This updated scrambles book could not have been completed without the help of a number of people. Not only do I not get up many peaks anymore, but I haven’t taken as many pictures either. Luckily the Internet has made it a breeze to find suitable guidebook photos. Whereas 15 or so years ago, the number of online scrambling websites was less than ten, there are now scores of them, many with particularly good photos. Digital cameras have simplified it all and made it affordable to take huge numbers of photos. This was not the case when I first published this book more than 20 years ago, but I wish it had been.
Several people have generously contributed new photos for scrambles in this edition and I sure am glad they did. This book wouldn’t look nearly as good without the excellent new pictures provided by the following generous folks: Bob Spirko, Matthew Hobbs, Vern Dewit, Sonny Bou, Collin Smith, Dinah Kruze and Eric Coulthard. Photos and information from some of their websites also saved me much legwork regarding route conditions and changes since the previous edition. Thank you, guys! I definitely owe you for helping me out.
Geological information concerning the widespread black rock found on Waterton Park peaks was provided by Keith Dewing of Natural Resources Canada in Calgary, when one day I just showed up unannounced with one such rock.
Of course, this edition has built upon previous ones, and a number of people contributed to those in various ways over the years, whether by passing along information, suggesting new peaks and routes or providing photos. They are Tim Auger, David M. Baird, Don Beers, the late Reg Bonney, Harold Brown, Helen Butler, Carmie Callanan, Brian Carter, Clive Cordery, the late Rick Collier, Gill Daffern, Tony Daffern, Juliette DeChambre, the late Bruno Engler, Gary Fauland, Bill Kerr, Leon Kubbernus, Bernard Mueller, Glenn Naylor, Roberto Pavesio, Donna Pletz, Andy Riggs, Wendy Shanahan, Steve Tober, Kris Thorsteinsson and Sacha Veelbehr. Brad White provided great aerial shots courtesy of Parks Canada. Sim Galloway deserves a special mention for posing for so many photos (and never grumbling) as well as for supplying feedback and updated route information gained on her many ascents.
Place names were mainly taken from Canadian Mountain Place Names, by Boles, Laurilla and Putnam; Over 2000 Place Names of Alberta, by Holmgren and Holmgren; and Place Names of Waterton/Glacier National Park, by Jack Holterman. I never could have researched those names myself.
Ben Gadd’s excellent Handbook of the Canadian Rockies was the source of many tidbits and trivia about geology and natural history.
Two out-of-print books provided a wealth of information for my ascents. These are The Rocky Mountains of Canada–North, by Kruszyna and Putnam, and The Rocky Mountains of Canada–South, by Boles, Kruszyna and Putnam. Their scope is enormous while mine merely scratches the surface. George Brybycin’s books of beautiful photos from various summits inspired me early on in my peakbagging pursuits. Similarly, had it not been for Patton and Robinson’s bible The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, appearing about 1972, I may have become a fisherman sooner rather than later and not hiked or scrambled at all. My chiropractor, Dr. James Sie, continues to keep my back performing as well as possible, so I am still able to enjoy what our amazing mountains offer. Lastly, a great big thanks to Rocky Mountain Books staff Don Gorman, Chyla Cardinal and Joe Wilderson for painstakingly organizing my four years’ worth of assorted updates and pictures into an actual guidebook. Thanks also to Tony and Gillean Daffern for publishing the book back when few even knew what scrambling was all about. That original book really got the ball (and the rubble!) rolling.