Elfrida Pigou
Encyclopedia
Elfrida Pigou was a prominent Canadian mountaineer
and pioneer with many first ascent
s to her credit.
She was born in Vernon
, British Columbia
, the daughter of Meynell Pigou and his wife Lilian Mackenzie and spent her childhood in the Okanagan
region of British Columbia. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia
in 1931. In 1949 she began a climbing career in the mountainous regions of BC and Washington State that made her perhaps the most distinguished female climber of her generation in Canada.
Pigou became a member of the Alpine Club of Canada
in 1948, and this served as her introduction to the world of mountains climbing. Over the next several years she made ascents of many of the tallest mountains in BC, including Mount Raleigh
, Mount Gilbert, Homathko Peak and Mount Essex. She also did several rock climbing first ascents in The Bugaboos
, some with Fred Beckey
. She also volunteered for the Mountain Rescue Group which at that time was under the Alpine Club's jurisdiction.
On May 12th, 1957, while on a spring ascent of Mount Slesse near Chilliwack, BC with Geoffery Walker and David Cathcart she discovered the wreckage of TCA Flight 810
which had gone missing in December 1956. Pigou and several local mountaineers, including Paddy Sherman and "Fips" Broda had surmised that Slesse was the most likely site of the Crash of flight 810
In July 1960, while on an attempt to ascent Mount Waddington
, she and climbers Joan Stirling, John Owen and Derrick Boddy went missing. Two days later a party from Seattle came across the site of their camp on the Bravo Glacier which had been obliterated by a large ice and snow avalanche 140 metres wide and at least 3 metres deep. The bodies of all four climbers were left in place, and a memorial was erected nearby on the south shoulder of Mount Jeffery by the Alpine Club.
On March 28, 1967, Mount Elfrida was named in her honour.
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
and pioneer with many first ascent
First ascent
In climbing, a first ascent is the first successful, documented attainment of the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route...
s to her credit.
She was born in Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, the daughter of Meynell Pigou and his wife Lilian Mackenzie and spent her childhood in the Okanagan
Okanagan
The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...
region of British Columbia. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1931. In 1949 she began a climbing career in the mountainous regions of BC and Washington State that made her perhaps the most distinguished female climber of her generation in Canada.
Pigou became a member of the Alpine Club of Canada
Alpine Club of Canada
The Alpine Club of Canada is a mountain club with a National Office in Canmore, Alberta that has been a focal point for Canadian mountaineering since its founding in 1906. The club was co-founded by Arthur Oliver Wheeler, who served as its first president, and Elizabeth Parker, a journalist for...
in 1948, and this served as her introduction to the world of mountains climbing. Over the next several years she made ascents of many of the tallest mountains in BC, including Mount Raleigh
Mount Raleigh
Mount Raleigh is one of the principal summits of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains of southern British Columbia. It is in elevation and is the highest summit south of the Bishop River's divide with the Lillooet River at Ring Pass, which is at the southeastern edge of the Lillooet Icefield...
, Mount Gilbert, Homathko Peak and Mount Essex. She also did several rock climbing first ascents in The Bugaboos
The Bugaboos
The Bugaboos are a mountain range in the Purcell Mountains of eastern British Columbia, Canada. The granite spires of the group are a popular mountaineering destination. The Bugaboos are protected within Bugaboo Provincial Park.-Geography:...
, some with Fred Beckey
Fred Beckey
Fred Beckey is an American mountaineer and author, who has made hundreds of first ascents, more than any other North American climber.-Early years:...
. She also volunteered for the Mountain Rescue Group which at that time was under the Alpine Club's jurisdiction.
On May 12th, 1957, while on a spring ascent of Mount Slesse near Chilliwack, BC with Geoffery Walker and David Cathcart she discovered the wreckage of TCA Flight 810
Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810
Trans-Canada Air Lines Flight 810 was a Canadair North Star on a scheduled flight from Vancouver to Calgary . The plane crashed into Mount Slesse near Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, on 9 December 1956 after encountering severe icing and turbulence over the mountains...
which had gone missing in December 1956. Pigou and several local mountaineers, including Paddy Sherman and "Fips" Broda had surmised that Slesse was the most likely site of the Crash of flight 810
In July 1960, while on an attempt to ascent Mount Waddington
Mount Waddington
Mount Waddington, once known as Mystery Mountain, is the highest peak in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. Although Mount Fairweather and Mount Quincy Adams, which straddle the US border between Alaska and British Columbia are taller, Mount Waddington is the highest peak that lies...
, she and climbers Joan Stirling, John Owen and Derrick Boddy went missing. Two days later a party from Seattle came across the site of their camp on the Bravo Glacier which had been obliterated by a large ice and snow avalanche 140 metres wide and at least 3 metres deep. The bodies of all four climbers were left in place, and a memorial was erected nearby on the south shoulder of Mount Jeffery by the Alpine Club.
On March 28, 1967, Mount Elfrida was named in her honour.
First Ascents
This is a partial list of first ascents- Mount Larrabee Washington State, first winter ascent 1958
- Mount Cradock, 1953
- Mount Gilbert 1954
- Mount Essex 1955
- Homathko Peak 1955
- Chimney Rock 1957
- Mount Poland 1958
- Tombstone Tower 1958
- Cloudcap Peak, Washington State, Center-West route, 1960
See also
- Mount Slesse
- Mount Elfrida
- PigouPigouPigou is an English surname of Hugenot derivation.The Pigou family originated from Amiens in France. The name was related to pique or pike, and the Pigou arms consist of three pike heads. Two sons of Lawrence Pigou of Amiens – Jacques and John - fled from persecution in France and settled with...