Summerthought Publishing was born with the publication of the Canadian Rockies Trail Guide in 1971. Researched by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson through the summer of 1970, it included trail descriptions within Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Yoho, Waterton Lakes, Glacier, and Mt. Revelstoke National Parks; as well as select trails around Mt. Assiniboine and the Berg Lake Trail in Mt. Robson Provincial Park. A six-page description of the Great Divide Trail written by Jim Thorsell appeared at the end of the book.
After an initial print run of 5,000 sold out in the summer of 1971, the 1st edition was reprinted four times and sold a total of 37,324 copies.
The black and white cover photo taken by Brian Patton depicts Louise Mayer on Tumbling Pass (Kootenay National Park).