WEARY CREEK GAP

This pass through the Continental Divide lies between Mount MuirMount McPhailElk RangeHigh Rock Range.

The pass was named Weary Creek Gap after Weary Creek, which flows from the pass into British Columbia. The pass was known as the Elk Trail Pass to the Stoney Indians who have a legend which describes how all the elk from the Bow to the Crowsnest travelled through this pass from the heavily hunted Alberta side to the Elk Valley in British Columbia.

The last major forest fire in the Highwood Valley was the Phillips Fire of 1936. For some reason the fire was named after _Old Man Phillipsî who had a cabin and guided hunting parties in the Elk River valley for many years. After the fire started in the Elk Valley Freddy Nash, the Sheep Creek forest ranger, asked permission to take men and supplies to the Weary Creek Gap to try to stop the fire from coming into Alberta. The request was turned down by the Calgary office and Nash was reprimanded for spending money on phone calls. On July 23rd the fire came through Weary Creek Gap and burned the Highwood Valley. The ashes landed as far away as High River until two or three days of rain extinguished the flames.