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Photo: Looking east to Mount Duchesnay from Highway #1

Mount Duchesnay

  • 2927 m (9,603ft)
  • First Ascent
  • Naming History
  • Hiking and Trails
51.3556N -116.453W
Located in the Kicking Horse River Valley between Ottertail River and Boulder Creek; south of the head of Boulder Creek; 2.5 km southwest of Duchesnay Pass

Province: BC
Park: Yoho
Headwater: Columbia
Major Valley: Kicking Horse
Visible from Highway: 1
Ascent Date: 1905
Ascent Party: Topographical Survey
Year Named: 1902
Named by: McNicoll
Named for: Duchesnay, Edward J. (The Assistant General Superintendent of the CPR's Western Division, Edward Duchesnay surveyed a line to the Yukon for the CPR. He was killed by a rockfall in a tunnel near Spuzzum, BC in 1901.)
Popular Hike: Lakes Louise/Moraine/O'Hara

James Outram held Edward Duchesnay in the highest regard writing, "Field and he are inseparably connected in the minds of all who have witnessed or enjoyed the development of the beauties of the vicinity , and especially of those who had the immense privilege of meeting him there in 1900 - 1901. No book on the Rockies could be complete without a reference to him. "To him are chiefly due not only the facilities for reaching the places of interest, but also the inestimable advantages that result from the fact that an artist's eye as well as a master's hand was at work in laying out the trails and selecting points of view and sites for chalets. His love of nature and genius for grasping in an instant the picturesque and practical advantages together, were only equalled by the enthusiasm that inspired him and with which he infected all with whom he came in contact, be he visitor or labourer; and his kindly geniality and courtly gentleness and readiness to help, advise, or serve were particularly attractive traits in his simple, noble character. "Apart from his high merits as a civil engineer, apart from the heritage he left in the opportunities to enjoy the beauties of the neighbourhood, as a worker, keen, conscientious, full of energy, one could not but admire him; but, better still, as a man, a Christian, gentleman and friend he inspired a deep and lasting affection. His tragic death, occuring characteristically in the course of helping another, through a fall of rock in a burning tunnel, evoked a sympathy and caused a blank in the lives of hundreds such as few are able to induce." The above is taken from the "Field and Mount Stephen" chapter of Outram's book, "In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies."

Photo: Evening light on Mount Duchesnay from the west on Highway #1