Emerald Lake & Crowsnest Mountain

Almost seventy five years separates the two images shown here and outside one obvious change, the scene has an otherwise timeless quality. Emerald Lake & Crowsnest Mountain, in the Crowsnest Pass of Alberta, feature prominently in both and are a sight to behold. The then image is from a postcard scanned and sent to us by a reader of the BIGDoer.com and of course we just had to check out the location to see what things look like today. Guess what? It’s just as beautiful now as then.

These two photos were taken from the old Crowsnest Highway alignment which dates back to early in the twentieth century. This section was quite prone to rock fall, coming off nearby cliffs unseen and to the left of the camera position, and eventually bypassed. Today and along here it’s been long closed to traffic and partly covered by debris that’s slid or fallen down from above. In winter water seepage often made it a skating rink, so that’s not good either! It’s a long drop down to the deep lake there…just saying.

The highway rerouting took place in the 1970s and you can bet no one cried when that happened. It was a scary, dangerous stretch and no fun even at the best of times. Ask a local old timer and they’ll tell you a few hair-raising stories.

The original image is said to date from around 1940 and photographed by one HC McBurney from nearby Coleman Alberta. McBurney owned a pharmacy in that town and I guess made a postcard of the image to sell in his place of business. Or to give away as premiums maybe. He must have printed a lot of them and we see them all the time on Ebay and postcard trading sites.

This post originally dates back almost a decade and here it’s been updated and made more tidy, while still using the original photos. It’s something long overdue. The now image is from 2014 and while we thought of shooting a new image next time we’re in the area, the lake looked so nice in this one that we thought it unlikely we would get another with this much pop.

The writing on the postcard seems to suggest Crowsnest Lake is seen in front (or Crow’s Nest as they spell it), but actually it’s that body in back behind the low peninsulas. Aptly named Emerald Lake is seen in the foreground and displays a gorgeous deep blue/green colour. The two are connected by a narrow channel, however, so it’s possible they were thought of as one at the time.

Note how the trees have grown up since the original image capture. What a lovely stretch of highway, and a pleasant drive if there ever was one.

Crowsnest Mountain is the prominent peak in back and famous in the Pass. It’s rather odd geologically and sort of off by itself in a valley and because of this, some folks assume it’s a former volcano. No, it’s just a lonely mountain and well separated from any others.

The shoulder of Crowsnest Ridge is seen to the left in the foreground, which we’ve hiked up before and you can read about it here: Crowsnest Ridge. The Canadian Pacific’s southern mainline run at the base of the ridge, beside the Crowsnest Lake, and has done so since the 1890s.

This part of the Crowsnest Pass is legendary for the gale force winds that blast down the valley. This day was no exception and the gusts were sometimes so hard that it made it difficult to stand at times. A frigid mist whipped up from Emerald Lake below, froze our fingers and made for much discomfort. It looks like nice weather, but it didn’t feel like it.

The Pass (in spite of the ever-present wind) is one of our favourite places and we visit often. There’s just so much history and amazing scenery and sharp viewers will notice just how many Crowsnest posts there are on this website. A lot! At this point in the Pass, we’re minutes away from the British Columbia border.

Our now photos are shot free-hand using a complex but incredibly low-tech grid system, and it seems to work. It’s not perfect, nor could it ever be, but it allows us to get pretty close as we did here.

If you have an old postcard or image that shows a scene like the one here, and would like us to use it in one of our (near) famous “then and now” posts, be sure to contact us. Pictures must be yours or in the public domain (and most old postcards are). This one comes thanks to Bill who works at the UofA picture archives and to this, we say thanks! Oh, and please send more!

Know more: (new tabs): Crowsnest Mountain and Highway Three Alberta.

They’re saying…

”Love the variety and always look forward to seeing the places they visit.” Brian Brandon – River City Classics and Eamon’s Garage

More T&N action…
The Highway Bridge at Wardner BC – down the highway a bit.
Serendipity @ The Rock (Frank Slide) – also in the Pass!
Brokeback Mountain then and now – Twist Ranch – from the movie.

Something to say and no one to say it to? Go here: Contact Us!

Date of adventure: Circa 1940 and September 2014.
Location: Crownsest Pass, AB.
Article references and thanks: Alberta Ministry of Transportation and the UofA for the old photo.

Emerald Lake & Crowsnest Mountain 75 years apart.

Taken from the old highway & looking at the new alignment.

Bypassed in the ’70s.