altitude Publishing) and published by The Mountaineers Don’t Waste Your Time in the Books; both books are now out Canadian Rockies (Kathy and of print. In 1979, Tony and Craig Copeland). Newer editions Gillean Daffern formed Rocky of both these books are still in Mountain Books to publish the print. Trail Guide, which is now in its 4th edition.

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 2 1971. 1st edition 1978. 2nd edition no ISBN; $3.95 ISBN 0-9690806-0-3; $5.95

Summerthought All trail descriptions were Publishing was born with revised and the book the publication of the redesigned. Chapters on Canadian Rockies Trail Glacier and Mt. Revelstoke Guide in 1971. National Parks were Researched by Brian dropped to make more Patton and Bart Robinson room for trails in the through the summer of Canadian Rockies. With 1970, it included trail more detailed trail descriptions within Banff, descriptions and the Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, addition of trails such as Waterton Lakes, Glacier, Fish Lakes-Molar Pass, and Mt. Revelstoke , Jonas Pass, and the North Boundary National Parks; as well as select trails around Mt. Trail, the page count increased from 209 to 266. This Assiniboine and the Berg Lake Trail in Mt. Robson edition included the first written description of the Provincial Park. A six-page description of the Great Sawback Trail (a name bestowed by author Brian Divide Trail written by Jim Thorsell appeared at the Patton), between Mt. Norquay and . end of the book. The most successful year ever for the Canadian After an initial print run of 5,000 sold out in the Rockies Trail Guide was 1980, when sales of the 2nd summer of 1971, the 1st edition was reprinted four edition totaled 13,376. times and sold a total of 37,324 copies. The black and white cover photo taken by Brian The cover photo of two park wardens on the Patton depicts Louise Mayer on Tumbling Pass approach to Numa Pass was provided by Jim (). Thorsell.

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 3 1986. 3rd edition 1990. 4th edition ISBN: 0-919934-14-5; $12.95 ISBN: 0-919934-22-6; $14.95

The authors ushered in a Revisions were made where new era by using a necessary, with expanded computer (Kaypro II) to coverage of the newly rebuilt produce the manuscript for Iceline Trail and the Mount the 3rd edition. Shark access route to Bryant With more detailed trail Creek–Mt Assiniboine. descriptions, the inclusion of the ambitious South The cover remained the same Boundary Trail, and the use as the 3rd edition. of images taken in the most remote regions of the Canadian Rockies, the page count was increased from 266 to 363. and Provincial Parks were presented as separate chapters, with several trails within these parks described in print for the first time. The revised subtitle read: “A hiker’s guide to Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes, Mount Assiniboine & Mount Robson” Taken by author Brian Patton, the cover image depicted a single backpacker on Rockwall Pass (Kootenay National Park).

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 4 1992. 5th edition 1994. 6th edition ISBN: 0-919934-23-4; $14.95 ISBN: 0-919934-23-4; $14.95

A straightforward update, with Another simple revision, with the authors making revisions to updated information included 45 trails. for at least 35 trails. The book is identified as the 5th A red band across the upper edition on the cover, and white right corner of the cover type replaced gold for the identifies this as the 25th book’s subtitle and author anniversary edition, and that names. 180,000 copies had been sold.

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 5 1995. German edition 2000. 7th edition ISBN 3-89392-098-6; DM 14,80 ISBN: 0-9199349-0-0; $19.95

Published by Conrad Stein Total revision and redesign. Verlag, this German Trails in Peter Lougheed, translation of the Canadian Akamina-Kishinena, and Elk Rockies Trail Guide included Lakes Provincial Parks added; only the most popular 33 map count was expanded trails in Banff, Jasper, Yoho, from 25 to 40, and all were and Kootenay National produced digitally; and many Parks. new photos included. The distinctive green-banded Publisher Conrad Stein cover with a photo of hiker contributed a number of on Opabin Plateau (Yoho images, including the cover National Park) was taken by shot of Maligne Lake. Brian Patton.

When the 7th edition was reprinted in 2005, the price was increased to $24.95.

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 6 2007. 8th edition 2011. 9th edition ISBN: 978-0-9782375-0-9; $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-9811491-8-9; $24.95

Revisions throughout the The 40th anniversary book, with some new edition of the Canadian photos. Rewriting of trails Rockies Trail Guide was in Kootenay National published in 2011, Park to reflect 2003 reprinted in 2013, and then wildfires. revised and reprinted in 2015. GPS co-ordinates The stunning cover were added for every trail photograph of Lake and as for previous Agnes was supplied by editions, all trails were Pat Morrow, a well- comprehensively updated. known The biggest change to this photographer/film-maker who makes his home in edition was behind the scenes – files were taken the Canadian Rockies. back to Word documents and reformatted, allowing us to update content and create eBooks more easily.

The cover photograph of Tonquin Valley was taken by Canmore photographer John Marriott.

History of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide 7