Donald “Curly” Phillips [1884–1938] was a guide and outfitter working in the Jasper area. During his career he led many mountaineering expeditions into the wilderness of the northern Rockies: the Alpine Club of Canada’s expedition to Mount Robson in 1911, Alpine Club of Canada camps in 1913 (Mount Robson), 1924 (Mount Robson), 1926 (Tonquin) and 1930 (Maligne Lake), and the expeditions of Mary Lenore Jobe Akeley to Mount Sir Alexander in 1914 and 1915.

He also organized and outfitted many other parties, such as trips of James Monroe Thorington [1895–1989] in 1924, 1928, 1931 and 1936, and those of Ostheimer (1927), Gilmour (1929) and Strumia (1930). He was described by his clients as “..a splendid specimen of manhood; fearless, always efficient, always full of resource, always even-tempered, he was the perfect guide…

Phillips was born in 1884 at Dorset, Ontario. From his father he learned canoeing, fishing, hunting and trapping and soon became an expert outdoorsman and a member of the Guides Association of Ontario. In 1909 he came west looking for guiding opportunities, and that summer met George R. B. Kinney [1872–1961], the two of them teaming up for their controversial climb of Mount Robson.

He was always looking for new adventures. While scouting for locations for ski cabins in 1938, he was killed in an avalanche near Elysium Pass not far from Jasper. Mount Phillips near Mount Robson is named for him.