Work will include trail upgrades at Cavell, the rerouting of the Brazeau Loop, seasonal maintenance in the Tonquin Valley and the implementation of recommendations from the Three Valley Confluence (TVC) Trail Plan.
“There are three big areas [in the TVC],” said Pam Clark, manager of visitor experience. “One is the Woodpecker Trail and that will complete the easy trail system in the valley. It’s the connector through the lodge over to Lake Annette.
“Another, and we heard a lot about this last year when we were talking to people about the mountain bike designations and the wildlife corridors, is up on the bench. It’s a trail through the commercial horse area that would just be for walkers and bikers, so that’s a high [priority trail].
“The third area is just around communications. We’re looking at putting up all our signs for the easy trail system and the diamond yellow signs that need to be up for it to be official trail, the trail junction signs and the on trail signage.”
Otherwise the focus will be on high-use trails. For day use areas, that includes the trails around Maligne Lake, Cavell and the Icefields, while for overnight trails, the focus will be on the Skyline, Tonquin, Maligne and Brazeau Loop.
“The work has shifted away from some of the trails in the far backcountry like the north and the south boundary that see very little usage compared to what you get at Skyline, Tonquin, Maligne and Brazeau, that foursome,” said Clark.
As well as allowing JNP to focus on those high-use areas, having three trail crews will ensure there’s enough people to respond to safety or emergency calls.
“It’s a natural environment and trees fall and weather happens,” said Clark of Jasper’s trail system. “This year we’ll have three crews so we’ll be a lot more nimble to go in and get that work done and ... get it done quickly.”
Routine trail maintenance is ongoing. The crews begin in the valley and, as the snow melts, move into higher country.
The Jasper Trail Alliance is also hosting three work bees this month on May 11, 13 and 22. For information on where and when they will be taking place, contact the Friends of Jasper at 780-852-4767.
