Kicking Horse Pass

The Kicking Horse Pass (elevation 1627 m) is a mountain pass across the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies on the Alberta/British Columbia border, and lying within Yoho and Banff National Parks.

Related Topics:
M - Mountain pass - Continental Divide - Canadian Rockies - Alberta - British Columbia - Yoho - Banff National Park

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The pass is of historical significance because the main line of the Canadian Pacific Railway was constructed between Lake Louise, Alberta and Field, British Columbia using this route in 1880s, in preference to the originally planned route through the more northerly Yellowhead Pass.

Related Topics:
Canadian Pacific Railway - Lake Louise, Alberta - Field, British Columbia - 1880s - Yellowhead Pass

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The pass was first explored in 1858 by the Palliser Expedition led by Captain John Palliser. The pass and the adjacent Kicking Horse River were given their names after James Hector, a naturalist, geologist, and surgeon who was a member of the expedition, was kicked by his horse while exploring the region.

Related Topics:
1858 - Palliser Expedition - John Palliser - Kicking Horse River - James Hector - Naturalist - Geologist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The original route of the CPR between the summit of the pass near Wapta Lake and Field was known as "The Big Hill"; with a ruling gradient of 4.5 percent it was the steepest stretch of main-line railroad in North America.

Related Topics:
Summit - Wapta Lake - The Big Hill - Gradient - Railroad - North America

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Due to frequent accidents and expensive helper engines associated with railroading in the pass, the CPR opened a pair of Spiral Tunnels in 1909 that replaced the direct route. Although these tunnels add several km to the route, the ruling grade was reduced to a more manageable 2.2 percent.

Related Topics:
Spiral Tunnels - 1909 - Km

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Trans-Canada Highway was constructed through the pass in 1962 following essentially the original CPR route.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~