The Final Spire: ‘Mystery Mountain’ Mania in the 1930s

by Trevor Marc Hughes

$26.95

• • April 2025
  • print ISBN: 978-1-55380-722-3
  • ebook ISBN: 978-1-55380-723-0
  • 6″ x 9″ Trade paper, 270 pages
  • History

In 1934, four mountaineers from Manitoba piled into their Plymouth and pointed its headlights west to Tatlayoko Lake in British Columbia. Their goal? To conquer B.C.’s tallest mountain.

These young adventurers were following in the footsteps of the courageous, sometimes tragic, attempts made by other climbers to summit “Mystery Mountain.” But one tantalizing challenge remained: the main tower. This central spire was a nightmarish image for any climber; a sheer column of barren rock encased in ice. But the irresistible allure of “Mystery Mountain” electrified the public and the race was on.

“Trevor Marc Hughes uncovers a decade-long story of discovery and death in attempting to reach the highest summit within British Columbia. Trevor sweeps into the narrative the main characters from the early years of exploration who have gone before in one of Canada’s most remote and glaciated areas.” – Paul Geddes, life member, The Alpine Club of Canada

“This is a valuable book about the explorations of Mount Waddington, the early attempts to climb the great peak and the final successful ascent. By telling these largely forgotten stories, Trevor Hughes has made an excellent contribution to the growing library of books about Canadian mountaineering.” – Chic Scott, mountaineer and historian

“Trevor Marc Hughes deftly weaves accounts of very individualistic expeditions and their members who ventured into challenging landscapes, way-finding on their own, relying on weather, their own physical prowess, and sometimes just plain luck.” – Kathryn Bridge, PhD, Curator Emerita, History and Art, Royal British Columbia Museum