Jasper National Park, Alberta

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer

Good old fun for the whole family, Jasper National Park offers children many exciting activities in the great Canadian Rocky Mountains. There is plenty to see and do so kids won’t get bored. The Jasper Information Centre provides detailed information on kid-friendly adventures, maps and hiking trail guides.

Recommended Kids’ Activities in Jasper

Hiking. Take the kids on a hike. The Discovery Trail, located on the perimeter of Jasper townsite, and Lake Annette Loop are short, fun and easy and short trail. Just make sure to bring plenty of water.

Jasper has tons of fun for the family.

Snowtubing. Enjoy Jasper’s fresh powder with a thrilling ride downhill on a snowtube.

Guided Tours. A hands-on learning experience for the whole family, local guides will share their knowledge of Jasper’s nature and wildlife.

Museums. Learn about Jasper history at the Yellowhead Museum or see the many wildlife displays at the Wildlife Den in Whistler’s Inn.

Out About Town. Take in the shops, ice cream parlors and restaurants in town. The town itself has a beautiful mountain backdrop. Try the latest green transportation – the Jasper Pedi-Cab.

Scenic Appreciation.
● Columbia Icefield: This is a stunning Jasper must-see. You can go out onto the glacier in an ice buggy. Older kids will enjoy a river float trip, which is a fun way to spend the day. Maligne Canyon: You can walk over six bridges for views of the limestone gorges and waterfalls.

● Maligne Lake: Start at the Maligne Lake Lodge, overlooking the lake, where you can relax on the deck over a nice lunch.

● Jasper Tramway: Open in warmer months, Canada’s highest aerial tram is the Jasper Tramway just outside town. A seven-minute 3,300 feet ride takes you to an altitude of 8,000 feet. A guide tells the history of Jasper as you look out over spectacular scenery of Jasper and the entire Athabasca Valley

Rafting. Raft the Athabasca River. The water comes from the ice fields so in the spring, it’s cloudy white with icy chunks and late in the summer, it’s crystal clear. Try floating up the river in a 20-person raft that even a young child can handle. The Athabasca has only gentle “rapids.”

Fishing. Rent fishing rods and buy bait at the boathouse.

Horseback Riding. In warmer months, ride up the morning or afternoon trail rides that head out from the Maligne Lake Lodge to the top of the Bald Hills. The rides are from three to four hours long, so this is best for older kids. They will appreciate the wildflower-covered meadows and views of ice-capped mountains along the way.

Tags: canadian rockies, children in jasper, family, jasper national park, kids in jasper
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Jasper National Park, Alberta

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer

Chill out in your own homemade igloo in Jasper National Park. It would be a Canadian Rockies experience that’s hard to beat. Building a real igloo is hard work, however. So grab some friends, some snacks and drinks, and get to work!

How to Build an Igloo in Jasper National Park

Build your own igloo in Jasper!

Equipment.
* Snow shovel
* Ice Axe / Pick
* Hand shovel
* Hand-held ice saw
*A four-sided mold. Find rectangular containers, like garbage cans. You’ll need at least two different sizes of these. The first one should be about 12″ long, 6″ high and 4″ or 5″ wide, and the second one should be a bit smaller, say 10″ x 5″ x 3″ or 4″.

Step 1: Find a suitable spot
A hard field of snow is required to build an igloo – hard enough to make solid snow blocks. Even if the top layer of snow is soft, hard snow can usually be found underneath.

Step 2: Mark a circular base
Clear a flat space in the snow on the ground and mark out a circle shape, trying to keep it as perfectly round as possible. Use your sticks to make a circle, marking the base of the dome. The snow depth should be at least 3ft. where the igloo is placed. Don’t make it too big.

Step 3: Make the snow blocks
Large blocks are used at the base of the dome, smaller ones at the top. You can make extra strong blocks by setting them up to harden in the wind.

Place the larger four-sided mold onto a flat board and tightly pack snow into it, forcing or ramming in as much as you can. They should be solid enough to be carried horizontally without breaking by their own weight.
* Sprinkle a little water on the snow, if it is too dry, to make it easier to pack it together tightly.
* Hold the mold a little way up in the air, once it is completely packed, and tap the top or sides of it sharply to release the snow block. As one person makes the snow blocks, another can start building the igloo.

Step 4: Start the construction
The edges of each snow block should be smoothed and angeled correctly to make a strong bond to the adjacent blocks. Form a row of the large blocks around your circle. Make the joints smooth and even, as there is no mortar for binding the blocks together. If necessary, force loose snow in to fill up the cracks and crevices as the igloo is built.

Form a second layer of the large blocks on top of the first, laying each block above of the joint of the ones underneath, thus staggering the blocks.

Stack additional layers on top, each time moving the bricks in slightly so that the walls will dome inward.

* The first course of the snow blocks should be thicker than the others, and the thickness of the walls gradually decreases toward the top. As mentioned earlier, however, size variation may not be necessary, depending on the height of the igloo.
* The building is best continued with one person inside the structure and one on the outside to ensure an even inward slant, gradually making a dome.

Step 5: Top it off
Cut a cap brick that is close in size, but definitely larger than the hole on top of your igloo. Two people should lift the brick up and set it on top of the igloo. One person should get inside the igloo and trim the cap as needed until it fits snugly into the hole.

Step 6: Fill in the cracks
Fill in the cracks and holes with snow and pack it in as tightly as possible. Smooth out the inner dome walls as much as possible and carve longitudinal grooves inside to allow the melting snow to flow outside without dripping on you.

Step 7: Make the entrance
Dig down to make an entrance to the igloo. If you build it on a gentle slope, then the entrance hole can ramp up slightly into the cave. This will allow the cool air to ‘fall out’ through the entrance and the warmer air to stay inside.

Step 8: Strengthen the structure
* Drip water over the top of the igloo at night before going to sleep. This will allow the water to freeze and will make the walls stronger.
* Poke a small hole near the top, and then light a candle inside the igloo and let it burn. The heat from the candle will partially melt the inside of the igloo, and then it will refreeze into ice, making your igloo stronger.

Tags: canadian rockies, igloo building, jasper national park
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Must See Sights in Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park, Alberta

By John McKiernan
Staff Writer

Jasper National Park is home to some of the most naturally stunning scenes in the world. Along with its sister park, Banff National Park, Jasper has become an iconic jewel of Canada. Aside from the tons of activities on offer and a choice of hotels to make your head spin, it is called home by such wonders as Maligne Lake and the Miette Hot Springs. Below is a selection of sights that can’t be missed when you come to visit Jasper National Park.

Mt. Christie - one of Jasper's gems.

Medicine Lake

Medicine Lake is a place that has always captured the imagination of visitors. Because of its very unusual drainage system, the water level varies from season to season. Ancient Indians once thought that the lake was inhabited by spirits because sometimes the whole lake would disappear! As a result of this drainage system, the color of the lake is nothing short of stunning.  

Maligne Lake

This legendary destination is located in the magical Maligne Valley. It is the second largest glacier-fed lake in the world (yes, it is cold to swim in). There is a list of activities to do including fishing, horseback riding and hiking. Arguably the highlight of Maligne Lake is the natural beauty of Spirit Island, a one and half hour boat ride away.  

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon is a great place to witness the brute power of Maligne River. An interpretive trail brings you across six bridges where you can practically drink the spray from the the river. During winter there is the chance to try a guided canyon tour.  

Lac Beauvert

Located only a ten minute drive from Jasper townsite, Lac Beauvert is a relatively small lake that is the setting for the luxurious Jasper Park Lodge. It is also home to one of the world’s most beautiful and scenic golf courses. At times, the views are so incredible, you completely lose track of the golf ball (it’s a good excuse anyway!)  

Let it all hang out in the Miette Hot Springs

Miette Hotsprings

The Miette Hotsprings are the hottest in the Canadian Rockies, actually cooled to 39 degree Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit). Open from May to mid-October, it has two hot pools. One shallow pool with a lounging area and a deeper hot pool. Nearby there are hiking trails, picnic tables and great accommodations. Overall, it is simply the definition of relaxation. .

Patricia and Pyramid Lakes

Situated only 10 minutes drive from Jasper townsite, the Pyramid Lake Road takes you to this mini Paradise. If you are looking for a good place to fish in Jasper, this could be exactly the place. It is also popular for boating and simply relaxing. During the Winter, cross-country skiing and ice-skating take over this wheelchair-friendly little place. An easy 10 minute drive above Jasper townsite on Pyramid Lake Road brings you to this great recreational spot. Enjoy the two delightful lakes on the “Pyramid Bench”.  

Whistler’s Mountain

From nearby British Colombia, the white pyramid of Mount Robson can be seen. Whistler’s Mountain is home to the Jasper Tramway which brings you up to an elevation of 2285 meters (7496 feet). There are also hiking options to bring you to the top of the mountain where the view is awe inspiring.  

The spectacular Columbia Icefields.

Columbia Icefield

Although this is more of a drive away than some of Jasper’s other popular attractions (105km/63miles), the drive alone is actually one of the highlights. Located astride the Continental Divide of North America, it feeds no less than 8 major glaciers. There is the option of taking a 90 minute ice age adventure which takes you out onto the most stunning of the glaciers – the Athabasca Glacier. You can also go on a guided glacier walk where you can learn about the history and geography of  the Columbia Icefield.  

Sunwapta Falls

The Sunwapta falls are accessible only a short drive from the Icefields Parkway that connect Jasper and Banff National Park. The waterfalls have a drop of around 18.5 meters and are most stunning in late spring when the spring melt is at its peak. Sunwapta is actually a Stoney Indian word for “turbulent river” and it is immediately clear why. A lot of people don’t realize but there is actually 2 falls. The big one is most easily accessible thus most visit here but the smaller falls are easily accessible by hike and quieter.  

Mt. Edith Cavell

Mt. Edith is one of the most rugged summits in Jasper National Park and indeed Canada as well. Located in the Athabasca River and Astoria River valleys, it was named in 1926 after an English nurse who was executed by the Germans during World War I after helping allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium to the Netherlands. Among the many beauties of these craggy mountain is the hanging Angel Glacier, which pours over a 300 meter cliff and makes for an unforgettable photograph.  

The refelction of Mt. Edith Cavell Lake.

Lake Edith and Lake Annette

A 20 minute drive from Jasper townsite lies two sheltered lakeside areas perfect for a day resting with a picnic. Unlike many of the other lakes around, you can swim here without turning into an icicle. There are some very gentle slopes for a casual walk including the wheelchair accessible Clifford E. Lee Trail. If biking is more your scene, there are some equally easy bike trails to explore around Lake Agnes.  

The Athabasca Falls

The Rocky Mountains has no shortage of waterfalls to show off but the Athabasca Falls must count as one of its most impressive. Less than 32 km’s from Jasper, the water from the Athabasca River thunders through a narrow gorge where the walls seem almost pollished by the pure force of the water. Equally as impressive during winter when decorared with hanging sheets of ice.  

The Goat Lookout

The Goat lookout is best known as a stop-off along the Icefields Parkway. It offers gorgeous views of the Athabasca Valley and the dominant mountains that protect it. A picnic area is available and makes for a lovely place to stop and have a sandwich. Because of naturally-occurring deposits of mineral beside the lookout, this is a very popular wildlife hangout. Remember though, as fascinating as it might seem, it is illegal to feed wildlife in a National Park.

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Jasper National Park, Alberta

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer

Much better than an indoor rink, a frozen Canadian Rockies lake at Jasper National Park offers a different ice skating experience. Just make sure the ice is at least 15cm (6in) thick.

Enjoy the winter wonderland of the Canadian Rockies.

Where to Go: Ice Skating in Jasper National Park

Lac Beauvert
Besides being one of the most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies, Lac Beauvert accommodates a rectangular skating rink just a short walk from the main Jasper Park Lodge. The rink becomes lit for night skating.

Lake Mildred
The Jasper Park Lodge clears a giant oval that may tire you out one or two laps. Two rectangular rinks are usually cleared inside the oval. There are also benches, a bonfire and free hot chocolate. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon whether you’re staying at the lodge or not.

Pyramid Lake
Another hot spot for ice skating, a portion of Pyramid Lake, close to the shore, is cleared and lit during the winter. You will need to take the road across the Activity Centre for six kilometres to Pyramid Lake Bungalows.

Tags: canadian rockies, ice skating, jasper national park
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Jasper National Park, Alberta

By Caroline Shin
Staff Writer

The dramatic wilderness of Jasper National Park presents an abundance of wild animals in their natural habitat in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Jasper accommodates truly wild wildlife.

From the biggest of nature’s creations–grizzly bears and elk–to its smallest–birds and bugs–Jasper presents numerous opportunities to watch wildlife going about its normal life.

Insider Tips: Wildlife Watching in Jasper

How To: Optimize your Jasper Wildlife Watching Trip

You have excellent opportunities to see elk, sheep, bears, deer and other animals along the Yellowhead Highway 16.

1. Be invisible. Shhh.
Mum’s the word in Jasper. Find a safe, comfortable spot and sit quietly. Stay as discreet and insignificant as possible. Resist the impulse to get close, call out or reach out to animals. Use binoculars. You can watch unbothered wildlife go about their business naturally. But, make sure to retreat immediately if an animal approaches you or shows any sign of aggression.

2. Bring insect repellant.
Insects may bite or sting along hiking trails and backcountry campsites. Bring insect repellent. Avoid wearing perfumes and scented lotions. During the spring and summer, Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks are common. After hiking, do body and clothing checks for ticks.

3. Boil drinking water.
The water in Jasper National Park is generally clean, but there may exist harmful bacteria or parasites in untreated surface water. Boil and filter untreated water, or carry water from a treated water source.

4. Notify people.
Better safe than sorry. If you are planning a long or hazardous trip, notify your friends and family with details of your trip. You may also choose to complete a Voluntary Safety Registration at a Visitor Centre. Do not forget to register your return and avoid a costly and unnecessary search.

5. Respect nature.
With millions of people visiting the Canadian Rockies every year, it is crucial to maintain the natural state of Jasper’s wilderness. Every time we disrupt these natural activities we are, in effect, taking energy away from their survival.

How To: Prevent Conflicts with Jasper Wildlife
Although Jasper’s park animals appear unconcerned, all wild animals are unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

Families of bighorn sheep relax in Jasper.

1. Do NOT feed or disturb wildlife.
2. Never leave food attractants out for wildlife. Food attractants include:
- coolers (they are NOT bearproof!)
- food scraps or leftovers
- dishwater
- dirty dishes, pots or barbecues
- empty bottles, cans or wrappers
- toothpaste, soap or other toiletries
- pets
- pet food dishes (full or empty)

3. Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Because it is impossible to predict how wildlife will react in any situation, avoiding encounters is the only sure way to keep people safe and wildlife wild.
- Always watch out for animals or signs of their presence.
- Carefully supervise children whenever outdoors.

4. Always keep your distance.
Do not approach or entice wildlife. Use binoculars or a telephoto lens instead. Remain at least:
- 100 metres away from BEARS, COUGARS and WOLVES
- 30 metres away from ELK, DEER, SHEEP, GOATS and MOOSE

5. When Driving:
Be on the lookout for animals near the road. Drive with utmost caution, especially at dusk and dawn, when many animals are most active, and visibility is poor.

If you see an animal by the road:
* Slow down. It could run out into your path at any time.
* Warn other motorists by flashing your hazard lights.
* Where there is one animal, expect others nearby.

If you wish to stop and view roadside wildlife:
* Pull safely out of traffic.
* Remain in your vehicle.
* Move on after a few minutes.

Insider Tips: ABOUT JASPER’S ANIMALS

Be mindful that Jasper’s wildlife is truly wild–unpredictable and potentially dangerous. And therefore, you must act according to the rules of nature.

PREDATORS.

Coyotes roam wild in Jasper.

If a cougar, wolf or coyote approaches you, send a clear message that you are NOT potential prey.
* Pick up small children immediately.
* Yell.
* Do anything you can to make yourself look bigger.
* Be prepared to use pepper spray if you have it.
* Fight back aggressively if attacked.
* DO NOT crouch, play dead, run, or turn your back to the animal.

PETS.
To a carnivore, your PET may look appetizing.
* Keep dogs on a leash and walk them in open areas during daylight hours only.
* Do not leave pets unattended outside.

Enjoy elk from a distance.

ELK.
As docile as they may seem, elk are wild animals too. Getting too close to elk may incite attacks, which have occurred at any time of the year. Females are most aggressive during the May/June calving season, and males are especially dangerous during the September/October period.

BEARS.
What should I do if I see a BEAR?

“Bears are really intelligent animals. And they are also bigger and faster than you.” says local bear expert Alan Richardson “So if you want to avoid trouble, you really do need to be smarter than the average bear.”

1. If you are driving: stay in your car, and consider not stopping.
2. If you are not in a vehicle:
* Stay calm. If a bear rears on its hind legs and waves its nose about, it is trying to identify you. Remain still and talk calmly so that it knows you are human and not a prey animal. Bears may also run toward you and turn away at the last moment. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack.
* Pick up children, stay in a group.
* Back away slowly. Do not run.
* Leave the area. If this is impossible, wait until the bear leaves; make sure it has an escape route.

3. Reduce your risk of a surprise encounter:

Make sure you are bear-wary.

* Make noise. Clap, sing or yell to announce your presence, especially where a bear might not otherwise smell, hear or see you coming. (Bear bells are not very effective.)
* Travel in groups, on established trails, and during daylight hours.
* Minimize odours by proper storage of food, garbage and toiletries.
* Leave the area if you see a bear or fresh tracks, droppings, diggings; or if you come across a large dead animal (a bear may be nearby).

4. If you surprise a bear and it defends itself:
* Use bear spray if you have it. PLAY DEAD, let it know you are not a threat: lie on stomach with legs apart, cover back of head and neck with hands, keep pack on to protect your back.

5. If a bear stalks you and then attacks, or attacks at night:
* Try to escape, use bear spray if you have it. FIGHT BACK, let it know that you are not easy prey. (This kind of predatory attack is very rare.)

BEAR NECESSITIES IN JASPER
If you see a bear beside the road, keep the following bear facts in mind:

1. It may run onto the road. At any time, anywhere. Especially if there are crowds of people stopping to watch it, getting out of their cars, approaching too closely. In the past 10 years, 125 bears have been killed on roads in the national parks of the Canadian Rockies.

2. It is stronger and faster than you are.

Bears may run across the road at any time.

A bear that appears unconcerned about your presence is the one you should fear the most. It’s obviously not afraid of you, and it could be getting a bit bothered by all the people who keep disturbing it – all day long, day after day…

3. It is likely eating or looking for food.
Bears have to eat almost constantly during the snow-free months to accumulate enough energy to survive their long winter hibernation. Being able to feed undisturbed may make the difference between life or death for that bear or, if it’s a female, for her offspring.

4. Female grizzly bears have a very low reproductive rate– only two litters of offspring in her lifetime. The unnatural loss of any individual, especially a female, is therefore a serious threat to the long-term survival of the population. Adolescent bears are highly susceptible to picking up bad habits (like losing its natural fear of people) and getting into trouble (by approaching people for food). Few roadside adolescent bears survive to maturity, causing scientists to fear for the future of the grizzly in this part of the world.

5. ‘Habituated’ bears that have lost their natural fear of humans almost inevitably become ‘problem’ bears. They actively seek out places where people congregate because they have learned that there will likely be food and garbage to eat. Over time they become increasingly more aggressive in their search for an easy meal.

“It’s really hard to predict the best strategy to use in the event of a bear attack,” says Richardson. “That’s why it is extremely important to put thought and energy into avoiding an encounter in the first place.”

Enjoy a safe and exciting visit and ensure that future generations of Jasper’s wildlife continue being truly wild.

Tags: canadian rockies, jasper national park, jasper wildlife, wild animals in jasper, wildlife in jasper
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Jasper, Alberta

By Kay Barbaro
Staff Writer

Hands down, Jasper National Park is one of the most beautiful, inspiring places in the world to visit (and live, if you can do it), in large part because of it’s vast, amazing terrain. If you really want to get out and see some of the best terrain in the Canadian Rockies, and experience it the right way, you’ll want to do an overnight trip here. Below, you’ll find a couple two-night trip suggestions. We also have information on three-night trips, and longer trips in Jasper National Park.

Saturday Night Lake Loop

Medicine Lake, well worth the hike.

This is a great beginners’ trail, partly because it has little elevation gain, partly because it starts and ends in the Jasper townsite. Campsites are at Saturday Night Lake, High Lakes and Minnow Lake. Note: Seasonal fishing in all lakes except Cabin Lake.

Map: Jasper 83D/16.

Distance: 27.5 km.

Elevation gain: 540 m

Maximum elevation: 1700 m.

Jacques Lake

Jacques Lake is a good choice for novice hikers in Jasper National Park. The trailhead is at the south end of beautiful Medicine Lake, 28 km from Jasper townsite. It’s a fairly easy hike. The trail begins with a walk along a fire road for 1.6 km to Beaver Lake. The remaining 10.4 km follow a easy to find trail to the campsite at the far end of Jacques Lake. Note: Camping is not permitted at Beaver Lake. Fishing is not permitted at Jacques Lake.

Map: Medicine Lake 83C/13.

Distance: 12 km one way.

Elevation gain: 90 m.

Maximum elevation: 1555 m.

Geraldine Lakes

Geraldine Lakes is a bit more difficult of a trail, with a quick elevation gain partway in, but it’s well worth the effort. Access to the trailhead is from the Geraldine fire road, just north of Athabasca Falls on Highway 93A. The parking area is 6 km up the fire road. The initial 2 km of this trail are easy, traveling a clear path to the first of the Geraldine Lakes. This is where it gets a little more breathtaking, both due to the scenery and steepness, with each step. Here the trail climbs along a waterfall, crosses a large boulder field and skirts the edge of a small glacial lake (known as a tarn). Then it gets even steeper. You’ll reach the only campsite at the far end of the second lake. Good hiking boots and endurance requirements for this trip. Note: Finding the trail among the boulder field can be tricky; therefore this trail is not recommended for beginners. No open fires.

Map: Athabasca Falls 83C/12.

Elevation gain: 400 m.

Maximum elevation: 1875 m.

Distance: 6 km one way.

Watchtower Basin

Families of bighorn sheep relax in Jasper.

Love steep climbs, creek fording and terrific views? The Watchtower trailhead starts about 19 km from Jasper townsite on Maligne Road. A steep climb leads to an flower-filled (depending on the time of year, of course) alpine meadow. Hikers get to ford the main creek to reach the campsite. Access to the Skyline trail is 3.5 km beyond the campsite. Note: Route finding is a bit difficult between the campsite and Skyline trail.

Map: Medicine Lake 83C/14.

Distance: 9.8 km one way.

Elevation gain: 985 m.

Maximum elevation 2375 m.

Tags: backpacking, Hiking, Jasper Activities, jasper national park
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Jasper National Park, Alberta

by Paul Peters
Editor
The Canadian Rockies offer endless ways of seeing the park through various activities. One of the most exhilarating and accessible activities is helicopter touring. Helicopter tours in and around the Canadian Rockies and Jasper National Parks offer an alternative view of the park, and tours made to fit any person, from heli-sking and heli-hiking, to heli-weddings and heli-yoga.

Get high above the Canadian Rockies and Jasper for some of the most spectacular views.

Yes, you read that last one right. Icefield Helicopter Tours, in conjuction with Martha’s Heli-hikes, offers a heli-yoga trip, which pretty much means all bases are covered as far who might be interested in a heli-trip.Ralph Sliger, owner of Icefields Helicopter Tours, talks about the unique opportunities heli-tours offer to people visiting the Canadian Rockies.
“You’re actually getting into the backcountry where there are no roads,” he says. “You’re seeing the actual wilderness. When you can see for 100 miles in all directions, it’s quite impressive. Gives you a sense for how big Canada actually is.”
You can probably guess from their name that Icefield Helicopter Tours features tours of the Columbia Icefields, one of the largest icefields in North America.
“When you’re out over the icefields,” he says, “as far as you can see there’s nothing but the icefields, peaks and glaciers. It’s a whole different world up there.”
And while he says that the tours are exceptional, he notes that one of the most amazing things is actually getting out of the helicopter once it has flown you to a remote location. “When you get  out and experience the quiet of nature, well, you can’t get that anywhere else,” Sliger says. “That’s what we offer, is an experience.”
Hjalmar Tiesenhausen started Jasper’s High Country Helicopter Tours in 1996.
“It’s been an amazing 13 years already,” he says, “and we’ve had so much fun and enjoyment from doing this that we will be doing this for many years to come. Its not a job – it’s a labour of love.”
The heliport for High Country Helicopter Tours is based just east of Jasper on Hwy 16 (near the KOA).  High Country offers transportation services if you didn’t bring or rent a vehicle, and heli-tours year round, no matter what season (although reservations are highly recommended).
“We are the closest, easiest, and I think most scenic way to see the Rockies when visiting Jasper National Park” Tiesenhausen says. “One of our most wonderful features is the many elk that hang around Talbot Lake each summer. Also, the bighorn sheep at Disaster Point and of course the Miette Hotsprings can be a wonderful addition to an amazing flight over the many peaks and rivers of the Eastern Slopes of the Canadian Rockies.”
Jo-anne Kobelt of Alpine Helicopters is equally enthusiastic about heli-hiking.
Alpine, she says, typically takes customers out to Mount Charles Stewart. Normally, she says it would be an eight-hour hike, one-way, to get to Charles Stewart. But the flight takes all of eight minutes.
Despite the short flight, she says, “It feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere. This area is just pristine, there are no trails, it’s literally untouched. When we set down it looks like no one has ever been there.”
Alpine Helicopters helps keep that “middle of nowhere” feeling by only taking up groups of 15 or fewer, and making sure no one disturbs the natural features of the terrain.
Gordon Stermann of White Mountain Adventures, the company that guides Alpine’s heli-hikes, says, “It’s an incredible experience for people to leave civilization completely behind in just a few minutes of helicopter flying. Once we land at the Charles Stewart site we are on our own. The world goes quiet, and you have time to slow down, look around you and … breathe!”
As far as the aerial tours Alpine offers, Kobelt says, “It’s a once in a lifetime experience. You just can’t believe what you see, it’s like a National Geographic film.”
She says they generally get two reactions from people the first time they fly over the Canadian Rockies.
“People either get up there and they don’t stop talking because they’re so excited,  or they’re mouths are hanging open and their eyes are glued to the window,” she says.
Despite these two reactions, she says, “We’ve never had a customer that doesn’t have a look of astonishment.”
Children ask “Can I go again?”
Kobelt also adds that some people are occasionally frightened by the prospect of going up in a helicopter, but she says that afterward, “People say they feel more secure in a helicopter than in an airplane.”

Tags: Helitours, Jasper Activities, jasper national park, tours
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Jasper National Park, Alberta

By Kay Barbaro
Staff Writer

If you’re looking for an easy way to see some wildlife in Jasper National Park, and be sure you go home with photos of Canadian Rockies fauna, you’ll probably want to check out Goat Lick.

Normally, goats live on dangerous cliffs in Jasper, but at Goat Lick, you'll find them right by the road.

This is one of the best roadside wildlife viewing opportunities in the park, though it can also be one of the most dangerous, because of the numbers of goats that hang out here.

Mountain goats usually live high on mountain cliffs, avoiding predators with their death-defying, cliff-walking stunts. But at kilometre 38 of the Icefields Parkway they can be found right near the road.

A “mineral lick” or pale-coloured mineral rich silt deposit is what attracts them. Mountain goats gather here to lick the silt for its calcium and sulphate content, ingesting so much that their droppings turn silt-white instead of the usual black.

Here are some tips to safely view wildlife while in Jasper, provided by Parks Canada:

* Never feed or approach wildlife;
* Always remain in your vehicle;
* Use a telephoto lens to take a picture;
* Pull off onto the shoulder or into a nearby parking area;
* Watch for animals or children suddenly running into traffic;
* Quickly continue your journey so that others can enjoy the opportunity also;
* Read the Keep the Wild in Wildlife brochure carefully before visiting the park.

Tags: Goat Lick, jasper national park, Jasper Wildlife
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Jasper, Alberta

By Kay Barbaro
Staff Writer

Of all the not-to-miss sights in Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies (and let’s admit it, there’s a lot of them) one of the best for seeing the power of nature in the park are the Athabasca Falls.

The Athabasca River at sunrise.

The 23-metre Athabasca Falls is not very high by Canadian Rockies standards, but the volume of the river is what makes it one of the most powerful in the Rockies. At the falls, the water passes over a layer of hard quartzite.

Over the years, the water has cut into the softer limestone beneath, carving intricate features, including potholes and a short canyon.

The Athabasca River is the largest river system in Jasper, with the enormous Columbia Icefields as its source. In 1810, David Thompson, Canada’s premier map-maker and explorer, plied the Athabasca in search of a viable fur trade route to the Pacific Ocean. Discovering Athabasca Pass in early January 1811, David Thompson’s route helped establish Canada as a country that spans the North American continent.

In 1862, the Overlanders traveled along the Athabasca River headed for the Cariboo Goldrush, followed 30 years later by two national railways. Today one railway and a transcontinental highway follow parts of the river through the park. Recognized for its historical, natural and recreational values, the Athabasca was designated a Canadian heritage river in 1989.

Caution – Mist from the falls covers surrounding rocks with a thin, slippery film of water. For your own safety, do not cross the railings.

Tags: Athabasca Falls, hikes, Jasper Activities, jasper national park
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Jasper, Alberta

Jasper National Park offers some of the best views of the Canadian Rockies.

If you’re looking to get out and above Jasper National Park, you’ll want to check out the Jasper Tramway, which will take you up The Whistlers, one of Jasper and the Canadian Rockies most scenic and accessible summits.

From the town of Jasper, The Whistlers is hard to miss. It’s the large, rounded mountain that dominates the skyline. To get to the top quickly, just jump on The Jasper Tramway.

Long time Jasper resident Stephen Nelson likes to say that, “If you’ve got only one day in Jasper, the one thing you must do is go up on the tramway.”

“You can see all of Jasper from there,” he says. “You can see all the way down Ice Field Parkway, you can see Mount Robson. You can really see an amazing amount of the park, especially on a clear day.”

The lovely town of Jasper.

The tram ride begins at an elevation of 1304 metres (4279 ft) above sea level in the safety of an enclosed Tram cabin. The tramway’s fully trained and knowledgeable tour guide will accompany you during the smooth seven minute trip to the Upper Station located at 2277 metres (7472 ft) above sea level.

During your ascent up Whistlers Mountain a tour guide will inform you of the area, points of interest, animal life and history as well as answering questions.The chalet perched on the top is the upper terminal of an aerial tramway that ascends 960 metres in seven minutes.

From the tramway, you can also get a view of Mt. Robson.

The excursion to the top takes you through the park’s three life zones beginning with the montane, the open-forested Athabasca Valley bottom where most of Jasper’s large animals live. As the cable car ascends over 1350 metres above sea level, the vegetation changes into dense, thick forests of Englemann spruce and fir called the subalpine. At the upper terminal, the barren mixture of rocks, stunted trees and small, delicate plants is called the alpine lifezone, home of the “whistling” marmot and camouflaged ptarmigan.

The alpine is Jasper’s most fragile life zone. Extreme conditions mean that only certain plants and animals can survive, and only if they remain undisturbed. Please be careful to stay on designated trails and refrain from picking or disturbing any plants or feeding any animals at the top of The Whistlers.

Also, as you are asending into the high alpine, it is smart to bring extra clothes in case of sudden weather changes.

Tags: jasper national park, The Whistlers, Tramway
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