The Mountaineers History Committee has preserved seven movies produced by Charles and Marion Hessey in the 1950s. Another film by David Brower, "Wilderness Alps of Stehekin," has also been preserved.<br><br>The Hesseys, of Naches, Washington, are probably the most widely traveled Cascade filmmakers of all time. Their films provide an irreplaceable motion picture record of hiking, scrambling and skiing in the North Cascades before the Glacier Peak Wilderness and North Cascades National Park were established. Together with "Wilderness Alps," the Hessey films show what would have been lost if wilderness protection for the North Cascades had not been achieved. The Hessey films include:<br><br>
Skiing Cascade Wilderness (1956) - Three weeks of skiing above Lyman Lake near Holden in the Lake Chelan mountains.<br><br>
Glacier Peak Holiday (1957) - A summer of rambling in the disputed Glacier Peak region with scenes of the Napeequa Valley, White Pass, Lake Chelan, Cascade Pass, and the northern end of the Ptarmigan Traverse.<br><br>
Cascade Crest Trail (1958 ) - Highlights of the Crest Trail from the Columbia River to the Canadian border, with skiing on Mt Adams, Hogback Mountain and Morse Creek and extensive mountain goat scenes.<br><br>
From East to West in the North Cascades Wilderness (1958 ) - A summer travelogue from the eastern Pasayten near Windy Peak to the west side of the disputed North Cascades wilderness between Mt Baker and Whatcom Pass.<br><br>
Pasayten Wilderness Skiing (1958 ) - Late winter skiing near Spanish Camp with scenes of Cathedral Pass and Amphitheatre and Bald Mountains.<br><br>
A North Cascades National Park? (circa 1958-59) - A high country trek between Downey Creek, the South Cascade Glacier and White Rock Lakes that urges protection of the area in a national park.<br><br>
Have You Seen the North Cascades National Park (circa 1968 ) - A survey of North Cascade attractions, compiled after the park was established.<br><br>And by David Brower:<br><br>
Wilderness Alps of Stehekin (1958 ) - An award winning film narrated by Brower and including footage by Charles and Marion Hessey. This film argues eloquently for the protection of wilderness in the North Cascades.<br><br>All these films are in color with sound. They have been transferred from 16 mm film to digital videotape and VHS copies have been placed in the Mountaineers Library for club members, historians and others to view and enjoy. More complete notes about these films can be found on the Alpenglow Ski Mountaineering History Project website:<br><br>
www.alpenglow.org/ski-history/notes/movie/hessey-movies.html
www.alpenglow.org/ski-history/notes/movi...b-1958-wildalps.html
If you enjoy wilderness, skiing or the North Cascades, I think you'll enjoy these films. The Mountaineers History Committee plans to schedule a movie night at the clubhouse in Seattle to screen these and other historic films in the coming months. Stay tuned...
Preservation of these films was made possible by a grant from The Mountaineers Foundation. The Hessey films were preserved with the gracious cooperation of Marion Hessey and Phil Dahl. "Wilderness Alps" was preserved with the assistance of Patrick Goldsworthy of the North Cascades Conservation Council. <br>
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