Raymond M. Patterson
Encyclopedia
Raymond M. Patterson was an Oxford educated writer and explorer of the Canadian northwest.
Raymond M Patterson was born in England in 1898. He was educated at Rossall School
and later attended Oxford University, where he trained for a career at the Bank of England
. Patterson served in World War I
as an artillery officer, was captured toward the end of the conflict and was a POW at the end of the War.
In 1924, longing for adventure, Patterson went to Canada
where he obtained a homestead on the Peace River
. In 1927 he explored the Nahanni River in a canoe. Many years later, he wrote his most famous book The Dangerous River, about his two trips into the Nahanni River Valley during the late 1920s.
Patterson married Marigold Portman in 1929, the same year he sold his homestead and moved to Buck Spring Ranch near Cochrane, Alberta
. From this location, for the next four years, he completed a series of explorations throughout the region. Of particular note was his exploration of the Highwood River
, Highwood Pass
and the Lower
and Upper Kananaskis Lake
s region.
In 1933 he purchased the Buffalo Head Ranch in the Highwood Valley from George Pocaterra. From this location, between 1933 and 1945 he explored the Highwood and Elk Valley region. In 1945, aggrieved over the opening of a road into the Highwood Valley and the aftermath of the 1936 Phillips fire, he sold the ranch and resettled to Victoria, British Columbia
. Over the next twenty-five years he wrote a series of articles for Blackwood's Magazine and The Beaver and five books about his explorations and adventures. He died in 1984.
Raymond M Patterson was born in England in 1898. He was educated at Rossall School
Rossall School
Rossall School is a British, co-educational, independent school, between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. Rossall was founded in 1844 by St. Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year...
and later attended Oxford University, where he trained for a career at the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
. Patterson served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as an artillery officer, was captured toward the end of the conflict and was a POW at the end of the War.
In 1924, longing for adventure, Patterson went to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
where he obtained a homestead on the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
. In 1927 he explored the Nahanni River in a canoe. Many years later, he wrote his most famous book The Dangerous River, about his two trips into the Nahanni River Valley during the late 1920s.
Patterson married Marigold Portman in 1929, the same year he sold his homestead and moved to Buck Spring Ranch near Cochrane, Alberta
Cochrane, Alberta
Cochrane is a town in the Canadian province of Alberta. The town is located 18 km west of the Calgary city limits along Highway 1A. With a population of 15,424 , Cochrane is the second largest town in Alberta and one of the fastest growing communities in Canada...
. From this location, for the next four years, he completed a series of explorations throughout the region. Of particular note was his exploration of the Highwood River
Highwood River
The Highwood River is a river located in southwestern Alberta, Canada. It is part of the Bow River watershed. The river is known for its flyfishing. A variety of trout species live in the river, including native bull trout.-Course:...
, Highwood Pass
Highwood Pass
Highwood Pass is a mountain pass in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. It lies west of Mount Rae and Mount Arethusa of the Misty Range, south of the Elbow Pass.It lies within the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park...
and the Lower
Lower Kananaskis Lake
Lower Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.Lower Kananaskis Lake is in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along with the Upper Kananaskis Lake....
and Upper Kananaskis Lake
Upper Kananaskis Lake
Upper Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.Upper Kananaskis Lake is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along with the Lower Kananaskis Lake....
s region.
In 1933 he purchased the Buffalo Head Ranch in the Highwood Valley from George Pocaterra. From this location, between 1933 and 1945 he explored the Highwood and Elk Valley region. In 1945, aggrieved over the opening of a road into the Highwood Valley and the aftermath of the 1936 Phillips fire, he sold the ranch and resettled to Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
. Over the next twenty-five years he wrote a series of articles for Blackwood's Magazine and The Beaver and five books about his explorations and adventures. He died in 1984.
Further reading
- The Dangerous River, George Allen & Unwin Ltd., London, 1954
- The Buffalo Head, William Sloane Associates, Inc. New York, 1961
- Far Pastures, Gray's Publishing Ltd., Sidney. 1963,
- Trail to the Interior, Macmillan, Toronto, 1966
- Finlay's River, William Morrow & Co, New York. 1968
- R.M. Patterson: A Life of Great Adventure by David Finch, Rocky Mountain Books, Calgary, Alberta, 2000; TouchWood Editions, Surrey, British Columbia, 2009.
- Nahanni Journals:R.M. Patterson's 1927-1929 Journals, ed Richard C. Davis, University of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta, 2008.