name:"Portman, Dale" found 3 records - Research Collections

Notes: In Canadian Geographic, vol. 129, no. 6 (December 2009). Letter to editor reply pertianing to the Struzik article which examined the history of the warden service and the radical changes implemented to the force in November 2008

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1 website

Subjects: Rocky Mountains; Horses; Warden Service; Wardens; History; Autobiography

Abstract: Born in the west but raised initially in the east, Dale Portman was eight years old when his family headed back to the land of the Rockies. Growing up in Calgary, he was introduced to the Rocky Mountains at an early age and as a young man eventually found work in Banff National Park, where he spent most of his time in the saddle while working for outfitter Bert Mickle, based out of Skoki Lodge near Lake Louise. Jobs in the local tourist industry and at a couple of ski hills followed. Eventually Dale was drawn to the warden service, doing avalanche control and forecasting in Rogers Pass, with the backcountry of northern Jasper, Yoho National Park and Field, BC, eventually becoming the stage for many memorable, humorous, tragic and life-affirming moments. The Green Horse takes the reader on a journey through a time when our mountain national parks were less touristy and more substantive. When there was space for everyone to enjoy without having to line up and there was a sense of freedom and adventure in the air. (From Rocky Mountain Books website)

Contents: Foreword -- Prologue -- My youth -- Banff and Lake Louise -- Faye and Donny -- A mountain winter and a spring roundup -- Dale and the Mickles -- Lake Louise -- Rogers Pass -- Early Jasper -- Alfie and Ginger -- Jasper tales -- Blue Creek -- Yoho -- Yoho again -- Epilogue.