Fonds consists of the records of the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and reflect the society's organisation, activities, events, and membership. Photographic records include 22 photograph albums documenting Skyline camps, hikes and members; photographs collected by Marian Goldstrom during r…
Previously known as Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies
Date Range
[1933]-2000
Physical Description
22 photograph albums. -- photographs: ca.160 transparencies; 35mm, ca.30 prints, 2 videocassettes. -- 1.3 m textual records. -- 4 audiocassettes
History / Biographical
In the 1920s John Murray Gibbon, Head of the Publicity Department of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recommended the creation of new activities and recreational pursuits for tourists visiting the national parks. Gibbon decided that horseback riding and sleeping outdoors in tents, teepees, or railway bungalow camps would appeal to many tourists and the Skyline Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies was established. Outdoor enthusiasts who visited Banff annually along with Banff and area residents proposed a similar organization for hikers. Gibbon responded with the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies, with their inaugural hike occurring in 1933. The first annual meeting of the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies was held immediately following the first hike and N.B. Sanson, retired meteorologist of Banff, became the Club's first president. The five vice-presidents elected were: Major Selby Walker of Calgary, Peter Whyte of Banff, Carl Rungius of New York, Ian Somerville of Philadelphia, and Miss Georgina Englehard of New York. A secretary-treasurer and council members were also elected and a certified hiking mileage of 25 miles in the Canadian Rockies was set as the criteria for admission of new members.
In 1961 C.P.R. sponsorship ceased for both the Trail Riders and the Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies. Both groups re-organized as separate volunteer, non-profit organizations and the Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies was renamed the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies. The offices of the five vice-presidents as well as the honourary president were discontinued and replaced with an executive commitee consisting of President, Vice-President, Executive Secretary, and Committee Chairperson.
The Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies establish a new base camp location each summer and coordinate five 1-week camps from that base camp throughout the summer.
Scope & Content
Fonds consists of the records of the Skyline Hikers of the Canadian Rockies and reflect the society's organisation, activities, events, and membership. Photographic records include 22 photograph albums documenting Skyline camps, hikes and members; photographs collected by Marian Goldstrom during research for "Fifty Years of Trails and Tales, Skyline Trail Hikers of the Canadian Rockies," published in 1982; ca.160 35mm transparencies in 2 Kodak carousels containing promotional slides, presenter's guidelines and 4 sound track audio-tapes; 1 BASF videotape containing a recording of CBC mini-report about Skyline Hikers; 1 TDK videotape "Skyline Camp at Sunset Pass 1998" by Moe Bilous.
Textual records include Skyline Hikers minutes of meetings, 1961-1980 and 1980-1997; minutes, agendas, and reports, 1991-1995 and 1996-1997; marketing articles and advertisements; guest lists, 1949-1975; membership lists, 1973-1986; by-laws, 1961-1976, 1986; outfitter's agreement, 1998-99; hostess guidelines, 1991; camp and membership lists, 1991-2000; correspondence with Parks Canada and miscellaneous; budgets, 1994-1997; legal insurance, completed evaluations, 1994-1996; cardex files of membership cards and inactive members.