Tunnel Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tunnel Mountain |
|
|---|---|
Tunnel Mountain and Banff townsite, seen from Sulphur Mountain
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,692 m (5,551 ft) |
| Prominence | 305 m (1,001 ft) |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | South Banff Ranges, Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82O/04 |
Tunnel Mountain is a mountain in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It's also known by its Indigenous names, Iinii Istako (Blackfoot) and Eyarhey Tatanga Woweyahgey Wakân (Stoney Nakoda).
This mountain sits near the Bow River Valley. It overlooks the Hot Springs on Sulphur Mountain. The mountain is almost completely surrounded by the town of Banff. It's also close to the Banff Springs Hotel. Many Indigenous people call it "Sleeping Buffalo." This is because it looks like a sleeping buffalo from certain angles. Since wild bison were brought back to Banff National Park in 2017, some say the buffalo is no longer sleeping!
Contents
How Tunnel Mountain Got Its Name
The Blackfoot name for the mountain is Iinii Istako. The Stoney Nakoda name is Eyarhey Tatanga Woweyahgey Wakân. For a long time, the Stoney people called it "Sleeping Buffalo." This is because it looks like a sleeping buffalo when seen from the north and east.
In 1858, an explorer named James Hector called this small peak "The Hill." He probably called it this because it was the smallest mountain near the town of Banff. Later, in the 1880s, surveyors for the Canadian Pacific Railway thought about blasting a tunnel through the mountain. They wanted to build train tracks through the Bow Valley.
Even though they found a different route for the train, the name Tunnel Mountain stuck. The idea of a tunnel was dropped. In 2016, many First Nations leaders asked to officially rename Tunnel Mountain. They wanted it to be called "Sacred Buffalo Guardian Mountain." This new name honors the mountain's importance to Indigenous cultures.
There was also a fire lookout on top of the mountain. It became known as "King's Lookout." This happened after King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited in 1939. They climbed to the lookout during their Royal Tour.
The History of Tunnel Mountain
In 1882, a team of surveyors was working on the Canadian Pacific Railway. This team was led by Major A.B. Rogers. He was famous for his work on Rogers Pass. Rogers thought the easiest way for the railway was to follow the Bow River.
However, there were problems with crossing the river. The cliffs between Mount Rundle and Tunnel Mountain were also very steep. So, Rogers' team suggested building a 275 m (902 ft) tunnel through Tunnel Mountain.
The general manager of the CPR, William Cornelius Van Horne, was very upset by this idea. He said they wouldn't wait a year and a half for a tunnel! An alternative route was found north of the mountain. This new route actually made the railway shorter by a mile. It also avoided two long hills. This saved the CPR millions of dollars. The idea of a tunnel was completely dropped. But the mountain is still called Tunnel Mountain today.
Hiking Tunnel Mountain
Tunnel Mountain is a very popular place for hiking. It's easy to climb and located right in the heart of Banff. The trail is mostly gentle, with only a few slightly steep parts. The whole trip is only about 4.3 km (3 mi) round-trip.
From the top, you get amazing views of the town of Banff. You can also see the Bow Valley and the wild areas around it. Many people suggest it as a great first hike in the area.
Famous mountaineers have also praised the mountain. James Outram, who was the first person to climb Mount Assiniboine, climbed Tunnel Mountain in 1900. He said, "the view will never be forgotten." Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who helped start the Alpine Club of Canada, also loved the view. He said that even though it's only about 5500 feet high, the top offers a wonderful view of the Bow River valley.
One of the mountain's biggest fans was Anne Ness. She was a local resident who climbed Tunnel Mountain over 8,000 times! She did this over 40 years, climbing about 200 times a year. Anne even climbed the mountain twice a day sometimes. Famed wildlife artist Carl Rungius loved the view so much that his ashes were scattered on the mountain.
Geology of Tunnel Mountain
Tunnel Mountain gives its name to a special rock layer called the Tunnel Mountain Formation. This is a geological formation that scientists study.
