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.
Emerald Lake & Crowsnest Mountain: Circa 1940 and again in 2014. Fun and games with Chris Doering & Connie Biggart (BIGDoer/Synd)
Thanks goes out to “The Costas” (once again) for sponsoring this posts and others at BIGDoer.com. Thanks guys!” Do the same…
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.
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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!
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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.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
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