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Novembers's Unusual Canadian Rockies name
WATERMELON PEAK
Apparently the first ascent party of this unofficially named mountain (D. Michael, W.V.G. Matthews, W.L. Putnam, M. Stearns, L.R. Wallace) carried a watermelon to the summit. They then ate it despite poor weather.
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November's estoteric list of mountains
SHIP RELATED MOUNTAIN NAMES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES
The Canadian Rockies are a long way from the ocean but there are 32 peaks named after ships. Details are available in the database.
Mount Alcantara, Mount Arethusa, Aurora Mountain, Mount Black Prince, Brussels Peak, Centurion Peak, Mount Chester, Condor Peak, Mount Cornwall, Defender Mountain, Mount Engadine, Mount Fortune, Frigate Mountain, Mount Galatea, Mount Glasgow, Mount Indefatigable, Mount Inflexible, Mount Invincible, Mount Kent, Mount Lancaster, Mount Marlborough, Marvel Peak, Mount Nestor, Mount Nomad, Mount Onslow, Mount Shark, Mount Sparrowhawk, Mount Tipperary, Tonquin Hill, Mount Turbulent, Warrior Mountain, Mount Warspite
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Look who's honoured in the Canadian Rockies
ALEXANDER MUIR
Alexander Muir is the only composer to have had a mountain of the Canadian Rockies named in his honour. He wrote the music and lyrics for "The Maple Leaf Forever" in 1867, the year of Canadian Confederation, and the song became the un-official Canadian national anthem. The lyrics of the opening verse are as follows and the predominant view of the times that the country was of "British-only" origin with a Scottish, Irish, and English heritage is clear:
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine,
The Maple Leaf Forever.
Written originally in French, "O'Canada" was first performed in Quebec in 1880 and English lyrics were not written until 1908. At the time of the First World War and the Interprovincial Boundary Survey, "O'Canada" was becoming the best known patriotic song in the country but "traditionalists," as it appears survey commissioners Arthur Wheeler and Richard Cautley may have been, obviously still held "The Maple Leaf Forever" in high regard.
Enter Mount Muir to learn more about this peak.
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