Mount Edith Cavell reopening this June
Parks Canada is planning to re-open the Mount Edith Cavell area this June, after it was heavily damaged during an ice avalanche and closed in August 2012. We will carry out repairs to the road as soon as the snow is no longer suitable for skiing and highway crews can easily remove snow – likely during the first week of June. While we get the road ready, pre-season road cycling won’t be possible. After minor repairs are completed, the upper Path of the Glacier trail will re-open; however, both the lower Path of the Glacier trail and the picnic area were washed out and will not reopen. A dedicated park interpreter will be on site throughout the summer talking about the most recent event, as well as changes caused by glaciers in the Mount Edith Cavell area over the past 100 years.
Wild Jasper Speaker Series: April 11, 7 p.m. at the Jasper Legion
Caribou: A Regional and Local Perspective on the Past and Present Situation
Join us for the second Wild Jasper event, a partnership between Parks Canada and the Interpretive Guiding Association aimed at keeping us up-to-date on what’s happening in research, monitoring, wildlife management, and park issues.
Kirby Smith, retired wildlife biologist from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, has over 30 years of experience with wildlife and has worked extensively with caribou just outside Jasper National Park. From a regional perspective, he will look at caribou populations and habitat in the past, what the situation is now, and what has changed. Layla Neufeld is the park’s caribou biologist and has been working intensely on local caribou monitoring and research, and everything that goes with it. From this perspective, Neufeld will offer an update on local research, and share what some of the project work entails to get data that informs management decisions.
April is Avalanche Month in Jasper
April brings long days and nice sunny weather. It also brings excellent conditions for avalanches. At this time of year, we can expect this natural process to take place on certain slopes on any given beautiful afternoon. When avalanche danger is high along Highway 93 or on the Maligne Road, Parks Canada may pro-actively close the roads for short periods and, where possible, carry out control work. These avalanche conditions generally remain until spring arrives in the high country in earnest.
Check the avalanche bulletin online at or check Jasper National Park’s Twitter or Facebook links for up to date details.
High waters of 2012 leave the Fifth Bridge unavailable for summer 2013
The structural integrity of the Fifth Bridge on the Maligne Canyon trail remains compromised after last August’s high water levels. Parks Canada is working with a bridge engineer to develop options for continued access; however, there is not enough time to complete design and construction of a bridge for this summer. The temporary bridge that was put in place for winter access will need to be removed before the higher waters of spring. Still available is the most scenic and popular access at the top of the canyon, and access from the Sixth Bridge. Recent upgrades to both the Maligne Canyon trail and interpretive signage along the trail have helped ensure that this area remains an extraordinary destination for visitors. The Fifth Bridge day use area remains open.
