Paard met bepakking before 1897

This illustration of a horse with supplies, or "Paard met bepakking," comes from Walter Dwight Wilcox's travel journal, likely produced around the turn of the 20th century. Wilcox, an avid mountaineer, writer, and photographer, documents his journeys through the Canadian Rockies. The image offers insight into the relationship between humans, animals, and the landscape in the context of exploration and leisure. Packhorses like this one were essential for carrying equipment and supplies through the rugged terrain. Wilcox writes of them that, "the several animals in my pack-train had become old friends". But, there’s a complex history embedded in this seemingly simple scene. How does Wilcox's narrative contribute to the romanticized vision of the "wild west," overshadowing the perspectives and experiences of Indigenous peoples who were displaced and impacted by this exploration? This image is not simply a record of adventure but a fragment of a much larger, often untold, story.