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2421 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2012 : 07:51 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by skibum101
Still lots of snow at higher elevations around Lake Louise etc. Have been watching high elevation snow shedding off of the faces regularly as would be expected in this heat. Not sure which iceline you are talking about though...Yoho?
Yes. The Iceline Trail at Yoho. |
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Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
23 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 2:48 PM
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| Does anyone know the state of the Tonquin Valley trail? The parks website describes it as "damaged". But is it still possible to visit any section of it? |
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372 Posts |
Posted - 07/14/2012 : 3:30 PM
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| Some trails by the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes are still covered in snow, while most of the trails in Central Kananaskis by Tombstone and Elbow Pass are snow free. Did not encounter any snow in the Fairholme Range. |
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Spruce Grove, Alberta
Canada
6 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 11:45 AM
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| Just spoke with the Park's Canada Jasper trail office about reserving for the Brazeau Loop in August. It would seem that the trail is currently impassable due to a washed out bridge on the river. They're not sure that they'll fix it due to funding cuts... Gotta love the government. |
Edited by - Albertan22 on 07/17/2012 11:46 AM |
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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
1266 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 11:59 AM
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| Went into Skoki on the weekend, just for a single night. The trails are quite muddy and the creeks and streams were quite swollen. It rained all Saturday evening. On the way out, water was flowing over some bridges. Most of the scrambles in the area seemed in good shape. |
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Edmonton, AB
91 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 12:10 PM
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quote:
Just spoke with the Park's Canada Jasper trail office about reserving for the Brazeau Loop in August. It would seem that the trail is currently impassable due to a washed out bridge on the river. They're not sure that they'll fix it due to funding cuts... Gotta love the government.
This is very disheartening, but not unexpected.
I was in Jasper on Saturday and the trails around Miette hotsprings are in good condition and the Fiddle River is fordable. However, the mosquitoes are simply unbelievable. Clouds of them that get in your mouth and ears. And they are hungry. Very, very hungry. |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
220 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 1:00 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Semi Awesome
However, the mosquitoes are simply unbelievable. Clouds of them that get in your mouth and ears. And they are hungry. Very, very hungry.
And there go my weekend plans for Utopia... LOL. Thanks for the heads up. |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 1:12 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by sheesh
Does anyone know the state of the Tonquin Valley trail? The parks website describes it as "damaged". But is it still possible to visit any section of it?
I wouldn't mind knowing as well. We're going on the weekend of July 27th 28th 29th. I guess "damaged" could mean a lot of things!
When are you going?
Hopefully the expected mosquito infestation has subsided a bit beforehand. |
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Edmonton, AB
91 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 1:29 PM
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quote:
And there go my weekend plans for Utopia... LOL. Thanks for the heads up.
Utopia Mountain might be better as the elevation would be higher and away from the vegetation. The mosquitoes came out in force in the late afternoon when we were hiking back along the Mystery Lake trail, which goes through quite a bit of forest. That said, we bailed from a plan to scramble up Roche Bonhomme on Sunday partly because of the iffy weather report, but mostly because of the damned mosquitoes -- the thought of camping out with them was too horrifying. |
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157 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 1:40 PM
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SemiAwesome and Arcturus:
I did Utopia on the same day you did Mt. Drinnel, Semiawesome. Maybe I saw you in the parking lot, but had no idea it was you. The mosquitos were unbelievable. They were everywhere. It was impossible to escape from them, even above the treeline. The summit was the worst. Besides mosquitos, there were two different types of flies up there as well. Stay away from Jasper! I did Indian Ridge the next day. I made the summit seconds before the storm moved in. It was quite chilly on the summit, and because of that there were no mosquitos. Jasper needs cooler weather! The mosquitos must die! |
Edited by - MtnNinja on 07/17/2012 2:48 PM |
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884 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 1:43 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by terria
quote:
Originally posted by sheesh
Does anyone know the state of the Tonquin Valley trail? The parks website describes it as "damaged". But is it still possible to visit any section of it?
I wouldn't mind knowing as well. We're going on the weekend of July 27th 28th 29th. I guess "damaged" could mean a lot of things!
My guess is horses + wet trail = damaged. I sunk up to my knees in quickmud on the way up Maccarib Pass last year, and that was in September. |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 2:46 PM
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Is it really that bad? It looks like such an amazing place, yet all I hear are negative things about it... Mud, mosquitoes, etc.
I'm half stoked to do it, and half preparing for three miserable days...
Mixed thoughts considering I'm driving up from Vancouver, that's for sure. Is it worth it? |
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884 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 3:06 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by terria
Is it really that bad? It looks like such an amazing place, yet all I hear are negative things about it... Mud, mosquitoes, etc.
I'm half stoked to do it, and half preparing for three miserable days...
Mixed thoughts considering I'm driving up from Vancouver, that's for sure. Is it worth it?
Don't be dissuaded. Just bring gaiters and a mosquito net for around camp in the evening. It's a spectacular place. |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 3:32 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by dav1481
quote:
Originally posted by terria
Is it really that bad? It looks like such an amazing place, yet all I hear are negative things about it... Mud, mosquitoes, etc.
I'm half stoked to do it, and half preparing for three miserable days...
Mixed thoughts considering I'm driving up from Vancouver, that's for sure. Is it worth it?
Don't be dissuaded. Just bring gaiters and a mosquito net for around camp in the evening. It's a spectacular place.
This will be my first trial run with a 'bug jacket'. Hope they work!
Good to hear some positive feedback! It's just slightly concerning when you hear all this on clubtread, as opposed to, say, an internet forum for RVers looking for easy strolls...
"We were made to walk 3.7 km in mud and over 2 or 3 downed trees, only to arrive at this lake ( wasn't even as nice as Maligne Lake ) and find that there wasn't even a TV or an ice cream store! Ughh! And the mosquitoes... Oh, the horror!" |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 3:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by dav1481
quote:
Originally posted by terria
Is it really that bad? It looks like such an amazing place, yet all I hear are negative things about it... Mud, mosquitoes, etc.
I'm half stoked to do it, and half preparing for three miserable days...
Mixed thoughts considering I'm driving up from Vancouver, that's for sure. Is it worth it?
Don't be dissuaded. Just bring gaiters and a mosquito net for around camp in the evening. It's a spectacular place.
This will be my first trial run with a 'bug jacket'. Hope they work!
Good to hear some positive feedback! It's just slightly concerning when you hear all this on clubtread, as opposed to, say, an internet forum for RVers looking for easy strolls...
"We were made to walk 3.7 km in mud and over 2 or 3 downed trees, only to arrive at this lake ( wasn't even as nice as Maligne Lake ) and find that there wasn't even a TV or an ice cream store! Ughh! And the mosquitoes... Oh, the horror!" |
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
220 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 3:48 PM
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It may be worthwhile to contact one of the outfitters in order to get the latest, most detailed conditions for the Tonquin Valley. I know that members from the ACC helped rebuild a bridge in that area a few weeks ago.
quote:
Originally posted by MtnNinja
SemiAwesome and Arcturus...
The bugs must be a consequence of all the rain (and flooding) the area got last month. I've been looking to get back to Jasper ever since the beginning of June and I keep getting better acquainted with the Canmore area instead.
I'm not sure what it is with Indian Ridge, but it seems every scrambling trip there runs into bad luck with changing conditions. Had the storm arrived sooner you could have joined a surprisingly distinguished list of scramblers with failed attempts. |
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884 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 3:50 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by terria
This will be my first trial run with a 'bug jacket'. Hope they work!
Good to hear some positive feedback! It's just slightly concerning when you hear all this on clubtread, as opposed to, say, an internet forum for RVers looking for easy strolls...
"We were made to walk 3.7 km in mud and over 2 or 3 downed trees, only to arrive at this lake ( wasn't even as nice as Maligne Lake ) and find that there wasn't even a TV or an ice cream store! Ughh! And the mosquitoes... Oh, the horror!"
It's got a couple small downsides, but they are well compensated for by the upsides. Here are my pictures from last year. Hope you see some wildlife too! |
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Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
125 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 5:53 PM
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The scenery looks like it's worth the trouble. Which route did you take? We're debating Astoria in / Astoria out or Maccarib in / Astoria out.
Oh yeah, the trail in those last two panoramic shots looks pretty dry. Where's that, Maccarib Pass area? |
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Edmonton, AB
91 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 6:00 PM
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quote:
I did Utopia on the same day you did Mt. Drinnel, Semiawesome. Maybe I saw you in the parking lot, but had no idea it was you. The mosquitos were unbelievable. They were everywhere. It was impossible to escape from them, even above the treeline. The summit was the worst. Besides mosquitos, there were two different types of flies up there as well. Stay away from Jasper! I did Indian Ridge the next day. I made the summit seconds before the storm moved in. It was quite chilly on the summit, and because of that there were no mosquitos. Jasper needs cooler weather! The mosquitos must die!
Well, Arcturus. I think we have the answer about Utopia. I was thinking about it as well, but mozzies that follow you all the way to the summit? Unbelievable! No, after Saturday, I'm a believer. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1041 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2012 : 6:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by terria
The scenery looks like it's worth the trouble. Which route did you take? We're debating Astoria in / Astoria out or Maccarib in / Astoria out.
Oh yeah, the trail in those last two panoramic shots looks pretty dry. Where's that, Maccarib Pass area?
Both the Astoria and Maccarib routes are 20 kms to Amethyst Lake. The Astoria route is easier, but less scenic. The first 5.0 kms of the Astoria trail is in perfect condition. It's after you cross over the Astoria river that the trail goes bad. The problem at the moment with the Astoria route is the instability of the rock slide that you have to traverse. The heavy snows and ensuing torrential rains have caused major instability. The few hundred meters through the slide is scary enough in good weather. As the weather warms up, as it has been, the stability increases lowering the risks. You can avoid the slide altogether by going in via Maccarib. Both trails are equally bad with mud and roots and rocks. The mosquitoes and horseflies will drive you insane, but with that being said, the Tonquin and Eremite Valleys are truly spectacular and is certainly worth the discomforts |
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Alberta Recent conditions reports
