How Old Is That Mountain?: A Visitor's Guide to the Geology of Banff and Yoho National Parks. Rev. ed.

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

Chris Yorath is a well-known geologist and author of geological works
about western Canada. This is a revised edition of his 1997 volume of
the same title. Basically, it is still the same solid geologic guidebook
that the first edition was, but with a few changes: “some sections
have been rewritten, some added and a few eliminated.” The colour
photographs have been moved to the front.

The first part of the book is an explanation of the origins of the
Canadian Cordillera, which stretches from the Rocky Mountains to the
Queen Charlotte Islands. In this part, Yorath uses photographs, maps,
diagrams, and an extensive glossary to “teach” the geology of the
region.

The second part of the book is “a tour through the Alberta foothills
and Banff and Yoho Parks.” This is the field trip part of the
course—the part that travellers will use most. Yorath discusses the
geology of specific locations, usually spectacular ones that are either
visible from main highways or “easily accessible by side roads.”
Each point of interest has a black-and-white picture and begins with
sidebar information about getting to the location.

In the text, Yorath often describes the place-name origin as well as
the geologic history. For example he tells us that Minniwanka is “an
Assiniboine word meaning ‘lake of the water spirit.’” He also
tells the reader where to go to see specific features; for example, for
Grassi Lakes Park he writes, “What you are looking at on the other
side of the ponds is an ancient organic reef.”

The book contains a reading list for anyone wanting to find further
information. It also has a good index that allows readers to instantly
find information about the particular site that they are viewing. A very
useful guide.