Remembering Hollyburn's Pioneers 1 - Hollyburn Heritage Society

In recent years, family members and friends of several Hollyburn pioneers have asked HHS how their loved ones might best be remembered on Hollyburn Mountain. Tangible memorials such as Gerry Hardman's snow post, picnic tables near First Lake, and a bench on Hollyburn Peak come to mind, but at this point in time are not a viable option considering the number of pioneers that we would like recognise and costs related to the on-going maintenance of outdoor memorials.

In an effort to recognise Hollyburn's pioneers, HHS has created & dedicated this page and related 'Pioneer' subpages to those men & women who were hiking, skiing & cabin building on Hollyburn Mountain during the 1920's, '30's, '40's & 50's. Photos & articles related to the pioneer owner/operators of Hollyburn's ski lodges pre-1985 are also included.

If you have any new information or suggestions regarding the biographies or photos displayed on these pages, or would like to suggest a name of a Hollyburn pioneer, please reach out to us through our Contact Us page. We appreciate any information you wish to share, such as biographical data, events, and photos or documents.

HHS is also considering other ways to acknowledge Hollyburn's pioneers, including a Book of Remembrance to be displayed in the newly renovated Hollyburn Lodge.

Eilif Haxthow
1905-1965

Eilif was an enthusiastic and accomplished outdoorsman, skier, fisher, hiker, wood carver and oil painting artist and as it turns out, a decent photographer, who took the time to chronicle his leisure time and his mining career. He built his own ski cabin at Hollyburn in 1924 and the next year started a ski rental business, the first rental taking place, as recorded in the Province newspaper, in January 1926. The skis were fashioned from the timbers on the mountain.

Eilif was instrumental with others in founding the first original Hollyburn Ski Camp and “The Restaurant” in 1925. That same year he was appointed “Honorary Fire Warden” for the Hollyburn Ridge District by the Forest Branch of the B.C. Government on June 16, 1925 with authority to hire up to “five men” for fire protection services.

Eilif was born April 13, 1905 in Oslo, Norway. In 1923, at age 18 he came to Canada, settling in the Vancouver area that same year. He followed his passion for the outdoors and skiing to Hollyburn Mountain, where he built a cabin, fashioned his own skis from the surrounding forest and blazed trails for hiking and skiing.

In a newspaper article in the Sunday Province of 1925, Pollough Pogue wrote,

“…the exertion of climbing that far gives you a healthy appetite for lunch, which is served at the ski camp maintained by two popular Scandinavian sportsmen Eilif (Haxthow) and Erik (Ahlberg). Both are expert ski-runners and specialists on winter sports. Both are splendid woodsmen and familiar with the mountain country for which their camp is a base, and are available as efficient guides for parties who wish to explore the almost untouched field of mountains behind Hollyburn Ridge. During the winter the ski camp which these excellent sportsmen have established is a headquarters for snow sports of all kinds, but chiefly ski-running through the enchanting white forest and ski jumping on the big slide at the old mill.”

Several articles followed in the Province about Hollyburn and Eilif and Eric. These two also proposed to build Hollyburn’s first commercial recreation property, a hotel at “Hollyburn Skicamp”. A preliminary sketch outlines a front elevation of a two story hotel and first floor plan drawn up for them by Vancouver architect H. C. Christensen.

Eilif captured on film a number of interesting events and places including photographing many of the men and women who shared the Hollyburn story. His photos are dated starting in 1924. In 1934 he married Helen Mae Taylor of Vancouver. They met on the mountain.

Eilif went on to a successful career in the mining industry throughout B.C. and Ontario working for Boyles Bros. Diamond Drilling Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C. and ended his career with them as the Manager of their Port Arthur (Thunder Bay) office and plant. He was involved in many of the mining era’s storied events and just after retiring participated as a drilling consultant for the famous Ripple Rock removal explosion in 1958, the world’s largest non-nuclear explosion up to that point in history.

Written by Peggy Ann Massey (nee Haxthow), daughter of Eilif and Helen

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: Eilif Haxthow inside his "home on the Ridge" at the Nasmyth Mill ski camp, 1925 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 02: Eilif Haxthow on Hollyburn Ridge circa 1925 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 03: "Eilif (Haxthow) on Malern,” Hollyburn Mountain, 1927 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 04: Eilif Haxthow beside a mining rocker, 1926 on Hollyburn Ridge. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 05: (L-R) Ommund Ommundsen & Eilif Haxthow on the roof of Eilif's first cabin on Hollyburn Ridge" circa 1926/1927 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 06: (L-R) Ommund Ommundsen & Eilif Haxthow on Hollyburn Ridge circa 1930 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 07: Christmas Eve, 1928 at 1112 Cardero Street, Vancouver. (L-R) Finn Rosti, Finn Fladmark, Eilif Haxthow, Ommund Ommundsen, ?,?,? (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 08: "Plant No. 1 of the Haxthow - Stenslunde Ski Manufacturing Company," Eilif Haxthow (L) circa 1927 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 09: "Plant No. 1 of the Haxthow - Stenslunde Ski Manufacturing Co." Eilif Haxthow (R) circa 1927 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 10: Helen Haxthow (nee Taylor) on Hollyburn Ridge, early 1930's (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 11: Helen Haxthow with her baby daughter, Grace, beside the Ommundsen/Haxthow cabin on Hollyburn Ridge circa 1935 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 12: Helen & Eilif Haxthow with their baby daughter, Grace, beside the Ommundsen/Haxthow cabin on Hollyburn Ridge circa 1935 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

The Swedes at the Hollyburn Ski Camp
Rudolph Jules Verne, Oscar Pearson, Olle Anderson, Andrew & Stina Irving

Rudolph Jules Verne was the original owner of the 'Ski Camp at the Old Mill Site' and the Hollyburn Pacific Ski Camp, later referred to as the Hollyburn Ski Camp, Hollyburn Ski Lodge, and Hollyburn Lodge. The following two pages on this website feature two articles written by Verne, "Hollyburn Pacific Ski Club of Vancouver, B.C." and "A Sportsman's Paradise" (1929) (Click on the blue text to access these pages.)

Oscar, Olle, and Andrew operated the Hollyburn Ski Camp from 1927 to 1946. Originally owned by Rudolph J. Verne, ownership was tranferred to the Swedes in the early 1930's. The following two pages on this website feature two articles and photos related to Oscar, Olle, Andrew & Stina,
"The Swedes At the Hollyburn Ski Camp (1927 -1946)" and "Swedes Return to Hollyburn Lodge - July 31st, 2013".

Ommund B. Ommundsen
1904-1954

Ommund, known to his friends as "Obie”, was born in Stavanger, Norway on May 5, 1904. He was the eldest son of a shipmaster, Peder Ommundsen, and his wife Johanne, who had three sons and two daughters.

The family spent summer months at a farm on the Island of Finnøy, where Ommund gained experience in farming and seamanship. He graduated from the Stavanger Business College in 1924, and in 1926 traveled to Norfolk, Virginia aboard the S.S. Key West. He then traveled aboard the S.S. Alaska, under the command of his father, through the Panama canal, arriving in Vancouver on April 25, 1926.

Ommund was soon active in skiing, swimming, sailing, fishing, and hunting waterfowl, all life-long passions. He was a member of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club, Terminal City Club, Plimsoll Club, Cascade Lodge, Vancouver Lodge of Perfection, and was a director of the British Sailor's Society. He became a Canadian citizen on 19th November, 1931.

He was employed with H. A. Borgerson Ltd. Ship Chandlers, located at 108 Main Street (later relocated to 41 Alexander Street). In 1952 he purchased controlling interest in the company, which he and Borgerson had developed into the largest chandlery in Vancouver and one of the largest in Canada.

In 1937 (May 8) He married Margaret Kippan, born in Govan, Saskatchewan in 1912. The couple had two sons, and Ommund died in 1954.

Contributed by Peter Ommundsen

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: "Old Pals", Ommund Ommundsen (L) and Finn Fladmark (R) on Hollyburn Ridge, 1927 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 02: Ommund Ommundsen (L) and Finn Fladmark (L) beside Eilif Haxthow's first cabin on Hollyburn Ridge, 1927. (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 03: "Ommund Ommundsen "outside our new cabin," Hollyburn Ridge,1928. Ommund shared this cabin with Eilif Haxthow. (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 04: Ommund Ommundsen (L) and John Snerspud (R) with a dog that was later used by Byrd's South Polar Expedition, Grouse Mtn, 1929. (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 05: "Watching Scotty wringing the bottle," Hollyburn/Strachan, circa 1930. (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 06: Ommund Ommundsen "with Brownie (Morris) and Doris (Parkes) on Mt. Strachan, 1930" (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 07: Doris Parkes & Ommund Ommundsen (L) on Mt. Strachan, 1930 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 08: "Brimanger officers enjoying a day on the ridge"; First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1930 (Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 09: (L-R) Ommund Ommundsen, Chris Engh and Finn Rosti beside a cabin on Hollyburn Ridge in the morning, "still a little sleepy" before their "trip to the peak," April, 1931 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)
PHOTO 10: (L-R) Myrna Engh, Finn Rosti, Chris Engh, & Ommund Ommundsen on Hollyburn Peak, early 1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 11: L-R) ?, ?, Finn Rosti, Ommund Ommundsen, ?, ?, ?, ?, Myrna Engh & Chris Engh on Hollyburn Peak, April, 1931 (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 12: (L-R) Finn Fladmark, Margaret Ommundsen, Ruth Neil, ?, & Ommund Ommundsen beside West Lake Lodge at West Lake, mid- 1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 13: Margaret & Ommund Ommundsen on the Hollyburn plateau, mid- 1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 14: Ommund Ommundsen beside the Haxthow/Ommundsen cabin on Hollyburn Ridge, mid-1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 15: Ommund Ommundsen on Hollyburn Mountain, mid-1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

Margaret Kippan Ommundsen
1912–2014

Margaret was born in Govan, Saskatchewan, in 1912, the eldest of four sisters and two brothers. She excelled as a student and received a gold medal upon graduation from high school at the top of her class. Margaret was an accomplished pianist, playing in theatres during the silent movie era, then attended a women's college and found employment during the Depression years at London and Western Trusts Company in Vancouver. She was very active in the Vancouver Ski Club from 1930, and acquired her first pair of skis as a competition prize. She also sailed, and spent summers at Bowen Island beginning in 1947, and later at Kootenay Lake near Creston. She travelled widely, pursued bridge and golf, and was a keen Scrabble player well beyond her 102nd year. Margaret gave generously of her time to her many ageing friends, driving them to countless medical appointments, and she volunteered at the Marpole Infirmary and Pearson Hospital. Margaret was predeceased by her husband, Ommund Ommundsen; her son, Frank Ommundsen and her sisters and brothers, Clare, Helen, Jessie, Lloyd, and Patricia.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: Doris Hope (L), Margaret 'Kippie' Ommundsen (nee Kippan R), and Ruth Neill (background) on Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1931/1932. (Margaret Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 02: Margaret 'Kippie' Ommundsen (nee Kippan) in front of the small cabin she and three of her friends rented at the Hollyburn Ski Camp at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1931/1932 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 03: (L-R) Ruth Niell, Margaret Kippan. ?, ?, beside a small rental cabin near First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1931/1932 (Margaret Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 04: (L-R) Wilf, Renee, ?, Ruth Niell, Bea Grayson, Margo, and Margaret Ommundsen (nee Kippan) at the Vancouver Ski Club cabin near First Lake on Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1931/1932 (Margaret Ommundsen Collection)
PHOTO 05: Cross-country ski racers near the Hollyburn Ski Camp at First Lake on Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1931/1932. Margaret Kippan is wearing bib No.19. (Margaret Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 06: (L-R) Margaret Ommundsen (nee Kippan) and Peggy Mobraaten (nee Harlin) at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1931/1932. The First Lake ski jump is visible at far left. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 07: (L-R) Bea Grayson , Margaret Kippan, Ruth Niell on Hollyburn Ridge near First Lake, circa 1931/1932. (Margaret Ommundsen Collection)
PHOTO 08: (L-R) Margaret Ommundsen & ? on the Hollyburn plateau. Hollyburn Mountain is visible in the background, mid-1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

Chris Engh

Chris was Alberta's ski jumping champion in 1923, a few years after he emigrated to Canada from Norway. He was also one of the first ski jumping judges in the Pacific Northwest. As the great ski jumper, Nels Nelsen from Revelstoke wrote in the magazine "Western Skier", "Chris is an excellent ski jumping judge and doing well." My father also had a lot to do with the technical side of ski-jumping judging in Western Canada. He enjoyed judging very much. Contributed by Sharon Engh Coles

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO_01: (L-R) Myrna Engh, Finn Rosti, Chris Engh, & Ommund Ommundsen on Hollyburn Peak, early 1930s (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 02: Skiers on Hollyburn Peak, April 1931 (L-R) ?, ?, ?, Finn Rosti, ?, ?, ?, Myrna Engh, Chris Engh (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 03: Chris Engh, Hollyburn, 1930's, "nice jump"

PHOTO 04: (L-R) Tom Mobraaten, Peggy Mobraaten, Chris Engh, Myrna Engh, Hollyburn Mtn., 1937

PHOTO 05: (L-R) Helen Haxthow (nee Taylor), ?, Chris Engh, Myrna Engh "by the woodshed", Hollyburn Ridge circa 1934 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 06: (L-R) Chris Engh, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, Myrna Engh, Grace Haxthow (baby daughter of Helen & Eilif Haxthow,) Margaret Taylor, ?, First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, 1936 (Eilif Haxthow Collection)

PHOTO 07: Hollyburn Skiers at Revelstoke, BC, 1939 ("The Ski Train"). (L-R) Henry Sotvedt, Tom Mobraaten, Earl Young(tall man in background), Peggy Mobraaten, Kay Johannsen, Thelma Hutchinson, Myrna Engh, Chris Engh, Olf Johannson

PHOTO 08: Chris Engh Jr., (13 years old), son of Chris & Myrna Engh, March 14, 1954. "Chris opened cross-country race"

PHOTO 09: Sharon Engh, (8 years old), daughter of Chris & Myrna Engh, 1954, waiting for the Hollyburn chairlift, (followed by a hike to Cabin 233 ("Oldtimer")

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: L-R) Buddy Barker, Wes Kennedy & Katie Franklin on the Hollyburn trail, May 24, 1925 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 02: (L-R) ?, ?, Mickey Pogue, Buddy Barker, Kitty Franklin & Pollough Pogue at Pollough Pogue's Camp on Hollyburn Ridge, May 24, 1925 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 03: "Katie and I at First Lake”, May 24, 1925 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 04: (L-R) Kitty Franklin & Buddy Barker at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, May 24, 1925 (Buddy Barker Collection)
PHOTO 05: (L-R) Katie Franklin & Buddy Barker "Sitting on top o' the world. Summit of Grouse, Aug. 23, 1925" (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 06: Buddy Barker on Dam Mtn., August 23, 1925 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 07: Eric Twist & Buddy Barker on the summit of Crown Mountain, July 15, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)
PHOTO 08: Buddy on Neil 'Irish' Beaumont's shoulders with Scotty McRae standing on a boulder beside her. Harry Collins is standing at the lower right. The Seymour River is to the right of the swimmers. July, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 09: "Bushwack from Hollyburn to Cypress Falls." Harry Collins & Kay Park on the upper ledge, Millie Kennedy & Buddy Barker below. "Very hot - huge horse flies." July 21, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)
PHOTO 10: Buddy Barker on a Harley Davidson motorcycle near Stave Falls. "I drove the Harley through Main Street, White Rock, with Russ (Langford) on the back." c. 1930 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 11: Hikers at the 'Old Mill' site on Hollyburn Ridge, March 28, 1926 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 12: "Yum-Yum!" Buddy and friend at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, September 18, 1927 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 13: "Tim and I and the Boyfriends" (L-R) ?, Timmy Pogue, Buddy Barker and Neil Thompson at First Lake, September 27, 1927 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 14: Buddy Barker with 'Rudy' Verne at First Lake, June 24, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 15: (L-R) ?, Oscar Pearson, Buddy Barker, and Clarke Hoffman "entertaining a visitor at the Lodge," June 17, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 16: "A Visitor on Hollyburn." Buddy watching a black bear being fed in front of the Hollyburn Pacific Ski Camp Lodge, June 17, 1928. "This picture appeared on the front page of the Sunday Sun, June 24, 1928." (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 17: (L-R) Basil Newbury, Buddy Barker, Gordie Billingsley, and ? on Hollyburn shoulder, June 17, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 18: Buddy Barker skiing on the Hollyburn shoulder, June 17, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 19:"Everybody's Buddy; Buddy on Hollyburn. The skis cost $10.00", March, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 20: Buddy Barker skiing on Hollyburn Mountain, March 4, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 21: At the Snow Post (near Sixth Lake) ; (L-R) Walt Kennedy, Buddy Barker, Millie Kennedy, ?, ?, Jack Turner, George Cooper, March 4, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 22: First Ladies' Ski Race on Hollyburn, April, 1928. The race, over a two-mile course, attracted eleven entries. Doris Parkes was the victor in 20:43. Other competitors, in order of finish, were Daisy Bourdon, Millie Kennedy, Kitty Franklin, Dorothy Gully, Aileen Irwin, Helen DeCew, Buddy Barker, Kay Park, Betty Sharland, and Bobby Huddock. (L-R) ?, ?, ?, Bobby Huddock, Daisy Bordon, Kitty Franklin, ?, Doris Parkes, Buddy Barker, Millie Kennedy, Kay Park (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 23: Buddy Barker finishing the first Ladies' Ski Race on Hollyburn, April, 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 24: First Mens' Ski Race on Hollyburn, January 1, 1928. "Some names: Jack Turner, Walt Kennedy, Abie Knight, Scotty McRae, Gary Billingsley, Neil Thompson, Harry Collins, Bill Cripp". Buddy Barker is sitting on the snow in front of the skiers. (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: Skiing party on Hollyburn, circa 1928; Brownie Morris 4th from L, Jack Turner at far R. (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 02:L-R) Kay Park & Brownie Morris, Hollyburn Mtn., 1928 (Kay Park Beaumont Collection)

PHOTO 03: (L-R) Brownie Morris & Bobby Huddock, Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1928 (Buddy Barker Collection)

PHOTO 04: (L-R) "Eric, Gord (Park), Albert, Brownie (Morris), Bobby (Huddock), Timmy (Pogue), Scotty (McRae), & Mardy", First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, circa 1928 (Gord Park Collection)

PHOTO 05: Bobby Huddock, Paddy, Brownie Morris, Hollyburn Ridge, 1929 (Gord Park Collection)

PHOTO 06:(L-R) Ruby Sexton (nee Frost) & Brownie Morris, Hollyburn Mountain, early 1930s (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 07: (L-R) Lil Paige, Brownie Morris, & Ruby Saxton on the Hollyburn shoulder, circa 1931 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 08: (L-R) ?, Lil Paige, Brownie Morris, & Ruby Saxton on the Hollyburn shoulder, circa 1931 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 09: Brownie Morris on Hollyburn Peak, March 1929 (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 10: (L-R) Bobby Huddock & Brownie Morris on Hollyburn Peak, March 1929 (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 11: Ladies' cross-country race, Hollyburn Ridge, Easter, 1930, Brownie Morris (50), Daisy Bourdon, & Bertha Haig at far right (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 12: "Watching Scotty wringing the bottle", Hollyburn Mountain circa 1930. (L-R) Haryy Collins, Scotty McCrae, Brownie Morris, Ommund Ommundsen, ?, ?, ? (Ommund Ommundsen Collection)

PHOTO 13: Brownie Morris, First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, early 1930's (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 14: Brownie Morris & the "Ghost" after a hike to Goat Mtn. on a wet, foggy day, 1930 (Gord Park Collection)

PHOTO 15: (L-R) Earl, Brownie Morris, Connie, Percy, Grouse Mtn., Good Friday, 1931 (Kay Park Beaumont Collection)

PHOTO 16: "What's the joke?" (L-R) Brownie Morris, Frankie, ?, First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, Sunday, April 9, 1933 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 17: "Frankie, Bertha Haig, & I on the "Pop fly" hill; (L-R) Brownie Morris, Bertha Haig, Frankie, Hollyburn Ridge, Sunday, April 9, 1933 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 18: "Bob Lymbourne & I" (Brownie Morris), Grouse Mtn, Good Friday, April 14, 1933 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 19: "(L-R) Tom (Mobraaten) - Nord (Kaldahl) - Me (Brownie Morris) - Ray - Henry (Sodvedt), Good Friday, April 14, 1933, Grouse Mtn" (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 20: Brownie Morris & Nordal Kaldahl, Hollyburn Mountain, Monday, April 17, 1933 (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 21: "After the Battle", (L-R) Nordal Kaldahl, Brownie Morris, Bill Hansen, Hollyburn Ridge, Monday, April 17, 1933 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 22: "From Hollyburn", (L-R) Bill Hansen, Brownie Morris & Nordahl Kaldahl, Hollyburn Ridge, Monday, April 17, 1933 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 23:Brownie Morris & Nordahl Kaldahl, Hollyburn Ridge, Monday, April 17, 1933 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 24 Brownie Morris, Hollyburn Ridge, Sunday, March 24, 1934 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 25: (L-R) Bertha Haig, ?, Brownie Morris behind the Hollyburn Ski Camp , First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, March, 1934 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 26: Brownie Morris and Bill '4 Storey' Hanson at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, March, 1934 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 27: (L-R) Bertha Haig, Brownie Morris, ?, ? Vancouver City Championships, March 11, 1934 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 28: (L-R) "Bertha Haig, Olaf, Brownie Morris, Vi Franklin", Hollyburn Ridge, late May (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 29: Brownie Morris just north of the south peak of Unnecessary Mtn., Lions trip, May 6, 1934 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 30: Brownie Morris & Lil Paige, Hollyburn Ridge, 1935 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 31: Lil Paige, Bertha Haigh, and Brownie Morris climbing Hollyburn Peak, 1935 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 32: (L-R) Lil Paige, Brownie Morris, and Nellie Haig on the Peak of Hollyburn, 1935 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 33: Bertha Haigh & Brownie Morris on the peak of Hollyburn Mtn., 1935 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 34: Brownie Morris, Hollyburn Ridge, 1936 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 35: Lil Paige & Brownie Morris, Hollyburn Ridge cabin, "Hollmenkollen", Fall, 1936 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 36: Brownie Morris & Nordal Kaldahl on Hollyburn Mountain, 1935 (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 37: (L-R) Cam MacDonald, Brownie Morris, Ole Swedahl, Chris Engh, Jack Hutchinson, ski jumping tournament on the new First Lake ski jump, April 19, (1946 Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 38: C.A.S.A. Western Division Meeting, Revelstoke, B.C., October 1949, Vancouver delegates: (L-R) Dave Spence, Jack Hutchinson, Andy Smail, Henry Sotvedt, Fred Hudson, Brownie Morris, Les Stevenson, George Garrish, Lee Parsons, Bob Parsons, Vic Manson

PHOTO 39: "Edge of take off", Brownie Kaldahl standing on the 'Big Jump' on Grouse Mountain, 1950 (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 40: Pearl ?, Nordahl Kaldahl & Helen Kaldahl (Brownie Morris) on a trip up Mt. Seymour, May 1950 (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 41: Helen Kaldahl (Brownie Morris) at "Sweet Violets' cabin on Mt. Seymour, 1950, after Nordal changed the steps from the side to the front. (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 42: Helen Kaldahl (Brownie Morris) at "Sweet Violets' cabin on Mt. Seymour c. 1950, (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 43: Nordal Kaldahl at "Sweet Violets' cabin on Mt. Seymour c. 1950, (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 44: Nordal Kaldahl, Mt. Seymour, 1950's (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 45: Helen Kaldahl (Brownie Morris), Mount Seymour, Spring, 1951, (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 46: Helen Kaldahl (Brownie Morris), Mount Seymour, Spring, 1951, (Brownie Morris Collection)

PHOTO 47: Helen & Nordal Kaldahl, Mt. Seymour, 1950's (Kaldahl Family Collection)

PHOTO 48: L-R) "Brownie", Nordal, and Rosemary Kaldahl with Nordal's impressive collection of trophies won during his years of competitive jumping and skiing, March, 1955. The photo appeared in the March/April edition of "The Span" magazine, published by Dominion Bridge employees. (Kaldahl Family Collection)

Hugh 'Torchy' Aikens
1914 -1999

Hugh Aikens was born on September 11, 1914 in Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario. Later in life he was nicknamed ‘Torchy’ because of his red hair.

In 1919, the Aikens family moved to Vancouver. As a teenager growing up in the middle of the Depression, Hugh got a job with Cleland-Kent Engraving Company, Ltd. to help support his parents and four siblings. He was to work for Cleland Kent for the next 51 years, first as a delivery boy, and then as a trained photoengraver and electrotyper. After WW II, Hugh became an account executive for Cleland-Kent.

In the early 1930’s, Hugh’s love of the outdoors drew him to Hollyburn Mountain. Within a couple of years he became a partner in a cabin with Johnny Gibson and Ray Smith, a family friend. Hugh’s passion for photography developed during this period.

WW II was to pull the three cabin mates in different directions. Johnny Gibson joined the RCAF early on and was lost in action. Ray Smith was a machinist during the war and used the Hollyburn cabin until 1945, when he moved to Mount Seymour. About 1941/1942, Hugh joined the Canadian Army Engineers.

In 1943, both Hugh and his close friend, Bill Irwin (a renowned skier and ski jumper from Princeton), qualified as trainers in mountain warfare. This training took place near Jasper, Alberta. While in the Rockies, the regiment learned to ski and climb under harsh, mountain conditions.

After WW II, Hugh returned to Vancouver. He again took up the ‘Hollyburn lifestyle’ that involved summer hiking, winter skiing and socializing with other cabin people on the Ridge. He was rarely seen without a camera.

Hugh now shared his Hollyburn cabin with Bea and Eric MacIntosh (sister & brother-in-law), and Naomi Wilson, (who later married Bud MacInnes). The cabin was appropriately called “Pack-Em-Inn”. The “Pack-Em-Inn” quartet were part of the ‘close-knit’ community on the Ridge made up of city-dwellers who were mountain people at heart. (This unique mountain community thrives to this day and is well-represented by the Hollyburn Ridge Association, which includes the protection and preservation of historic Hollyburn buildings and landscapes in its mandate.)

But times and personal circumstances change. In 1947, Hugh and his young brother Bert (still in high school) moved to Mt. Seymour where they leased a B.C. Forestry site and built a cabin. Around the same time, Hugh added a movie camera to his collection of photographic equipment. In the late 1940’s, Joyce Hall began to join Hugh on Seymour outings. They were married in 1950.

During the next half-century, Hugh and Joyce spent much of their free time in the mountains. Garibaldi Provincial Park, Mt. Seymour, Mt. Hood, and the Canadian Rockies were among their favourite destinations. Both Joyce and Hugh became active members of the BC Mountaineering Club and the Vancouver Natural History Society.

Hugh ‘Torchy’ Aikens passed away in 1999. Joyce died a year later. Although Hugh is gone now, he has given us, with the help of his extended family, a wonderful legacy - his beautiful photos and film of our mountains and mountain people.

Contributed by Bert Aikens (Hugh's younger brother)

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: Banner photo created by HHS to promote the video "Hugh Aikens: Mountain Photographer"

PHOTO 02: Hugh Aikens self portrait, 1940's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 03: Hugh Aikens and friends at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, early 1930's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 04: (L-R) Hugh Aikens & his sister Bea inside the Hollyburn Ski Camp/Hollyurn Ski Lodge at First Lake, Hollyburn Ridge, mid-1930's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 05: Hugh Aikens & friend, Hollyburn Mountain, mid-1930's
(Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 06: Hugh Aikens, Hollyburn Mountain, mid-1930's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 07: Hugh Aikens, Hollyburn Mountain, mid-1930's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 08: Hugh Aikens, Vancouver, late-1930's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 09: Hugh Aikens, Vancouver, late-1930's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 10: The Guy Behind the Camera - 'Torchy' " Hugh Aikens 1940's
(Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 11: Hugh Aikens, Hollyburn Mountain, 1940's
(Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 12: Hugh Aikens, 1940's (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 13: Hugh 'Torchy' Aikens & Naomi Wilson MacInnes, early 1940's
(Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 14: Naomi Wilson MacInnes & Hugh Aikens, Hollyburn Shoulder, early 1940's (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 15: Naomi Wilson MacInnes & Hugh Aikens, Hollyburn Shoulder, early 1940's (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

Brian Creer
1916 - 2011

Frederick Brian Creer passed away May 30, 2011 at the age of 95. He was predeceased by his son Bruce, his wife Beatrice, and second wife Eileen. He will be greatly missed by his children, Glen, Mark (wife Nancy) and Joanne; grandchildren Christine, Curtis, Dan, Justin and Calvin. Brian was a Vancouver Civic Award Recipient for his 50+ years as a teacher and sports instructor/organizer. Many called him the Godfather of white water kayaking and canoeing in B.C. His other loves were his days at his Hollyburn cabin in the 30's, skiing and calling square dances into the 60's. He taught school in Vancouver at General Wolfe, Charles Tupper and Lord Byng. (Obituary)

Hollyburn was Brian's passion. Francis Mansbridge wrote in his "Hollyburn" book that Brian starting hiking up Hollyburn in his last year of high school, 1933-34, and built his first cabin, Wander Inn, at this time. He made extra money packing up 150 pound loads for one cent a pound - his own weight was only 150 pounds! He became a champion skier and kayaker, and later a kayak instructor. As we have reported previously, Brian provided major funding for our new interpretive sign, "Hollyburn - The Place to Be." Although Brian saw a print of this new sign, I regret that he did not live long enough to see it installed later this month on the Hollyburn Ridge BC Parks kiosk. Brian is certainly an important part of Hollyburn's long and fascinating history. (Katharine Steig - Friends of Cypress Provincial Park)

Brian wrote and related a personal memoir at the March 2010 premiere of HHS film “Heroes of the Harnessed Hickory.” Here are some excerpts:

“My Relationship with Hollyburn” “My first relationship with Hollyburn came early in 1932 when I was a student at Vancouver Technical High School and became acquainted with some boys who came from West Vancouver. Jack Edwards, Jack McGeechie, Paul Thackery, Fred Fennings and several others including two girls, Betty Hodgson and Ginger Smallwood, had a cabin that they had named “Kwitchur-Bellyakin.” It was without a floor, which was not uncommon in those days. Paul Thackery and I started building a new cabin, which we called “Wander Inn”. It was completed in December 1932. That winter there was lots of snow and we had a great time learning to ski on the “Pop Fly” and the Old Mill Trail on the way down to our cabin. What followed became a pattern for my whole life: as soon as I was able to ski myself, I began to assist other beginners who were learning how to ski. Gus Johnson and I ran a ski school at the Ski Camp, and charged 25 cents for a 1-hour lesson. For several years I spent the winters up Hollyburn skiing frequently alone during the night with only a carbide light, trusting my sense of direction to get me back to my cabin. During this time I spent a couple of Christmas Days skiing all alone. I remember one year when I was up Hollyburn peak on Christmas Day all alone crossing an open area on the west side of the peak in deep snow where later, viewing it from the top of the peak, I witnessed an avalanche which might have taken me all the way down to Harry Collins cabin in Strachan Valley. When Peter Vadja arrived in Vancouver, I unilaterally cleared a practice strip on the south east side of the peak intending him to use it when he visited Hollyburn to conduct a ski instructor’s class which never materialized. It can still be seen from Granville Heights in the City of Vancouver.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: Brian Creer (L), Hollyburn Mountain, early 1930's (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 02: Brian Creer skiing on the Hollyburn shoulder, 1930's (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 03: Brian Creer (R) on the trail to the Lions, August, 1932 (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 04: Brian Creer (left foreground wearing white cap) on the peak of the West Lion, October, 1933 (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 05: Brian Creer (left) on the peak of the West Lion, October, 1933 (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 06: Brian Creer at a campsite on the Pemberton Ridge near present-day Whistler, May, 1933 (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 07: Hollyburn Ridge cabin, "Wander Inn", buiilt by Brian Creer in 1930's. The cabin was torn down by the Municipality of West Vancouver in the early 1940's while Brian was serving overseas in the Canadian army. (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 08: Brian Creer cutting firewood outside a cabin on Hollyburn Ridge cabin, 1930's. During the Depression years, Brian cut wood, built cabins (including a cottage on Bowen Island), and backpacked heavy loads up Hollyburn trail to earn money. (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 09: Brian Creer on Hollyburn Mountain c. 1940 (Pratt Family Collection)

PHOTO 10: (L_R) Brian Creer, Bea Bennett, Pete Robb, ?, on Hollyburn Peak c. 1940 (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 11: Brian and Bea Creer at the base of Romstads hill, Hollyburn, 1940's (Brian Creer Collection)

PHOTO 12: Brian & Bea Creer, Hollyburn/Strachan, 1940's (Brian Creer Collection)

Bud & Naomi MacInnes

Our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 91 years of age. She was one of five siblings born in England and made her way to Vancouver with her family at a very young age. There she found and married her true love (William "Bud" MacInnes) and they spent many years skiing Hollyburn Mountain. After serving her country as a WAC, they married in 1944 and settled down in North Vancouver to raise their four children; Kevin, Wayne, Fiona and Stuart. Work took them to Mississauga, ON for 10 years where they were part of the ski patrol at Osler Bluff. Returning to Vancouver they split many years skiing Whistler and enjoying life by the water in Nanoose Bay. They moved to Nanaimo for their final years with Dad passing away in late 2005. Mom enjoyed her last years at The Terraces playing crib, poker and Scrabble with her many friends. She leaves behind her four children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. We will miss her dearly and hope that she is reunited with her special love again.

See also Naomi's Hollyburn memoir, "Sentimental Journey".

PHOTO CAPTIONS

PHOTO 01: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 02: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 03: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 04: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 05: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 06: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 07: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 08: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn shoulder, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 09: Naomi Wilson MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens Collection)

PHOTO 10: Bud MacInnes (far R), First Lake ski jump, Hollyburn Ridge, c. 1937 (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 11: Bud MacInnes & ? beside the Vancouver Ski Club cabin, First Lake, at the beginning of their “Trip to the Lions, 1937 (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 12: Bud MacInnes on Mt. Strachan, c. 1937 (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 13: Bud MacInnes at a camp near the glacial ponds below the north peak of Unnecessary Mtn during a “Trip to the Lions, 1937 (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 14: Bud MacInnes, Hollyburn Mountain, circa 1939 (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 15: Bud MacInnes inside the Vancouver Ski Club ’social cabin’ on the east side of First Lake, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 16: Bud MacInnes inside the Vancouver Ski Club ’social cabin’ on the east side of First Lake, late 1930’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 17: Naomi MacInnes in uniform, early 1940’s (Hugh Aikens/Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

PHOTO 18: Naomi & Bud MacInnes in uniform, Parliament Hill, Ottawa, 1942/1943 (Bud & Naomi MacInnes Collection)

Eilif Haxthow Photo Gallery

Ommund B. Ommundsen Photo Gallery

Margaret Ommundsen Photo Gallery

Chris & Myrna Engh Photo Gallery

Buddy Barker Photo Gallery

Brownie Morris Photo Gallery 1

Brownie Morris Photo Gallery 2

Hugh 'Torchy' Aikens Photo Gallery

Brian Creer Photo Gallery

Bud & Naomi MacInnes Photo Gallery