Canadian Mountain Holidays

Early in the1950s, a young Austrian named Hans Gmoser immigrated to Canada with little money and big dreams. These were the glory years of mountaineering, when the highest, most challenging peaks all over the world were being conquered. Hans, too, was eager to put himself to the test. Not discouraged by the flat prairie landscapes of Edmonton and Calgary, where he first lived and worked at odd jobs, Hans counted pennies and looked longingly west to the mountains. By 1953, Hans had saved enough to move to Banff and begin his career as a guide in the wilderness surrounding Mount Assiniboine, Canada's Matterhorn. As Hans recalled, "I longed to share the natural beauty of the majestic mountains in Western Canada with everyone I could." Inspired by a new dream, and building on years of backcountry guiding experience, in 1959 Hans formed a small company named Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) . His business prospered as he led thousands of skiers and climbers on thrilling mountain treks.