Page:Canadian Alpine Journal I, 1.djvu/76

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First Club Camp
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not as a mere whim or from any selfish motive, but in a spirit of patriotism worthy of all praise and emulation. The Dominion Government contributed assistance to the value of $500, the Alberta Government contributed $250, private subscriptions amounted to $170, and four of the principal mountain guides and outfitters gave their services and the services of their men, horses and outfits free of charge, to make the first camp a success. These men are: R. E. Campbell of Laggan and Field, Martin and Otto (now Otto Bros.) of Field, Leanchoil and Golden, E. C. Barnes of Banff, and S. H. Baker of Glacier. All honor is due them, for they cannot well afford to curtail the profits of their short seasons. The Canadian Pacific Railway Company was no whit behind. It loaned the Club two Swiss guides for the week of the Camp, loaned tents, canopies and other outfit, and placed its cooks in the Company's Yoho camps at the disposal of the Club. Tents also were loaned by the Royal North-West Mounted Police at Calgary and Banff, and bunting by the Superintendent of the Rocky Mountains Parks. Taken all round, the greatest interest and enthusiasm was shown, not only in the formation of the Club itself, but in the organization of its first camp.

Let us return to the straggling procession of Alpinists as they round up at the Emerald Lake Chalet. The world yet awaits the heaven-gifted artist of brush or pen who will transmit to canvas or paper the transcendent beauty of this mountain lake nestling so peacefully at the base of mighty Mt. Burgess—

"a. lofty precipice in front,
A silent tarn below."

It was at Emerald lake that the real part of the first day's work began, involving the traverse of the broad glacial delta on its northern shore and the ascent of the steep cliff wall that appeared to bar all further

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