Mapper of Mountains: M.P. Bridgland in the Canadian Rockies, 1902-1930

by I.S. MacLaren, Eric Higgs (Primary Contributor), Gabrielle Zezulka-Mailloux (Primary Contributor)

Mapper of Mountains follows the career of Dominion Land Surveyor Morrison Parsons Bridgland, who provided the first detailed maps of many regions of the Canadian Rockies. Between 1902 and 1930, this unheralded alpinist perfected phototopographical techniques to compile a series of mountaintop photographs during summers of field work, and spent his winters collating them to provide the Canadian government, tourists, and mountain climbers with accurate topographical maps. Bridgland was a great climber and co-founder of the Alpine Club of Canada. Mapper of Mountains also tells the story of the Rocky Mountain Repeat Photography Project, which studies the changes sustained in the Rockies, repeating the field work accomplished by Bridgland almost a century ago. 

312 pages, Paperback

First published December 14, 2001

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[Bill Leach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The original surveys of the Canadian Rocky Mountains used a method of calculating locations from photographs that could then be used to assemble topographic maps. While the concept when back as far as 1759, the method was made practical by the French Colonel Aime Laussedat. In the late 1800's Surveyor General Édouard-Gaston Deville adapted the technique to Canada, with James McArthur doing the climbing and photography. This method was used for map making until the advent of aerial photography in the 1920's.

Starting out with A. O. Wheeler in Glacier Park, Bridgeland worked for the (DLS) for thirty years, spending much of the time surveying the Rockies, most notably Jasper Park, the Selkirks and what is now north and northeast Banff Park. The work involved ascending various peaks, establishing stations, using transits to establish bearings, and taking panoramic photographs. Winter work required detailed calculations to establish the position and height of the various peaks and other points of interest.

Bridgeland became an excellent climber and was involved in the formation of the Alpine Club of Canada in 1906. At the 1906 camp at Yoho, he was named Chief Guide, Wheeler was Assistant Guide, and the Fuez cousins Edward and Gottfried were termed the Swiss Guides. Bridgeland was known for his patience, doing certain routes repeatedly so members could attain their Senior rating.

Bridgeland's most well known survey was that of Jasper Park in 1915, mapping 2500 square kilometers in that year. At that time, the coal mining town Pocohontas was the main center of the area. Jasper was the focus of outfitting and tourism. The tent city Jasper House (named after the earlier trading post) offered accommodation to tourists. The settlements of the Metis who had been moved out of the park were still evident. Mt. Edith Cavell was know as the Le Montagne de la Grande Traverse, as it marked the route to Athabasca Pass and across the Divide. A highlight of the year was the visit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which drew attention to the park.

The federal government was trying to promote tourism in the new mountain parks. Commissioner James B. Harkin had produced the pamphlet "A Sprig of Mountain Heather", which featured a sample of mountain heather on the cover, to promote the park. Bridgeland was called upon to produce a guide to the park which he completed in 1916.

In the late 1990's, the Rocky Mountain Repeat Photography Project undertook to find Bridgeland's stations in Jasper National Park and take photos, replicating Bridgeland's photos to the greatest extent possible. The new photos showed changes such as reduced ice, increased vegetation and an increased human footprint. The greater tree cover is not a surprise as Bridgeland had noted in 1915 that the park had been burned extensively.