The Three Sisters (Alberta)

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]

The Three Sisters
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 [1]
Geography
The Three Sisters
Alberta, Canada
Parent rangeSouth Banff Range, Canadian Rockies
Topo mapNTS 82O/03
Climbing
First ascent1887 by J.J. McArthur[1]

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
PeakmetresfeetCoordinatesFirst Ascent
Big Sister (Faith) 2,9369,63251°00′50″N 115°21′00″W1887
Middle Sister (Charity) 2,7699,08451°01′00″N 115°20′00″W1921
Little Sister (Hope) 2,6948,84051°01′30″N 115°20′00″W1925

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. 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. http://www.rockymountainnakoda.com/language/Geographic%20Landmarks
  4. Will Gadd. "Three Sisters Traverse Notes". Retrieved 2017-09-13.
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