Wheeler was acknowledged as the leading spirit in the early days of the Alpine Club of Canada, and supervised their summer camps. He planned first ascent of Mt. Robson. The work includes chapters on early travel and exploration in the area, previous surveys, earlier mountaineering in the Selkirk’s and a detailed survey of the area.

 

Neate W47: 'Wheeler was the leading spirit in the early days of the Alpine Club of Canada, and supervised their summer camps. He masterminded the exploration and first ascent of Mt. Robson.' The work includes chapters on earlier travel and exploration in the area, previous surveys, earlier mountaineering in the Selkirks including a chapter on lady mountaineers, and the detailed survey of the area. Appendices include the natural history of the area by John Macoun, Geology by George Dawson, Climate by R. F. Stuport and Major A. B. Roger's first expedition up the Illecillewaet valley in 1881 by his nephew, A. L. Rogers.

 

They made 64 ascents to altitudes over 9,000 feet. 'One of the finest maps made by means of phototopography was that of the Selkirk range in south-eastern British Columbia. The spectacular relief of the area was particularly difficult to map. The surveyor Arthur Oliver Wheeler led his crew of six men to the region in 1901 and 1902. When the horse could go no further, the men carried all their equipment on their shoulders.' It took over 14 months to process the data.