At that time he vowed he would someday return to this country of scenic splendour, "for this is what I have seen in my dreams, this is the country for me". The significance it has acquired as a pass is probably due to its being a route of travel of the "Kootanie" Indians when on their way to the prairies of Alberta to hunt buffalo, who preferred it to the North Kootenay Pass when they had heavily loaded pack animals, on account of its easier slopes of approach; also to the fact that it was traversed by Capt. Black, MLA for Nelson and Creston, allowing 2,700 cars that had lined up to take advantage of the new transportation link between the East and West Kootenay. ", The official artist accompanying the 1857-1861 international boundary survey was James M. Alden. When snow and weather conditions create instabilities in the snowpack above the highway, the avalanche technician will close the highway for short periods of time to conduct avalanche control. On October 13, 1963, a ribbon was cut at the top of the Kootenay Pass summit by W.B. Had he discovered it, this may have changed the history of the west and national parks! T. Blakison in 1958 on his return from a visit to the "Kootanie" Indians at Tobacco Plains. Born in Ireland in 1839, Brown served with the British Army in India before coming to North America. His guide replied, “many days of poor travel” (possibly relating to the large amount of windfall that aboriginal people, travelling on foot, preferred to avoid). Although he did not actually pass through what is now the park, he wintered at Kootenai House close by. Originally a member of the Palliser Expedition, Blakiston, after several disagreements, continued on his own. Kootenay Pass is only closed for an average of 100 hours over a winter season with most of those closures being limited to two to four hours. Carrying emergency supplies such as water and warm clothes is also advisable. "Technicians are able to remotely detonate avalanches day or night. Waterton was the site of western Canada's first producing oil well, the second in all of Canada. The Kootenay Pass remains one of the highest-elevation mountain passes in Canada that’s open year-round, although it is often closed for avalanche control in the winter. Now, 50 years later, the Kootenay Pass is still the highest highway in Canada that remains open throughout the year. A well spoken and educated man, Brown first saw Waterton in 1865 after traveling over the South Kootenay Pass. Palliser. The Buffalo Cow Trail’s high, mild slopes of South Kootenay Pass and the low Akamina Pass were used by those who walked before the people of today in their pursuit of life- sustaining buffalo. It seeped from oil-bearing Cretaceous rocks buried to great depths by the Lewis Overthrust. Had he discovered it, this may have changed the history of the west and national parks! “Currently a crew of four avalanche technicians under the direction of Robb Andersen monitor the snow and weather condition on Kootenay Pass from November to mid-May. 1 of 5A team of professionals work hard every year to make sure the Kootenay Pass stays open. Kootenay National Park With diverse terrain embracing everything from arid grasslands to glaciers, Kootenay National Park offers the full Rocky Mountain experience along the historic Banff-Windermere Highway. Using this pass, Blakiston re-crossed the divide, travelling along Blakiston (Pass) Creek and out to a chain of three large lakes. The first oilrig drilled in 1902 but was closed down by 1906. He named the lakes Waterton Lakes to honour the British naturalist Charles Waterton. Of South Kootenay Pass, Part I of the Boundary Commission Report published in 1917 reads as follows: "This so-called pass is merely a lower elevation of the watershed ridge and there is no distinct gap. Blakiston instead entered North Kootenay Pass, crossing the Continental Divide into what is now British Columbia and Montana (Tobacco Plains). He had reached the Kootenay River Valley by way of North Kootenay Pass. Waterton Townsite With continuous grades and challenging conditions, motorists need to be prepared before tackling the Kootenay Pass. “I really enjoy the variety of issues that I encounter on a daily basis,” said Razzo. On Sept. 6, 1858, he wrote: After two hours travelling on level ground along Red-stone creek (Red Rock) we emerged on the Saskatchewan plains, just six geographical miles north of the 49th parallel and camped at the lakes ...The scenery here is grand and picturesque...game is abundant, including, grizzly bears...and we obtained both fresh meat and fish.