Welcome to 3/4
Gillespie
August 1st, 1906
Rocky Mountains
Valleys
Glaciers
Hot Springs
Maligne Lake
Lake Louise
Wild Roses
Spruce
Douglas Fir
Larch
Shrubs
Wildflowers
Lots of snow
blizzards
Cold winters
Cool summers
Trees
Coal
Water from this region feeds the
Bow and Saskatchewan Rivers
Banff National Park
Jasper National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park
Few smaller towns such as Banff and Jasper
Mountain Sheep, elk, moose, deer, Grizzly and Black bears, wolves, cougars
🌄 Why the Rocky Mountains Were a Good Place to Settle:
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Natural Beauty & Fresh Air
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The stunning mountain views, clear rivers, and peaceful surroundings made it a beautiful and healthy place to live.
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The clean, cool mountain air was considered good for people with health problems like asthma or tuberculosis.
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Access to Resources
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The mountains are rich in natural resources like timber, coal, and even some precious minerals.
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Water was plentiful from rivers, lakes, and mountain springs.
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Hunting & Trapping Opportunities
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Wild game was available for hunting, and trapping animals like beavers and foxes helped many settlers earn a living.
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Tourism & Business Opportunities
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Towns like Banff and Jasper began to grow thanks to railroads and tourism, offering jobs and chances to open hotels, stables, or trading posts.
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The Canadian Pacific Railway brought more people and supplies into the mountains.
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Adventure and Independence
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Settlers who liked the challenge of self-sufficient living saw the Rockies as a place of freedom and adventure.
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It gave people the chance to live far from crowded cities and start fresh in a wild, rugged land.
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⚠️ Challenges of Settling in the Rocky Mountains:
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Harsh Winters
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Long, cold winters with heavy snow made travel, farming, and daily life very difficult.
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Avalanches and snowstorms could trap families for weeks.
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Rough Terrain
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The steep, rocky land was hard to farm or build on.
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Roads were few and often dangerous — narrow, muddy, and winding through cliffs.
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Isolation
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Communities were small and far apart, making it lonely and hard to get supplies, doctors, or news.
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If your wagon broke or someone got hurt, help was not easy to find.
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Limited Farmland
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There wasn’t much flat, fertile land for growing crops.
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Most settlers had to rely on hunting, livestock, or trade rather than farming.
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Wildlife Dangers
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Bears, cougars, and wolves were common in the mountains.
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Settlers had to protect livestock and sometimes themselves from wild animals.
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