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Outfitting in Mount RobsonHunting and outfitting in Mount Robson was an early business in the area. One of the popular outfitters in the Yellowhead was the Hargreaves Brothers out of Robson Ranch. In the 1920's the ranch was owned and operated by Roy Hargreaves, and in 1929 when Roy and brother-in-law Chuck Chesser became partners the business name changed to Hargreaves and Chesser.
Roy and Chuck guided trips to Berg Lake on horseback, guided mountain climbers who attempted to climb Mount Robson, and took many 2-3 week summer trips into Jasper Park.
In the spring and fall, they would guide 30 day large game hunting trips. They would take up to a 25 horse outfit, including two cooks (usually the daughters, wives or sisters of the outfitter and guides), one outfitter and two to three guides who helped lead the pack train of horses and several guests.
The pack horses would carry all the supplies, tents, food, etc. for the month long trek. Usually there would be three tents - the cook's tent, the hunter's tent and the guide's tent.
The outfit would change camps daily until they reached the hunting grounds. They would then move camp only every few days depending on the game they were hunting. Travelling with the pack train meant trying to keep the herd together. Usually, the pack horses fell into line as the first rider left camp. It would be about 6 hours until the next camp. They forded many rivers and trails with the pack horses.
The winter for outfitters was not a holiday off the tours. Winter meant prepping for the next guiding season. Guides and outfitters spent their days keeping the woodsheds and ice houses full, making and repairing panniers, saddles, ropes, tents, boats, and trail stoves, tending trap lines and caring for the horses and cattle.
Roy sold the ranch to Alice Wright in 1959 and it was renamed Mount Robson Ranch. The ranch outfitted tours until 1977 when the Berg Lake Chalet was closed down.
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Mount Robson Ranch staff1930
Mount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
Crédits:Ishbel Cochrane
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Mount Robson Ranch staff: Art Allen, Chuck Chesser, Anne Chesser, Frank Hargreaves, Rose Saladana and Ted Schieve.4
Mount Robson RanchMount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
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A pack string crossing the Robson River Bridge at the outlet of Kinney Lake1940s
Kinney Lake, British Columbia, Canada
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Pack horses travelling through snow in the mountains1920s
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The pack horses would carry all the supplies, tents, food, etc. for the month long trek. Usually there would be three tents: for the cooks, hunters and the guides.8
The Hargreaves Brothers: Frank, Roy, George, (unknown), Jack, (unknown)1922-1930
Mount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
Crédits:Ishbel Cochrane
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Hargreaves BrothersThe Hargreaves Brothers happened to get into outfitting. The sons of Edward Hargreaves, the "Hargreaves Brothers," George, Frank, Roy, Jack and Dick ended up living in a tent in Jasper in 1912 looking for work. They helped build park buildings, barns and houses for themselves. In the summers between 1913 and 1917, Roy spent most of his time on pack trips. His first trip up Mount Robson was in 1913.
In 1917, the brothers joined the army. Some of them went to war, but not all were sent overseas. Roy and Jack were among those overseas and were together during the war. After the war Roy spent a year in hospital in England because he was gassed. He was discharged in the fall of 1919. While Roy was in the hospital, George and Dick bought quarter sections of land. In 1921, they arranged to build an establishment on Mount Robson. The Hargreaves Bros. built cabins near Robson Pass. They packed all of the supplies by packhorse up to Berg Lake, a trip of 22kms. This was the beginning of the Berg Lake Chalet and the Hargreaves Bros. Outfitting Company.
George moved to Jackman flats and built his own house, barn, hay barn and guest home. He worked with Roy at the ranch guiding trips. George died on a hunting trip in 1936 in his sleep. He was buried at Sheep Creek on Mount Robson.
Jack sold out at Mount Robson and moved permanently to Jasper where he started another outfitting business with his family. After all the other brothers left in 1926, Roy and his family lived in Mount Robson, running the ranch and outfit company. In 1929 Chuck Chesser, Roy's brother in law, became Roy's partner and the company was renamed Hargreaves and Chesser, Guides and Outfitters. In 1959 Roy sold the ranch to Alice Wright and it became Mount Robson Ranch.
Roy's daughter, Ishbel, and her husband Murray Cochrane ran the ranch for Alice Wright. In 1980, Alice handed it back to Ishbel and Murray.
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Guide outfitters Don McMirtry, Roy Hargreaves, Ishbel and Margie Hargreaves and Dean Swift1945
Mount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
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A. Murray and M.M. Ishbel (Hargreaves) CochraneIshbel Hargreaves married Murray Cochrane in 1946. They had six children: Malcolm, Russell, Louise, Margie, Art and Les. Ishbel and Murray worked at the ranch during the summers and falls. They owned a farm at Croydon. Murray worked his farm and his mother's which was two miles away. Raising six children and farming two farms kept a busy life for Murray and Ishbel.
In 1959 they moved back to Mount Robson Ranch. They managed the ranch for Alice Wright. In 1976 they received power at the ranch and in 1980 they bought back Mount Robson Ranch from Alice Wright.
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Cpl. Arthur Murray CochraneJanuary 16, 1943 - November 16, 1945
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A. Murray Cochrane served in the 2nd Battalion R.M. Rangers as Scout and Sniper.He received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp, Italy Star 1939 - 1945, France and Germany Star.
(Husband of M.M. Ishbel Cochrane)
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A. Murray Cochrane in Holland1943-1945
Crédits:Ishbel Cochrane
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