Peak Finder

Photo: Mount Cautley from the shores of Lake Magog

Mount Cautley

  • 2880 m (9,450ft)
  • First Ascent
  • Naming History
  • Hiking and Trails
50.9078N -115.573W
Located on the continental divide at the head of Magog Creek

Province: Alberta/BC
Park: Banff/Assiniboine
Headwater: Bow/Kootenay
Ascent Date: 1916
Ascent Party: Interprovincial Boundary Commission
Year Named: 1917
Named for: Cautley, Richard W. (A surveyor, R.W. Cautley was instrumental in defining the Alberta-BC border.) (see biog.)
Popular Hike: Assiniboine

Richard Cautley was the Alberta representative on the Interprovincial Boundary Survey. He was responsible for the detailed work required in the twenty-four major passes and the placing of concrete survey monuments to mark the interprovincial boundary. Cautley did not believe that mountains should be named after people but seemed pleased that the Geographic Board of Canada named a peak near Mount Assiniboine in his honour. In his memoirs he wrote, "In theory I know that it is perfectly absurd that one of the Creator's stupendous mountains should be named after any man, but I was awfully pleased at this particular negation of my theory." Mount Cautley is in the Mount Assiniboine area, near Wonder Pass. Gibraltar Rock and Cascade Rock are outliers of Mount Caultey that overlook Bryant Creek Valley.

Photo: Looking west to Mount Cautley (Gibraltar Rock at right) (courtesy Calvin Damen)