The Three Sisters (Alberta)

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For other uses, see Three Sisters (disambiguation).
The Three Sisters
Three Sisters from Police Creek.jpg
The Three Sisters from Policeman Creek after sunrise reflected in the Bow River
Highest point
Elevation2,936 m (9,633 ft)[1]
Coordinates51°00′50″N 115°21′00″W / 51.01389°N 115.35000°W / 51.01389; -115.35000Coordinates: 51°00′50″N 115°21′00″W / 51.01389°N 115.35000°W / 51.01389; -115.35000[1]
Geography
The Three Sisters is located in Alberta
The Three Sisters
The Three Sisters
Alberta, Canada
Parent rangeSouth Banff Range, Canadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 82O3 Canmore
Climbing
First ascent1887 by J.J. McArthur[1]

The Three Sisters are a trio of peaks near Canmore, Alberta, Canada. They are known individually as Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister.[2]

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.[3]

History[]

In 1883, Albert Rogers, a nephew of Major A. B. Rogers, named the three summits for the first time:[1]

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.[1]

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.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e PeakFinder. "The Three Sisters". Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2007-09-03.
  2. ^ Tourism Canmore and Kananaskis. "About Canmore and Kananaskis". Archived from the original on 2012-01-06. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  3. ^ "Geographic Landmarks | Rocky Mountain Nakoda". Archived from the original on 2012-08-15.
  4. ^ Will Gadd. "Three Sisters Traverse Notes". Retrieved 2017-09-13.

External links[]

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