In 1824 George Simpson made the Grand Traverse over the Athabasca Pass. At the tarn at the summit he marveled that out of it water flowed to the Pacific on the one hand and to the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

...I thought it should be honoured by a distiquishing title and it was forthwith named the 'Committee's Punch Bowl' to honour his employer the governing committee of the Hudson's Bay Company.

Throughout the era of the fur trade after reaching the top of the pass most took a moment to toast the Committee. The tradition continues.

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