| Feature Type: | Mount - Variation of Mountain: Mass of land prominently elevated above the surrounding terrain, bounded by steep slopes and rising to a summit and/or peaks. ["Mount" preceding the name usually indicates that the feature is named after a person.] |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | Between Hurley and Lillooet Rivers, NW of Pemberton, Lillooet Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 50°37'14"N, 123°08'14"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92J/11 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Samson Mountain adopted 22 June 1967 on 92J, as identified in Canadian Alpine Journal, vol XXIV, 1936, pp64-67. Spelling changed to Mount Sampson 29 April 1983 on 92J/11, to conform to the spelling of nearby Sampson Creek, in turn referring to a pre-WWI pre-emptor. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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First ascent credited to Preston Tait, John Ronayne and Ronald Ronayne (Canadian Alpine Journal, vol XXIV, 1936, pp. 64-67, including photographs). Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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"In 1911, E.N. Sampson acquired a pre-emption located on the east side of the locally named Sampson Creek, which flows south from Mount Samson [sic]." (19 March 1983 letter from T. and M. Fouberg, Pemberton, who had conducted place name interviews with long-time residents; file P.1.51) Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Originally mis-understood to refer to the legendary Hebrew hero, Samson, who ruled his tribe for 20 years - the last of Israel's tribal leaders (or "judges") before the Israelites were united under Saul's monarchy. Christian and Jewish Scripture tells of Samson's enormous strength in the Book of Judges, and recount his battles against the Philistines and his infatuation with Delilah. Delilah eventually betrayed him by cutting his hair, thereby breaking his Nazirite vow; Samson immediately lost his strength and was held by the Philistines until his hair grew back and he was able to pull their temple down around them. Note: between 1936 (when the name Mount Samson was first publicized) and 1983 (when Pemberton residents provided advice about the spelling of the early homesteader's name), mountaineers had named nearby Mount Delilah, having surmised that the biblical Samson was the namesake of this mountain. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |