Rockwalls and Waterfalls Volume #46 Summer Newsletter 2011 Happy 125th Birthday YohoNational Park a cree expression of wonder and awe was the ‘Yoho’name given to Canada’s second National Park, created on October 10, 1886. Yoho began as a 16 square kilometer reserve at the base of Mt. Stephen set aside by the Canadian government at the urging of the CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway). The discovery of Takakkaw Falls, (Cree for it is wonderful) by Jean Habel in 1897 led to the CPR, local outfitters and explorers lobbying the government for expansion of the Mt. Stephen Reserve to include the Yoho Valley. The area was added in 1901 along with the Emerald Lake area and the name changed to Yoho Park Reserve. In 1911, the Canadian government passed a bill that created a new unit in the Department of the Interior named the Dominion Parks Branch. For twenty six years lands were set aside as both reserves and parks and governed separately. Canada became the first country to create an agency that would govern all national parks. In 1930 the name was changed to National Parks Branch. Since that time Yoho’s boundaries have remained constant to include an area of 1313 square kilometers. Poster design : Rob Buchanan Yoho National Park includes the Burgess Shale Walcott– Quarry (an area with 515 million year old fossils), that became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981 and the Canadian Pacific’s Spiral Tunnels built to lessen the grade on the Big Hill from 4.5 to 2.2%, making a much safer route for the CPR. Both of these world class attractions celebrated their centennials in 1909. Yoho is famous for it’s beautiful hiking. Over 400 kilometers of well maintained trails offer fantastic views and great exercise. The most popular trails are in the Emerald Lake area, the Yoho Valley and Lake O’Hara, however, the west end of Yoho provides some very impressive sites. Wapta Falls, spanning the full width of the World Heritage Kicking Horse River offers all levels of hikers a spectacular view. Yoho is the only mountain park to have preserved it’s fire tower lookout stations. Built in the 1940’s, they were used till the late 70’s, when fire suppression was used as a management tool in our Parks. Mt. Hunter has both a lower and upper fire lookout. The Friends of Yoho have contracted the creation of a working model of the Spiral Tunnels. It will be installed in the Field Visitor Centre for all to enjoy. There will be a grand opening for the model exhibit on October 10, 2011, Yoho’s 125th birthday. For more information on the hiking or the history of Yoho National Park the Friends of Yoho gift store carries a wide selection of guide books on our Parks. w w w . f r i e n d s o f y o h o . c a Membership Renewal his past year has had it’s ups and downs. TWith all the construction at the Visitor Centre last year, business was down and as a result staff was laid off for most of the winter. Needless to say we did not get a newsletter out to remind our very important members that memberships were due in January. This sum- mer the Friends of Yoho are having a working model of the Spiral Tunnels built and hope to have it installed in the Field Visitor Centre sometime in September. There will be a grand opening for the model on the actual date of Yoho’s 125th birthday, October 10, 2011. If you’re in the area please stop by and join in the party. Members receive a 10% discount in our retail outlet. Thank You Canadian Pacific he Friends of Yoho would like to send out a huge Tthank you to Canadian Pacific for their generous fundraising opportunity. On June 24th the 2816 Steam Train came through Field with those lucky enough to get tickets. CP donated seats on their train to the Friends of Yoho in honor of Yoho’s 125th birthday. Tickets were sold from Golden through the beautiful Kicking Horse Canyon to Field and from Field through the Spiral Tunnels to Banff. Steaming into Field Proceeds from the ticket sales benefit the Children’s Wish Foundation and the Friends will be using their share to go towards our working model of the Spiral Tunnels. Ginette and Helen ready to hand out tickets w w w . f r i e n d s o f y o h o . c a Dream Anniversary Party Guests Kristy Putnam - Parks Canada Interpreter n 2011, Canadians celebrate the 125th anniversary of Yoho and Glacier National Parks and the centennial of the Iworld’s first national parks service. The festivities will start in May and continue through October. With such a rich history, imagine if we could invite some historical figures to join in the celebrations! The following ten people from Yoho’s past would likely top the dream anniversary party list. Nimrod – The Nakoda Stoney guide and hunter could share tales of what the area was like before there were lots of people, a railway, highway and national park. James Hector – The leader of the Palliser Expedition through Yoho could recount how his misadventures with a packhorse gave rise to the name Kicking Horse for the nearby river and valley. He’d be able to tell us if his companions really did start to bury him alive and whether he really was saved by regaining consciousness just in the nick of time. Major Rogers –This railway legend known for his outrageous muttonchops would certainly be a lively addition, though he would have to curtail his constant cursing. His discovery of Rogers Pass - the final link between Kicking Horse Pass and Eagle Pass - was critical to establishing the railway route that would unite Canada from coast to coast. William Cornelius Van Horne –Fine food and cigars would likely lure the former President of the CPR, to the party. He was a real “ideas” man and was responsible for prompting the government to create national parks. Imagine what ideas he’d have for us these days! Tom Wilson –The early trail guide and outfitter, would surely have a tale or two to share from his days around the campfire. Perhaps he’d describe how his horses helped him become the first European to see Emerald Lake or what it was like to be a tourist in the early days of the park. Christian Kauffman – The party would not be complete without a Swiss guide hired by CPR to make climbing safer for hotel guests. Kauffman could recount his epic adventure guiding Gertrude Benham in 1904. They started in Lake Louise, climbed over Abbott Pass to get to Lake O’Hara, descended along Cataract Brook, rounded Odaray Mountain, climbed Mount Stephen and descended into the town of Field. That’s 35km and 2800 vertical metres in one daunting day! Charles Walcott– The world-renown geologist who discovered the Burgess Shale - one of the world’s most important fossil locations - pushed the boundaries of knowledge at the turn of the 20th century. He’d likely be impressed by today’s park scientists who continue that tradition. Mary Vaux –Hopefully Charles Walcott would bring his third wife. Mary Vaux was a dynamo that did a little of everything. She studied glaciers, took scenic photographs, sketched wildflowers and painted with watercolours. She was also the first woman to climb over 10,000ft in Canada and shockingly she did it wearing a gymnasium suit instead of the conventional skirt. She’d surely be the life of the party! Wilf Carter –So many visual artists have painted and sketched in Yoho, including the Group of Seven, that it would be difficult to decide who to invite. Perhaps we could invite a musician like Wilf Carter instead. The yodelling cowboy could sing his 1930s hit “My Little Yoho Lady.” Cont’d on page 4 w w w . f r i e n d s o f y o h o . c a J.B. Harkin – The last and most important invitation would have to go to the “father” of Canada’s national parks. Harkin was the first National Parks Commissioner and he helped to draft the National Parks Act in 1930. His writings portray him as an eloquent man with a deep passion for conservation and enjoyment of parks. Imagine his reaction upon learning that thanks to his vision and passion, Parks Canada now represents one of the largest networks of protected places in the world. While these historical figures will only be able to attend the anniversary celebrations in our imaginations, they have all left a legacy that carries on today with new artists, scientists and adventurers. Please join us as we celebrate in their honour and become a part of the next 125 years in Yoho National Park! Xplorer Club for Kids kicks off across the mountain parks July 1 his summer children ages 6-11 will have the chance to sleuth their way through the mountain parks as part of the brand new TXplorer Club for Kids. This new program offers children a variety of activities such as hiking and biking, quizzes and crossword puzzles, and scavenger hunts and nature searches. After completing activities in the booklet, kids will be eligible to participate in a ceremony where they receive a certificate and souvenir and become official members of the Xplorer Club for Kids! Kids can pick up their booklets at park information centres, interpretive programs and roves, campgrounds, or the Banff Park Museum.