By Darcy Benham, January 30th, 2025
In the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to join the Mountain Legacy Project as a research assistant for PhD candidate Claire Wright. I was aware of the project since I had been in several of Eric Higgs’ classes, but little did I know how transformative the experience would shape up to be.
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Months before we set out for the 2024 field season, I was responsible for creating landcover classification masks of historical and modern images. As exciting as this may sound, I was eager to immerse myself in the landscapes I had spent many hours analyzing and colouring.
Ascending towards Stn. 182 Miette Pass North
Upon arriving in Jasper, our first mission was a gentle introduction to the season ahead. Growing up on Vancouver Island, I had minimal experience in the Rocky Mountains and the challenging terrain. I was introduced to scree on this first trip and abruptly realized how little I could trust my footing. However, the scree did allow me to practice my Michael Jackson toe stands, intentional or not!
Our second mission’s objective was to repeat Stn. 182 Miette Pass North. This trip showed me the lengths the project goes to accomplish modern images. This included long hours of bushwacking, climbing countless fallen trees, and wading through black spruce bogs. I grew accustomed to going to bed at 7:00 pm to avoid the mosquito swarms, taping my feet to nurture my blisters, and embracing the taste of freeze-dried meals. But for all the challenges, reaching the station made it all worthwhile. Seeing the cairn where Arthur Wheeler once stood, taking in the breathtaking views, and removing my boots to let my feet breathe was all the motivation I needed. This was the first station where I used the camera to recreate the historical photos. Aligning the historic photographs with the current landscape was challenging, but with Claire and Ben’s help we found the correct spot to place the camera. The experience made me appreciate and understand the goal of bringing historical landscapes into a modern context despite the physical and emotional challenges of the expeditions.
Looking out from Stn. 182 Miette Pass North.
Another memorable trip was Stn. 11 Mount Hardisty, where we repeated images from Rheo McDonald. Once we broke through the treeline on our ascent, we encountered boulders, more boulders, so many boulders. Boulder hopping felt a gamble; some were strong and dependable, while others threatened to roll you off if you looked at them incorrectly. Ben, our fearless leader, guided us through the field with meticulous care, leaving me thankful for his alpine experience. At the summit, we repeated 10 images of some of the most beautiful mountain ranges I have ever seen. The exposure, jagged edges, and distance had me speechless. Little did we know that the images we took that day would be some of the last before the Jasper wildfire swept through the area.
Ben post-holing as we ascended toward Stn. 11 Mount Hardisty.
The opportunity to work in the field allowed me to see the striking visual differences and similarities between the historical and modern images. While I had seen changes in the landscapes through my work in the lab, It wasn’t until I was immersed in the landscape that I fully grasped dramatic glacial recession, the impact of mountain pine beetle, and treeline shifts.
I also learned the importance of teamwork. In the backcountry, it is crucial to trust those you are with- whether in route finding, assessing progress, or supporting one another through difficult times. For instance, when I worried about my progress and when my blisters became unbearable, Claire showed me the best way to tape my feet, allowing me to continue the journey. Moments like these made me appreciate what a great team Ben and Claire were and how well the three of us worked collaboratively on complex challenges. Their generosity, wisdom, intelligence, and sense of humour made my first field season unforgettable.
Ben and I on the windy summit of Stn. 11 Mount Hardisty.
When I first contacted Eric about getting involved with the Mountain Legacy Project, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Now, looking back, I wouldn’t change it for the world! I got to hike through beautiful landscapes, experience personal highs and lows, deepen my understanding of environmental change, and contribute to the inspiring work being done by Claire and the whole of the Mountain Legacy Project.
Ben and Claire enjoying the mosquito-filled air, post black spruce bog, on
our way to Stn. 182 Miette Pass North