As of 2023, here is a seasonal closure in place for caribou conservation. No access to this backcountry area is permitted between November 1 and May 15.
Anethyst Lake. A. Y. Jackson, 1927
Jasper National Park, Canadian National Railways
Referenced by Cyril G. Wates [1883–1946] in 1923.
James Monroe Thorington [1895–1989] visited the region in 1924:
Moat Lake is finely situated in the eastern hollow of Tonquin Pass and sends a stream to join with a northern outflow from Amethyst Lakes; and, in an expanse of willow-covered, marshy ground, drains both to Meadow and Maccarib Creeks.
Conrad Kain [1883–1934]
b. 1883 — Nasswald, Austria
d. 1934 — Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Kain was an Austrian mountain guide who guided extensively in Europe, Canada, and New Zealand, and was responsible for the first ascents of more than 60 routes in British Columbia. He is particularly known for pioneering climbs in the Purcell Mountains and the first ascents of Mount Robson (1913), Mount Louis (1916) and Bugaboo Spire (1916).
Camp on Calumet Creek, below Moose Pass. James Shand-Harvey, George Kinney, Conrad Kain, Donald “Curly” Phillips, Charles Walcott Jr., Harry H. Blagden, Ned Hollister, J. H. Riley and A. O. Wheeler. Smithsonian-Alpine Club of Canada Robson Expedition (1911 )Photo: Byron Harmon, 1911. Canadian Alpine Journal 1912, p. 34. Original negative: Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
A.O. Wheeler, Donald “Curly” Phillips, Harry Blagden, Ned Hollister, Charles Walcott Jr., James Shand-Harvey, Casey Jones and Rev. George B. Kinney, near Maligne Lake, Smithsonian-ACC Robson Expedition
Photo: Byron Harmon, 1911 Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
July 1 – September 16, 1911
The 1911 Alpine Club of Canada–Smithsonian joint expedition to the Mount Robson region was initiated by Arthur Oliver Wheeler [1860–1945], director of the Alpine Club of Canada. In his report Wheeler wrote:
Mount Robson is undoubtedly the highest peak of the region… so when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway pushed the advancing steel in sight of the main range, it was decided by the Alpine Club of Canada to organize an expedition and make direct investigations on its own behalf and in accordance with the propaganda laid down in its constitution, viz., the encouragement of mountain craft and the opening of new regions as a national playground.
Subsequent co-operation and financial assistance by the British Columbia, Alberta and Dominion Governments made it possible to enlarge the scope of the expedition, and an investigation of the fauna, flora, and geology was added to the topographical work first planned. An attempt was made to interest Canadian scientists in the expedition, but without success, so the matter was submitted to Dr. Charles Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute of Washington, who collaborate most heartily and sent a party of four to join and work with the Alpine Club. [1]
Charles Doolittle Walcott [1850–1927], secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, agree to conduct scientific studies “under the permit of the geology, flora and fauna of the area,” and planned to attend personally, but his wife died in a rail accident shortly before the event. The Smithsonian called its participation the Biological Survey of the Canadian Rockies, recognizing it as an excellent opportunity to gather specimens from the region. The Alpine Club of Canada also helped to pay for a portion of the Smithsonian’s costs for sending staff. Official Smithsonian staff included N. (Ned) Hollister, Assistant Curator in the Division of Mammals (leader); and Joseph Harvey Riley, Aid in the Division of Birds. They were assisted by Charles D. Walcott, Jr. (son of the Secretary of the Institution) and H. H. Blagden. All specimens collected came to the Smithsonian, including mammals, birds, reptiles, batrachians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants. In 1912 Walcott conducted his own investigations in the Mount Robson area.[2]
Wheeler continued:
Mountaineering was not the primary object and the ascent of Robson Peak for the second time had not even received consideration. The intention was to investigate the facilities for holding one of the Club’s big camps close to the great monolith and, while doing so, to make topographical survey of such area as might fall within the scope of the expedition, using photo-topographic methods a as a basis of the work. Notwithstanding, some thirty peaks were climbed, ranging in altitude from 7,000 to 11,000 feet above sea-level.
The expedition was made possible through the co-operation of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, which contributed handsomely towards the expenses. The railway company proposed to open up the northern section of the mountains in a manner similar a to that being done by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the southern section, and was naturally interested in the publicity that would ensue.
The original party consisted of the writer in charge, Konrad Kain, the Club’s professional guide, Byron Harmon, the Club’s official photographer, a and a cook, with the transport and outfitting in the hands of Donald Phillips. Later, George B. Kinney was added as an assistant. Subsequent co-operation and financial assistance by the British Columbia, Alberta and Dominion Governments made it possible to enlarge the scope of the expedition, and an investigation of the fauna, flora, and geology was added to the topographical work first planned. An attempt was made to interest Canadian scientists in the expedition, but without success, so the matter was submitted to Dr. Charles Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institute of Washington, who collaborate most heartily and sent a party of four to join and work with the Alpine Club.
The general line of travel may be described as follows: Commencing at Henry House, the eastern extremity of the survey, the route lay up the valleys of the Athabasca and Miette rivers to the summit of the Continental Divide at the Yellowhead Pass. Thence down the valley of Yellowhead Lake and Fraser River for seventeen miles to the junction of the Moose River with the Fraser. Then up the Moose River Valley to the Moose Pass, where the Continental Divide was again crossed, and down the valley of Calumet Creek (local name Pipestone Creek), to the Smoky River Valley. The Smoky River Valley was next ascended to the Robson Pass where, re-crossing the Continental Divide, the valley of the Grand Fork River was followed to the Fraser Valley, which was ascended to the junction of the Moose River Valley. By this means complete irregular circuit of very nearly 100 miles was made round Mt. Robson, the first that ever has been made, and all the enclosed territory was surveyed as well as a considerable area outside of it.
Nunerous articles about the expedition were published in the Canadian Alpine Journal, Volume 4, 1911. Beginning with Wheeler’s own report, quoted above, accompanied by his topographic map of Mount Robson, there were articles from the Smithsonian party on mammals[3], birds [4], and plants [5], as well as two reports on the return trip to Laggen (Lake Louise) by packhorse.[6, 7]
The name was “suggested by the Topographical Survey due to its proximity to the Meadows Fire Ranger Station” — the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission surveyors.
Named by association with Moat Lake.
Portrait of Sir Sandford Fleming by John Wycliffe Lowes Forster, 1892
Wikipedia [accessed 15 October 2025]
Sir Sandford Fleming, FRSC KCMG
b. 7 January 1827 — Kirkcaldy, Scotland
d. 22 July 1915 — Halifax, Nova Scotia
By 1871, the strategy of a railway connection was being used to bring British Columbia into federation and Fleming was offered the chief engineer post on the Canadian Pacific Railway. Although he hesitated because of the amount of work he had, in 1872 he set off with a small party to survey the route, particularly through the Rocky Mountains, finding a practicable route through the Yellowhead Pass. One of his companions, George Monro Grant, wrote an account of the trip, which became a best-seller. In June 1880, Fleming was dismissed by Sir Charles Tupper, with a $30,000 payoff. It was the hardest blow of Fleming’s life, though he obtained a promise of monopoly, later revoked, on his next project, a trans-pacific telegraph cable. Nevertheless, in 1884 he became a director of the Canadian Pacific Railway and was present as the last spike was driven.