Being western Canadian my French language skills are nonexistent ;-) I have found two sources for the name of this peak. Glen Boles, local climber and author, coauthored a magnificent book with William Putnam and Roger Laurilla titled,“Place names of the Canadian Alps” (1990).
Quote from this book, “The present name honours all the lowly privates of the French Army, of whom a million and a half were killed outright in World War I”.
I believe the term “hairy ones” is a reference to the privates or foot soldiers of the French Army.
Thanks ! I made a right guess, I was just wondering why a peak in Western Canada could get a name to something that happened in the old continent.
Yes, "hairy ones" as they could not shave for months, so they all looked like ZZ top musicians...
visentin - Feb 25, 2012 12:34 pm - Voted 10/10
puzzledby the name (mount of the hairy men); perhaps something to see with the first world war ? (former soldiers were called so)
Old School WB - Mar 2, 2012 4:23 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: puzzledEric
Being western Canadian my French language skills are nonexistent ;-) I have found two sources for the name of this peak. Glen Boles, local climber and author, coauthored a magnificent book with William Putnam and Roger Laurilla titled,“Place names of the Canadian Alps” (1990).
Quote from this book, “The present name honours all the lowly privates of the French Army, of whom a million and a half were killed outright in World War I”.
I believe the term “hairy ones” is a reference to the privates or foot soldiers of the French Army.
visentin - Mar 5, 2012 3:09 am - Voted 10/10
Re: puzzledThanks ! I made a right guess, I was just wondering why a peak in Western Canada could get a name to something that happened in the old continent.
Yes, "hairy ones" as they could not shave for months, so they all looked like ZZ top musicians...