Rundle’s Journal. In the Banff museum, attached to a photograph of R. T. Rundle, the Wesleyan missionary to the Indians, is a statement to the effect that he reached the vicinity of Banff in the summer 1841 and camped for five weeks at the base of Cascade Mtn. That this is incorrect is shown by his detailed Journal, a copy of which Rundle’s daughter made for the late Mrs. Warren.

Rundle arrived at Edmonton in the autumn of 1840, and met Sir George Simpson near Battle River in July of the following year when the governor was on his journey around the world. Rundle went several times to Rocky Mountain House, and was up Bow River as far as the site of the Old Bow Fort on June 8th, 1842. It was not until June, 1847, however, that he proceeded above this point into the mountains. He reached the site of Banff on June 28th, 1847, but did not stop, continuing at once to Lake Minnewanka where the Indians were camping. He proceeded E. along the lake on June 30th, and carved his initials and the date on a tree on the following day. The party then left the mountains through the valley of Ghost River to Bow, Rundle going back to the site of the old fort for some of his belongings which he had cached. He then returned to Rocky Mountain House and Edmonton.

This appears to have been Rundle’s only visit to the Banff area, and Sir George Simpson had preceded him, probably entering by way of the Ghost River gap on his way to Simpson Pass, where his blaze was later found. A complete copy of Rundle’s Journal has been made for the records of the American Alpine Club.