It’s difficult to say with certainty but James Foster Porter, an American from Illinois, was likely the first non-Indigenous person to explore the Skoki Valley near Lake Louise in the early 1900s. Eventually the name “Skokie” was bestowed upon the beautiful valley although the origin of the name remains murky. Some accounts say the valley reminded Porter of an area north of Chicago known as Skokie Marsh. The word “Skoki”, which ultimately became the final spelling of the valley, is an Indigenous word for “swamp”. We know this is not an accurate representation of the valley itself, but regardless of the origin of its name, the area has been a hotbed for outdoor recreation ever since.
In 1930-1931 members of the Ski Club of the Canadian Rockies built Skoki Lodge, the first purpose-built commercial lodge to service skiers in all of Canada and quite possibly North America. Additions were carried out in between 1935 and 1936 with additional renovations happening from 2003-2004. Little has changed since its early inception, which is why the lodge retains so much of its historical charm. Skoki Lodge is a highly popular year-round backcountry destination that is only accessible on foot, by ski, or on horseback. We hope you enjoy this collection of historical photos from Skoki Valley featuring some of its earliest backcountry pioneers.
To learn more about Lake Louise and Banff, please see my previous stories including, Old Photographs of the Banff Wildlife Paddock, Vintage Photos from Banff’s Sunshine Village, Historical Photos of Banff’s Cave & Basin, Vintage Photos of Mount Norquay in Banff, Hidden Lake: A Conservation Success Story, Vintage Photographs from the Lake Louise Area, and Lake of the Little Fishes.
The photos above were collected from Archives Canada. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their website. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from across Alberta and Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
