In 1900, former British clergyman James Outram came to the Canadian Rockies to recover his health after a nervous breakdown. The following year he made the first ascent of Mount Assiniboine (), then considered the Matterhorn of the Rockies. In 1902, Outram made ten first ascents of peaks over and discovered four new mountain passes in the Columbia Icefield area. Two of his first ascents in 1902 were Mount Columbia () and Mount Bryce (), one of the most dangerous and difficult summits in the Rocky Mountains.