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The first non-indigenous person to set sight on Emerald Lake was Canadian guide Tom Wilson, who stumbled upon it by accident in 1882 while tracking a string of horses that had gotten away. "For a few moments I sat on my horse and enjoyed the rare, peaceful beauty of the scene". It was Wilson who gave the lake its name because of its remarkable color. However, this was not the first time Wilson had named a lake “Emerald”. Earlier that same year he had discovered another lake which he had given the same name, and that name even appeared briefly on the official map. This first lake however, was shortly renamed Lake Louise.
The CPR built the original guest lodge in 1902. By the mid-1920s the lodge had been expanded and road improvements made it possible to reach the resort by car. The lake area is now an access point to the Walcott Quarry of the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, bearing the famous Phyllopod beds.
DSC_0845-Edit
The first non-indigenous person to set sight on Emerald Lake was Canadian guide Tom Wilson, who stumbled upon it by accident in 1882 while tracking a string of horses that had gotten away. "For a few moments I sat on my horse and enjoyed the rare, peaceful beauty of the scene". It was Wilson who gave the lake its name because of its remarkable color. However, this was not the first time Wilson had named a lake “Emerald”. Earlier that same year he had discovered another lake which he had given the same name, and that name even appeared briefly on the official map. This first lake however, was shortly renamed Lake Louise.
The CPR built the original guest lodge in 1902. By the mid-1920s the lodge had been expanded and road improvements made it possible to reach the resort by car. The lake area is now an access point to the Walcott Quarry of the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale, bearing the famous Phyllopod beds.