Voices
Early Vancouver's Mountaineering Leader
Video Transcript
Background Description: At the top of the screen is the title, “Early Vancouver’s Mountaineering Leader.” An old black and white photograph shows Tom Fyles standing in snow holding his ice axe with both hands.
Narrator speaks: Tom Fyles was described as a mild mannered climber.
Background Description: A studio portrait shows a young Tom Fyles, wearing the jacket of his postal uniform.
Narrator speaks: In domestic life, he was a family man and earned his living as a postman. But his true calling came as one of the Coast Mountains most gifted exploratory mountaineers.
Background Description: An old photograph of Tom Fyles shows him looking on with his ice axe by his side while he stands on a mountainside.
Narrator speaks: Despite a somewhat shy persona and an unassuming occupation, Fyles possessed an inner fire ...
Background Description: An old photograph shows Tom Fyles lying on an unusual flat boulder which is balanced on a smaller rock.
Narrator speaks: ... that exuded unusual drive, common sense, self-confidence and great courage. He was a natural climber ...
Background Description: An old photograph shows Tom sitting with a party of men on a peak.
Narrator speaks: ... and as club trip director, he instilled a sense of utter trust and confidence into all who journeyed into the mountains with him. Eventually, he and the BCMC became synonymous.
Background Description: Modern film footage from the air shows a black sharp-edged peak.
Narrator speaks: Fyles’ first ascents number in the dozens. Solo first ascents included the north peak of the Black Tusk, ...
Background Description: Colour footage from the air shows a flat-topped mountain.
Narrator speaks: ... The Table, and after three attempts over several years ...
Background Description: Colour footage from the air shows a mountain summit in British Columbia.
Narrator speaks: ... the southwest peak of the remote Judge Howay.
Background Description: A photograph shows an older Tom Fyles standing in the snow with a team of young men and women climbers.
Narrator speaks: Eventually, club activities became so numerous that a committee replaced trip director duties.
Background Description: We see an old photograph of Tom Fyles with his backpack and ice axe standing in snow as he heads up towards a majestic mountain peak looming in the background.
Narrator speaks: As the BCMC's longest serving trip director, ...
Background Description: An old group photograph shows a young Tom Fyles smiling.
Narrator speaks: Tom Fyles inducted many young men and women into the challenges and rewards of the mountains.
From: Passion for Mountains, produced by the British Columbia Mountaineering Club, directed by Bill Noble, 2007.
