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After a number of years of lobbying by the Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors, “Mount Gerry Andrews” was named by the Provincial Government on March 10, 2011 after British Columbia Land Surveyor number 305 and British Columbia’s longest-serving Surveyor General.
Gerald Smedley Andrews was born in Winnipeg on December 12, 1903 and began land surveying in 1930 in the Flathead Valley. He initiated the use of air photography in 1931 and supervised air surveys for the Province in Nimkish Forest, Kitimat, Okanagan, the Kootenays and the Rocky Mountain Trench.
As a true British Columbian, he contributed to his community as a teacher, an engineer, a forester, a land surveyor and a writer. He pioneered the use of aerial photography for mapping and forestry reconnaissance in British Columbia and is regarded as a legend among surveyors for both his contributions to the profession and his force of personality.
He also served as a Lieutenant Colonel for the Canadian Army during World War II. He developed improved air cameras and undertook depth soundings of Normandy beaches by wave velocities determined from air photos. For his efforts, Andrews was awarded an M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire).
Returning from duty, he served as chief air survey engineer for British Columbia until 1950; and as B.C.’s
surveyor general and director of mapping and provincial boundaries commissioner from 1951 to
1968. In addition to being a surveyor, Andrews was a historian and authored more than 50
publications.
Gerry passed away on December 5, 2005 in Victoria, just one week short of his 102nd birthday.
As well as Mount Gerry Andrews, there are five other topographical features in the Flathead area named after deceased British Columbia Land Surveyors. They are: McLatchie Creek, Mount Doupe, Mount Corrigan, Cummings Creek, and Wheeler Creek.
In the March 1989 issue of the British Columbia Land Surveyors magazine, The Link, Gerry wrote an article about his work in the Flathead River area and he said: “The Flathead survey in 1930 stands out now as one of the happiest, if most strenuous, in my rich album of memories and John McLatchie, DLS, PLS, surely occupies a special place in my Surveyors’ Hall of Fame.”
A mountain-top ceremony was held on July 28, 2012 to commemorate Gerry and his accomplishments and it was attended by 20 family and friends. The ammo box cache container is hidden in a traditional Land Surveyor’s stone mound near the top of the mountain. Among the many treasures left in the cache are four path tags and three unactivated geocoins.
The climb up takes about 3.5 hours from the Flathead Valley. It is about a 7.5 km hike each way and the elevation climb is about 900 metres. The elevation at the top is about 2206 metres. Take lots of drinking water with you as there is none available on the way. You should also take bear bells and bear spray and be careful. I did the hike up and down twice, once on July 26, 2012 and again on July 28, 2012.
Anyone wanting more information regarding Gerry Andrews is encouraged to read the book Furrows In The Sky, The Adventures of Gerry Andrews, by Jay Sherwood.
Congratulations Kootenaycarver and Chase on your hike to the top and the First to Find. I recognize all the photo locations. While the hike is strenuous, it is well worth it. Well done.
Prepared by Robert Allen,
British Columbia Land Surveyor (Life Member)
Canada Lands Surveyor
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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