Experience Mount Assiniboine

“If you are worn and tired from the daily grind of routine existence. If you need revitalizing and a real rest. If you are nervous, neurotic or dyspeptic, come and try it for a week or two. The cure is certain and for the remainder of your life the pages of memory’s scrapbook will be replete with scenes and experiences that will recur again and again with a thrill of joy.” (From the brochure for: “Banff to Mt. Assiniboine, A Public Walking and Riding Tour”)

There are few mountains on earth as beautiful and striking as Mount Assiniboine. It towers 500m above all its neighbours and has a perfect pyramidal shape. If you asked a child to draw a mountain, this is what it would look like.

Mount Assiniboine towers above Sunburst Lake;

Photo Courtesy of Chic Scott

This mountain is right here in our backyard, located 30 km southwest of Banff, in British Columbia’s Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Created almost one hundred years ago, this park is one of the jewels of the BC Park system.

George Dawson, exploring on behalf of the Geological Survey of Canada, named the mountain in 1885 due to the similarity it holds to the tipis of the Assiniboine First Nation.

Robert L. Barrett, to the base of the mountain, in 1893. Over the next decade the mountain was explored on all sides and several attempts were made to reach the summit. By the turn of the century Mount Assiniboine had become the premier mountaineering prize to be won in the Canadian Rockies. Assiniboine was finally climbed in 1901 by Englishman, Sir James Outram, led by his two Swiss guides Christian Haesler and Christian Bohren. It was a remarkable climb with the trio reaching the summit via the southwest face, then descending via the northeast ridge, thus making a bold traverse of the peak.

Mount Assiniboine was visited only sporadically over the next two decades but in 1920 A.O. Wheeler, a prominent surveyor and the founder of the Alpine Club of Canada, began what he called “Banff to Mount Assiniboine Public Walking and Riding Tours”. Wheeler had discovered the great beauty of this area in 1913 and 1916 when he had surveyed the British Columbia / Alberta boundary and he wanted to make the place more accessible to mountain lovers from around the world.

A.O. Wheeler who did so much to promote the Mount Assiniboine area

Photo Courtesy of Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (CAJ_1944_na66_299)

Wheeler’s tours were the very first to promote the magic of this place. From Banff, the intrepid hikers followed the Spray River for a short distance then ascended the Goat Creek trail to where the Spray Lakes Reservoir is today. In those days, however, this was a beautiful high alpine valley with the two Spray Lakes nestled in the meadows. The hikers then followed Bryant Creek and crossed Assiniboine Pass to Wheelers Camp below the great mountain. Here the hikers could take a few days off and enjoy the magnificent scenery before resuming their trek back to Banff via the Valley of the Rocks, Citadel Pass, Sunshine Meadows and Healy Creek. A.O. Wheeler had comfortable camps located along the route where the hikers and riders could overnight in comfort.

Wheeler’s Walking and Riding tours ran til 1926 and hundreds of mountain lovers visited this special place. At the urging of Wheeler, the British Columbia Government established Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park, in 1922.

Mount Assiniboine in 1907

Photo Courtesy of the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (V653_i_na_565)

Today, the Park is a world famous scenic destination and the difficult journey on foot or on horseback has been replaced by an exciting ten minute helicopter ride.

Known now as the Naiset Huts, Wheeler’s cabins are still there and have been much refurbished over the years. For a modest $25 per person per night you can stay in these huts. A sleeping bag is required and you cook for yourself in a large, heated and fully equipped kitchen building.

For those who would like a higher level of comfort there is Mount Assiniboine Lodge, with deluxe accommodation for 30 guests. Built in 1928, by the Canadian Pacific Railway, this lodge was operated by Norwegian ski adventurer Erling Strom for almost 50 years. Sepp and Barb Renner took over the full operation of the lodge in 1983 and today, their son Andre and his partner Claude Duchesne operate the lodge.

Mount Assiniboine was named for the resemblance it bears to the First Nations tipis

Photo Courtesy of Ken Jones

For those on limited budgets there is the campground during the summer which has 40 tent pads and a covered cook shelter.

Go to env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/mt_assiniboine/ or for more information assiniboinelodge.com.

The helicopter, Mount Assiniboine Lodge and the Naiset huts can all be booked through Mount Assiniboine Lodge by calling 403-678-2883 (info@assiniboinelodge.com).

A.O. Wheeler who did so much to promote the Mount Assiniboine area; Photo Courtesy of Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (CAJ_1944_na66_299)