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The Three Sisters (Alberta) facts for kids

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The Three Sisters
Three Sisters from Police Creek.jpg
Three Sisters from Policeman Creek after sunrise reflected in the Bow River
Highest point
Elevation 2,936 m (9,633 ft)
Geography
The Three Sisters is located in Alberta
The Three Sisters
The Three Sisters
Location in Alberta
Parent range South Banff Range, Canadian Rockies
Topo map NTS 82O/03
Climbing
First ascent 1887 by J.J. McArthur

The Three Sisters are a trio of peaks near Canmore, Alberta, Canada. They are known individually as Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister.

In the traditional language of the Îyârhe Nakoda (Stoney) the peaks are also referred to as the three sisters. However, the name refers to a story of Ĩ-ktomnĩ, the old man or trickster, who would promise 'three sisters' in marriage whenever he was in trouble.

History

In 1883, Albert Rogers, a nephew of Major A. B. Rogers, named the three summits for the first time:

There had been quite a heavy snowstorm in the night, and when we got up in the morning and looked out of the tent I noticed each of the three peaks had a heavy veil of snow on the north side and I said to the boys, 'Look at the Three Nuns'.

Initially called the Three Nuns, they were later renamed the Three Sisters. This last name first appeared on George Mercer Dawson's 1886 map, which apparently found the name, and was more appropriate in a spirit of Protestantism.

Peaks

Peak metres feet Coordinates First Ascent
Big Sister (Faith) 2,936 9,632 51°00′50″N 115°21′00″W / 51.01389°N 115.35000°W / 51.01389; -115.35000 (Big Sister) 1887
Middle Sister (Charity) 2,769 9,084 51°01′00″N 115°20′00″W / 51.01667°N 115.33333°W / 51.01667; -115.33333 (Middle Sister) 1920
Little Sister (Hope) 2,694 8,840 51°01′30″N 115°20′00″W / 51.02500°N 115.33333°W / 51.02500; -115.33333 (Little Sister) 1925

Big Sister is a moderate scramble on southwestern slopes while Middle Sister is an easy scramble from Stewart Creek. Little Sister is a more difficult ascent requiring technical climbing skills. The Three Sisters Traverse is an obscure and dangerous climb seldom done.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Las tres hermanas (Canadá) para niños

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