Photo Insiders: Rockies Repeat
Editor’s Note: Member stories in the ACC Gazette are often accompanied with some pretty amazing photos, and more often than not, we can’t fit them all in there.
To help provide some bonus content and shed daylight on a few unprinted gems, we feature “Photo Insiders” on the Aspects blog.
Scroll down for more amazing adventure photos from the article “Bearing Witness to Disappearing Glaciers” by Emily Beaudoin, a feature about the upcoming film “Rockies Repeat” published in the winter 2020 issue of the ACC Gazette.
Photos courtesy @viktorianorth.
“We arrived at the hut in a haze of smoke. The forest fires blazing in California were making themselves known even here, in this land of sparkling glacial lakes and soaring peaks. We set off towards Lake Oesa, coughing as we climbed. When we reached the lake, my stomach roiled with the familiar feelings of excitement, inspiration and the knowledge that I would soon be so absorbed in painting that I would fail to notice the weather, my hunger, or the numbness of my chilly fingertips. ”
Artists Emily Beaudoin, Kerry Langlois, and Kayla Eykelboom plein air painting on the shores of Lake MacArthur, attempting to capture undeniably shrinking glaciers across the lake.
Kerry Langlois with her re-interpretation of the Victoria Lake area with Glacier Peak in the background. For how long will that name still hold true? Within the lifetimes of our children, the Canadian Rockies could lose up to 80% of their glacial mass.
An artist’s backcountry kit — Emily Beaudoin’s dreamy watercolour reinterpretation, alongside a print of Catharine Whyte’s original painting of the view from the shore of Victoria Lake.
Kayla Eykelboom reading from Catharine Whyte’s journal detailing September painting trips to the Lake O’Hara by horseback nearly a century ago.
Emily Beaudoin taking in the scene from the cozy Wiwaxy Cabin at the Elizabeth Parker Hut.
Out of the smoke, into what future? Climate change-fueled smoke concealed the disappearing glaciers of the O’Hara area.
A print of Catharine Whyte’s original painting lined up with present-day Lake MacArthur. What changes do you see?
The Rockies Repeat artist team at the ACC’s Elizabeth Parker Hut.
The artist team on-location at Bow Lake. The Rockies Repeat project will take the team to a series of locations where Catharine Whyte painted a century ago within the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc First Nations, Treaty 6, 7 and 8 Nations, and Regions 3 and 4 of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
“I want to see the next generation of Stoney youth painting here”, artist Cheyenne Ozînjâ θîhâ from the Stoney Nation painting on the shore of Bow Lake.
Where past meets present — the artists trying to find the exact location where Catharine Whyte painted nearly a century ago.
Share Your Story
The Gazette covers current Club events, true adventure stories submitted by members from across the country and around the globe, safety tips, gear hints, history, and scientific and cultural issues pertaining to the mountain environment. It is published in March, July and November. We are always seeking good articles and stories from members and regional sections.
We prefer to work closely with authors. Drop us an email and pitch your ACC story - we'd love to hear from you!