Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies

by Mary T.S. Schäffer, Janice Sanford Beck (Foreword)

Mary T.S. Schäffer was an avid explorer and one of the first non-Native women to venture into the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, where few women - or men - had gone before.

First published in 1911, Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies is Schäffer’s story of her adventures in the traditionally male-dominated world of climbing and exploration. It also sheds light on Native and non-Native relations at the early part of the 20th century. Full of daring adventure and romantic depictions of camp life, set against the grand backdrop of Canada’s mountain landscapes, the book introduces readers to various characters from the annals of Canadian mountaineering history, including Arthur Philemon Coleman, Billy Warren, Sid Unwin, Bill Peyto and Jimmy Simpson.

Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies is certain to entertain and enlighten 21st-century readers, historians, hikers and climbers. [Rocky Mountain Books]

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Mary Townsend Sharples Schäffer Warren (1861–1939) was an American-Canadian naturalist, illustrator, photographer, and writer. She was known for her experiences in the Canadian Rockies in the early 20th century.

Warren was born Mary Townsend Sharples. She studied flower painting with George Cochran Lambdin. In 1890 she married Dr. Charles Schäffer, who died in 1903. In 1915 she married mountain guide William "Billy" Warren.

Source: Wikipedia

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s interesting to read such a historic account of mountain adventure, but I can see why this book isn’t a timeless classic. Mary Schaffer was great at writing about the glories of the mountains in a way that still hits today. However her Victorian sensibilities kept her from writing anything about her co-travellers, making this a book oddly without characters. The most interesting sections even if they haven’t aged perfectly are when they meet up with local native peoples at camps, as here we get a sense of personality to the people. But that’s over quick and it’s back to long sections describing driving horses across rivers. At least there are paragraphs about wind in trees that feel they ought to be on a national park advertisement, and that gets the reader through.

[Sunish · Rating 2 out of 5]

While inspirational, Schäffer being one of the first women explorers in Canada, it was a bit hard to read. It was cool to revisit the Jasper/Banff area through the experiences of one of the first (white) people who trekked through that region. Some of what she saw, I saw, and it was interesting how similar our reactions were.

[Alex Abboud · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir looks at the author's expeditions through the Rockies in the years before permanent settlement began in earnest. An enjoyable read, especially for someone familiar with the area, and great look back at the area in the early 1900s.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Mary Schaffer gives her account of two years, 1907 and 1908 when she and a female traveling companion hired two guides and about 9 head of horses and wandered the country now known as the Banff and Jasper National Parks. Every day brought beauty, joy, trials, danger and called upon all, especially the horses to have lots of stamina and bravery.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schaffer vividly writes of her adventures ("play days" - her words) backpacking in the Rockies before cars, tourists, and helicopters following sketchy Indian maps and trails. Her sense of fearless adventure is inspiring.