Castle Mountain and Bow River; Banff National Park

When James Hector explored the Bow Valley as part of the Palliser Expedition in 1858, he saw this imposing structure looming up in the distance. In his notes he wrote: "Seeming to stand out in the centre of the valley is a very remarkable mountain ... which looks exactly like a giant castle!". Indeed, the shape of the mountain is very typical and sometimes you can almost see banners flying from the wall and knights standing on the battlements.

Of course no name seemed more appropriate than Castle Mountain, even though such a descriptive name is quite unlikely in the Bow Valley. Instead in those days when the colonists (re-) named the peaks and ranges, it was common to name them after the first person that climbed it, or sometimes that climber would name it after a long lost friend or another person that was important to him.

In 1946 things changed. Prime Minister Mackenzie King sought a way to honour U.S. General Eisenhower for his achievements in WWII. Much to the chagrin of the Albertans and the Albertan government, he decided that Castle Mountain from thence on would be named Mount Eisenhower.

Albertans remained unhappy with this decision and so in 1979 Alberta born Prime Minister Joe Clark gave the mountain back its original name. However, the highest peak still bears the General's name: Eisenhower Peak.

Image number: ASP6592LCA