Blazing the Trail through the Rockies

Friday, 3rd July, 1931, marked the 50th anniversary of one of the most important events in the history of the Canadian Rockies—the arrival at Fort Calgary of the first railway survey party. On 3rd July, 1881, this body of men, the first all-white party to invade the mountains, went into camp on the north side of the Bow River. At that time practically nothing was known of the Rockies. However, this indomitable band of pathfinders, facing dangers unknown and the most formidable natural obstacles, ultimately succeeded in discovering a path across the mountains and prepared the way for the great railway system which was destined to do so much for the development of Canada.

Of the band of approximately 100 pioneer railway surveyors, only two are alive to-day—Mr. A. E. Tregent, of Victoria, and Mr. T. Wilson of Banff—two sturdy veterans whose photographs appear below.

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