The Three Sisters (Alberta)
The Three Sisters | |
---|---|
![]() Three Sisters from Policeman Creek after sunrise reflected in the Bow River | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,936 m (9,633 ft)[1] |
Coordinates | 51°00′50″N 115°21′00″W / 51.01389°N 115.35000°W[1] |
Geography | |
Parent range | South Banff Range, Canadian Rockies |
Topo map | NTS 82O/03 |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1887 by J.J. McArthur[1] |
The Three Sisters are a trio of peaks near Canmore, Alberta, Canada. They are known individually as Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister.[2]
In the traditional language of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney) the peaks are also referred to as the three sisters. However, the name refers to a story of Ĩ-ktomnĩ, the old man or trickster, who would promise 'three sisters' in marriage whenever he was in trouble.[3]
History
In 1883, Albert Rogers, a nephew of Major A. B. Rogers, named the three summits for the first time:[1]
There had been quite a heavy snowstorm in the night, and when we got up in the morning and looked out of the tent I noticed each of the three peaks had a heavy veil of snow on the north side and I said to the boys, 'Look at the Three Nuns'.
Initially called the Three Nuns, they were later renamed the Three Sisters. This last name first appeared on George Mercer Dawson's 1886 map, which apparently found the name, and was more appropriate in a spirit of Protestantism.[1]
Peaks
Peak | metres | feet | Coordinates | First Ascent |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big Sister (Faith) | 2,936 | 9,632 | 51°00′50″N 115°21′00″W / 51.01389°N 115.35000°W | 1887 |
Middle Sister (Charity) | 2,769 | 9,084 | 51°01′00″N 115°20′00″W / 51.01667°N 115.33333°W | 1921 |
Little Sister (Hope) | 2,694 | 8,840 | 51°01′30″N 115°20′00″W / 51.02500°N 115.33333°W | 1925 |
Big Sister is a moderate scramble on southwestern slopes while Middle Sister is an easy scramble from Stewart Creek. Little Sister is a more difficult ascent requiring technical climbing skills. The Three Sisters Traverse is an obscure and dangerous climb seldom done.[4]
Gallery
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Three Sisters reflected in the Bow River
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Three Sisters seen from Pigeon Mountain
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Three Sisters seen from Canmore
External links
Media related to Three Sisters (Alberta) at Wikimedia Commons
References
- ^ a b c d e PeakFinder. "The Three Sisters". Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
- ^ Tourism Canmore and Kananaskis. "About Canmore and Kananaskis". Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
- ^ http://www.rockymountainnakoda.com/language/Geographic%20Landmarks
- ^ Will Gadd. "Three Sisters Traverse Notes". Retrieved 2017-09-13.