Ice Peaks in Illecillewaet Glacier, British Columbia, Canada
The Selkirk range of mountains is between the Columbia and the Kootenay (k´ t-n) Rivers in British Columbia. The range lies west of the city of Calgary, north of Idaho and Washington. The scenery is varied and beautiful. The lower valleys are heavily forested, and the upper heights are covered with snow-fields and glaciers. Although the peaks are not so high as in some other ranges of the Rockies, mountain-climbing is made difficult here because of the glaciers. The finest of these glaciers is the Illecillewaet. A good view of it can be had from the Asulkan valley into which it issues. All about the valley is a great circle of snow-clad mountain peaks, magnificent in their sharpness against the sky. Mount Cheops (k´ ps), Mount Sir Donald, and Eagle Peak are the greatest. The glacier should not be attempted without guides. These guides lead parties of skillful mountain climbers by selected paths. The climbers are roped together as you see in the view. The ascent is steep and full of peril. But once the height of the glacier is reached, the traveler feels well paid for his stiff climb. Here you see peak after peak of solid ice that has been years in the making. Deep crevasses (kr-vås´) separate the peaks so that it looks from a distance to be impossible to approach them closely. Indeed it is impossible to cross many of the dangerous precipices. The guide, the man you see here, however, is armed with a sharp pick which he sticks firmly into the slippery footing. At some places he has to cut steps before the ascent can be made. Even though you are surrounded here by ice and snow, the guide keeps warm in his shirt sleeves because of his difficult labor. Keystone ID: 13802 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.