During a trip to the Canadian Rockies, in 1907, Mary Schaffer wrote of hearing a distant roar while on the trail up to Wilcox Pass. Across the valley through the trees she discovered: “a lovely little fall may be seen apparently bursting through the solid rock.” Later that day Mary’s group found that a panther had followed their trail for some distance, and so the falls were named after this wild cat.*
The Panther Falls are located just below the Bridal Veil Falls on the Icefields Parkway. The Bridal Veil Falls viewpoint is located on the east side of highway 93, 9.0km (5.5mi) south of the Banff-Jasper Park boundary at Sunwapta Pass. At the lower end of the viewpoint walk downhill to the trail sign atop an earthen barrier. The trail drops down through a number of switchbacks in forest to a muddy slope where the falls can be viewed. Take care as the ground can be quite slippery and hazardous to the unwary.
Photo Credit: Anile P CC=nc-nd-flickr. Please click to enlarge.
Research: * Old Indian Trails of the Canadian Rockies by Mary T. S. Schaffer, 1911, p.50.
10 comments:
I love this picture, Barbara. It's so beautiful!
That falls looks like it has immense power.
I have never seen a water fall coming straight out of the mountain side, so this must be very unique.
PS Thank you for the nice comment! :-)
Always interesting to learn the reason why something is named what it is.
What a fascinating falls! Not just the story about the name but the geology of it.
(And my wv is "emicat!")
A panther followed their trail??? Obviously Mary Schaffer has a more laid-back approach to the naming of the falls than I would've under the circumstances. Trepidation Falls would've been high on my list of choices!Great picture Barbara.
Wonderful. I love the Parkway.
Pam, Mary Schaffer was afraid of facing up to a grizzly bear on her travels in the Canadian Rockies and probably to her great relief, never did. She had seen plenty of black and cinnamon bears, but no grizzlies.
Leah, plenty more posts coming on the Icefield Parkway.
Incredible how water finds its way!
I would have never guessed how the name came about. Fantastic story! :-)
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