The Canadian Rockies: Jasper National Park
()
About this ebook
Read more from Koller
Banff National Park, Lake Louise & Icefields Parkway Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Canadian Rockies: Yoho & Kootenay National Parks Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Canadian Rockies Adventure Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Canadian Rockies: Waterton Lakes National Park Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to The Canadian Rockies
Canada Travel For You
Frommer's EasyGuide to Toronto, Niagara and the Wine Country Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe World Almanac Road Trippers' Guide to National Parks: 5,001 Things to Do, Learn, and See for Yourself Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsForest Walking: Discovering the Trees and Woodlands of North America Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Great Canadian Bucket List — Manitoba Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEasy Cycling Around Vancouver: Fun Day Trips for All Ages Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Vancouver And British Columbia: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Enjoying Canada’s Hottest Tourist Destination Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuebec City Long Weekend Complete Travel Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Alaska By Cruise Ship - 9th Edition: The Complete Guide to Cruising Alaska Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet Best of Canada Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5How to Move to Canada: A Primer for Americans Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fodor's Nova Scotia & Atlantic Canada: With New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Newfoundland Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet British Columbia & the Canadian Rockies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frommer's EasyGuide to Montreal and Quebec City Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonely Planet Vancouver & Victoria Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrop Circles: Signs, Wonders and Mysteries Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Behind the Bench: Inside the Minds of Hockey's Greatest Coaches Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lonely Planet Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lonely Planet Montreal & Quebec City Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Guide to the Alaska Highway: Your Complete Driving Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrommer's Banff & the Canadian Rockies day by day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCommon Mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5If These Walls Could Talk: Toronto Maple Leafs: Stories from the Toronto Maple Leafs Ice, Locker Room, and Press Box Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQuebec City and its area Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow Hockey Explains Canada: The Sport That Defines a Country Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Insight Guides Explore Maritimes & Newfoundland (Travel Guide eBook) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe UFO Hotspot Compendium: All the Places to Visit Before You Die or Are Abducted Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rough Guide to Canada (Travel Guide eBook) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hidden Ontario: Secrets from Ontario’s Past Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Journey of 1000 Miles - A Musher and his Huskies' Journey on the Yukon Quest's century Old Klondike Trails Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for The Canadian Rockies
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
The Canadian Rockies - Koller
The Canadian Rockies - Jasper National Park
Brenda Koller
Hunter Publishing, Inc.
HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC.
comments@hunterpublishing.com
www.hunterpublishing.com
Ulysses Travel Publications
4176 Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec
Canada H2W 2M5
tel. 514-843-9882, ext. 2232; fax 514-843-9448
The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington
Oxford, OX44 9EJ England
tel. 01865-361122; fax 01865-361133
© Hunter Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim any responsibility for injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume and hereby disclaim, liability for loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions are the result of negligence, accident or any other cause.
The Canadian Rockies - Jasper National Park
Introduction
My Travel Philosophy
How I’ve Organized The Book
Human History
Geology
Glaciers
Glacial Lakes
Hoodoos
Hot Springs
Life Zones
Montane
Subalpine
Alpine
Plants
Weather and Seasons
Wildlife
Wildlife Encounters
Seton Watching
Wildlife Viewing
Bighorn Sheep
Mountain Goat
White-tailed Deer
Mule Deer
Elk
Moose
Black Bear
Grizzly Bear
Coyote
Columbian Ground Squirrel
Red Squirrel
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
Least Chipmunk
Pika
Hoary Marmot
Beaver
Animal Tracks
Birding
National and Provincial Parks
National Park Regulations
Visitor Information Centres
Getting There and Getting Around
By Road
Motorhome Rentals
By Bus
By Air
By Rail
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Private Accommodations
Hostelling
Camping
Photography Tips
What to Bring
Adventures Rockies-Style
Playing it Safe
Backcountry Wardens
Adventuring with Children
Tour Operators
Sports and Camping Equipment Rentals
Adventures On Water
Lake Boating
Canoeing
Swimming
Fishing
Whitewater Rafting
Adventures On Horseback
Adventures on Foot
Hiking
A Wilderness Code of Ethics
Insect Pests
Backpacking
What To Bring on a Hike
Climbing Gear
Day Hike
Backpacking
Duct Tape
Inukshuks
Mountain Biking
Bicycle Touring
Winter Adventures
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
Cross-country Skiing
Outdoor Ice-Skating
Travel – General
Travelling with Dogs
When In Canada
Public Holidays – British Columbia and Alberta
Time Zones
The Language
Money Matters
Metric Matters
Telephone Calls
Alcohol and Tobacco
Information Sources
Jasper National Park
History
Getting There & Getting Around
By Road
Bus Service
Car Rentals
Taxis
By Air
By Rail
Special Events
Townsite
Friends of Jasper National Park
Attractions
The Jasper Heritage Railway Station
Jasper-Yellowhead Museum
Shopping
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Downtown
Near Jasper townsite
Historic Accommodations – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge
Private Accommodations
Camping
Campsites in Jasper National Park
Campgrounds Near Jasper National Park
Backcountry Camping
Hostelling
Hostels in Jasper National Park
Wildlife
Historic Interest - Bears and the People of Jasper
Adventures
Sports & Camping Equipment Rentals
Tour Operators & Booking Agents
Mountain Biking & Bicycle Touring
Drives, Sights, Activities & Hikes
Historic Interest - Visitor Sites in 1945
Patricia & Pyramid Lakes
Old Fort Point Loop
Jasper Tramway, tel. 780-852-3093, www.jaspertramway.com
Lake Edith and Lake Annette
Lac Beauvert Loop
Maligne Valley
Maligne Canyon
Watchable Wildlife
Women of the Rockies – Mary Schaffer
Opal Hills
Miette Hot Springs Road
Sulphur Skyline
Jasper Lake and Sand Dunes
Highway 93A
Mount Edith Cavell
Cavell Meadows
Path of the Glacier
Historic Interest - Hollywood in the Rockies
Winter Adventures
Alpine Skiing
Nordic Skiing
Outdoor Ice Skating
Rocky Mountain Travel Reflections – Winter Wanderings
Scenic Must-See’s
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Did you know?
To Do List
Backpack the Skyline Trail
Horseback ride into the Tonquin Valley
Useful Information
Information Sources
Glossary of Terms
Bibliography/Recommended Reading
Jasper National Park – Spirit Island and Maligne Lake
Introduction
What is it about the mountains that lure us in so captivatingly, leave us with a sense of awe and well being, and call us to return time again? Wilderness is the hallmark of Canada and the Rocky Mountains are one of its defining features. Canada is well known the world over for its cherished national and provincial parks and the Rocky Mountain Parks are the most famous of these protected areas.
The Rocky Mountains are a contiguous chain of mountains that stretch from the British Columbia/Yukon border all the way to New Mexico. The provinces of British Columbia and Alberta share the Canadian Rockies with the Continental Divide (the Great Divide) serving as the provincial boundary, a natural divide running along the highest peaks. The western boundary is a great long valley called the Rocky Mountain Trench and to the east are the Interior Plains. Divisions crosswise include: the northern Canadian Rockies, north of the Peace River; Central Canadian Rockies, from the Peace River to the Crowsnest Pass; and southern Canadian Rockies, south of the Crowsnest Pass to the international border.
This Adventure Guide covers mountain parks of the central Canadian Rockies and the southern Canadian Rockies. Alberta’s Jasper National Park, the most northerly mountain national park and the ever-popular Banff National Park, the first national park in Canada, along with British Columbia’s amazing Yoho and Kootenay National Parks together cover 20,280 square kilometres (7,800 square miles) – one of the largest areas of mountain parkland in the entire world. In 1985, these four contiguous national parks (together with the provincial parks of Hamber, Mount Robson and Mount Assiniboine) were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other Rocky Mountain Parks and areas covered include Kananaskis Country, adjacent to Banff National Park, which incorporates magnificent provincial parks and recreation areas; the distinct and tranquil Waterton Lakes National Park in the southwestern corner of Alberta; and finally, British Columbia’s Mount Robson Provincial Park, embodying resplendent Mt. Robson, the highest and one of the most majestic peaks in the Canadian Rockies - and my favourite Rocky Mountain park.
In his classic book In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies(London: MacMillan & Co. Ltd., 1906), mountaineer James Outram (1864-1925) compares the splendour of Switzerland’s mountains with the United States and concludes that the wonderous glacial fields, the massing of majestic ranges, the striking individuality of each great peak, the forest areas, green pasture lands, clear lakes, and peaceful valleys, are nowhere found harmoniously blended on the western continent until the traveler visits that section of the Rocky Mountains which lies within the wide domain of Canada.
The Canadian Rockies are one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. About four million people annually visit Canada’s Rocky Mountain Parks to experience the essence of Canada’s natural and cultural Rocky Mountain heritage. The parks offer a mind-boggling array of year-round choices for the visitor with more and more people venturing off the highways and roads to partake in the landscape and discover some of the most stunning scenery the world has to offer. Easily accessible adventures include walking, hiking and backpacking; mountain biking and bicycle touring; fishing, boating and rafting; horseback riding; skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing; and so much more. Then of course, there’s wildlife viewing. Visitors to the Canadian Rockies have the opportunity to see some of North America’s most spectacular animals including 69 different species of mammals. And where else but in the Canadian Rockies can you spend your morning hiking into spectacular wilderness areas and by afternoon enjoy high tea in the civilized surroundings of a grand hotel.
I have lived beside the Canadian Rockies all of my life and have been travelling to visit the Rockies since I was a child. Much has changed over the years. Along with park development and increased visitation has come environmental awareness and education. Each visit adds an array of new experiences and knowledge that reinforce my passion for the Rockies. I hope that you have the opportunity to experience some of the incredible sights and activities in this guidebook that I’m thrilled to share with you. I’m confident that you will treasure your Canadian Rockies’ experiences for a lifetime, as I do.
"Go, at any cost, and live among the mountains, forgetting that there is anything else in life . . ." Mary Jobe, an intrepid Rocky Mountain adventurer, ca 1912.
My Travel Philosophy
There’s so much you can prepare before you even pack a bag or make a single travel arrangement. By reading this guide you may already be gearing up for a trip to the Canadian Rockies. There’s much written material available about the Rockies and with the popularity of the internet, scads of information is available at your fingertips. So I’ve included plenty of web addresses as well as suggestions for fascinating further reading. The more you know before you depart, the more enjoyable and safe your trip will be.
In his article The Mental Training of a Traveller
(The Geographical Journal, February, 1915), British historian and statesman Viscount James Bryce (1838-1922) gives some good advice that is just as relevant today as it was back then:
If a man enters the finest picture-gallery in Europe knowing nothing at all about the painters, whose work is there stored, their dates, the schools they belonged to, or the subjects they painted, he will derive very little benefit, and will carry away a most confused impression; but a little preliminary study will enable him to appreciate and enjoy pictures in a way which will be profitable all the rest of his life. So it is when we enter the vast gallery of Nature. If we start to travel with a certain amount of preliminary knowledge, our travels repay us more and more at every step. The three things we ought to carry with us in order to learn and to profit are these: first of all, we ought to know what to look for; secondly, how to observe; and thirdly, how to reflect upon the things we do observe.
There are two ways to arrange your Rocky Mountain visit. You can contact a booking agent, advise them as to when and where you plan to travel, and they can arrange the rest for you: transportation, accommodation, tours and the like. There is usually no fee charged to the traveller for this service and it might save you time, but really you learn very little of your destination in the process. Also, you will be committed to a pre-arranged itinerary. There’s nothing wrong with this, but personally I prefer independent travel for a number of reasons. Firstly, I want to research my destination so that I can learn about the place I’m going to visit and making all of the arrangements is a learning process. Also, after I arrive at my destination I like the flexibility of changing my plans, something that isn’t always possible if you’re on a prearranged schedule.
Every tourist destination has its canned
attractions, some of which can be quite enjoyable and some of which are best avoided - the Rockies are no exception. I’m pretty good at spotting and avoiding tourist traps – overpriced establishments that offer little and charge a lot. Chain stores and chain restaurants I can frequent at home but I try to avoid them there, too. I’m partial to family operated businesses as they have a vested interest in treating their customers well and will often