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Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 1:32 PM
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So, the train will get me there from Winnipeg. Are there any trails that head into the backcountry near the town of Jasper itself? I'm looking for solitude, hopefully near a lake. I'm not looking for mountain climbing or anything.
Thanks. |
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65 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 2:09 PM
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| A little off topic, but a number of years ago I wanted to ride my bike from Jasper to Banff and other mountain highways as well but not across all the prairie highways to get there. I put my bike in a box, got a one way train ticket and had a relaxing enjoyable train ride to Jasper, unpacked my bike and hit the road... Easy as pie! We really do need to bring back train travel. |
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Jasper, ab
Canada
1028 Posts |
Posted - 04/22/2012 : 6:42 PM
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The only back country trail that you can walk to from the town itself is the Saturday Night Lake loop, also known as the 20 mile loop. The trailhead is about four blocks from the train station. You hike up to what's called the Pyramid bench and from there you can head west towards Saturday Night Lake. The trails are well marked. There are numerous small lakes on that loop. Minnow Lake at Km 10,High Lakes at km 12, and Saturday night Lake. Those lakes all have campsites but no one I know has camped up there so I'm not sure what condition they are in. You don't say when you plan on coming, but be warned, the mosquitoes are hellacious up there. But you will have lots of solitude up there.
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Edmonton, AB
Canada
216 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 07:46 AM
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| There also a fair amount of wolf (presently) and bear (later in the summer) activity in that area. |
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Kamloops, B.C.
Canada
157 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 08:30 AM
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| There are ton of trails right from town, everything from a 2km walk to the Sat night loop. On the pyramid bench north there are several small lakes each with a trail circling it. All have maps at key intersections with distances clearly marked. To the south of the tracks, Old fort point is the start of the Valley of the five lakes trail system, many great options. Again all trails well marked with maps at intersections. The elk are calving around the golf course starting right away, not to difficult to avoid them. Which you really want to do, female elk are nasty beasts when they feel their young are at risk and will charge you. The bears are out now at lower elevations, less of an issue then the elk in my book. |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 04/23/2012 : 11:22 AM
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| Why not catch a shuttle bus up the Maligne Lake Road? That will give you access to the trails from the lake (Bald Hills, Opal Hills, Skyline) or you could get dropped off at the Jacques Lake or Skyline trailheads on the way up. |
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282 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 09:17 AM
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| Or save yourself a few dollars and hitchhike. |
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Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 7:47 PM
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Thanks everybody, lobo, the Saturday Night Loop sounds just what I want. I will be looking into that trail online shortly.
I will also be checking into he shuttle bus service. Thats good to know, thanks Peter.
I live the mosquito central, I will be well supplied with deet.
Wolves? Bears? Thats one thing that never worries me. Especially wolves. Running into a human on the trail would be more dangerous.
Hitchhike? Not anymore, I have a full time job. I need somewhat reliable transportation.
Thanks again for all the help! |
Edited by - GordieW on 04/24/2012 7:48 PM |
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282 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 09:36 AM
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quote:
Hitchhike? Not anymore, I have a full time job. I need somewhat reliable transportation.
Then buy a car with your full time job. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
277 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 10:02 AM
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Wow-reading CT threads is like reading the comments on a CBC news forum sometimes. I think you are right, GordieW, running into some of these folks on a trail might be more sketchy than bears or wolves. Wow.
Enjoy your trip to Jasper, sounds like fun, and taking trains can be really great.
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Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 12:38 PM
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| Why would I waste money on a car? Why don't you sell yours Jeff and use public transportation? I have never had a license and I don't ever plan to. Quit being a troll. |
Edited by - GordieW on 04/25/2012 12:38 PM |
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282 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 1:34 PM
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Why would I waste money on a car? Why don't you sell yours Jeff and use public transportation? I have never had a license and I don't ever plan to.
Yes, you may be on to something, I should sell my car. That way I can take that public transportation that doesn't exist in my town. And maybe my wife can haul our two kids around year long without a car. Yes, that is a good idea. Oh, sorry for making an innocent comment on this thread. Sorry you are super sensitive. I will try and tone down my innocent comments for you. Have a nice time on the Saturday Night Loop trail.
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Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 4:10 PM
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Jeff if I stated in this thread that I was driving to Jasper, I bet you would have said 'Why don't you take the train?' I have a feeling you are one of those types.
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Jasper, Alberta
Canada
11 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 6:58 PM
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GordieW, you don't say when it is that you are coming, which could make a lot of difference in the recommendations given. You did mention "backcountry" trails, so that makes me think you are wanting to stay out overnight, not just do a day hike. Yes, there are tons of trails accessible from town, but as lobo mentioned, the Saturday Night Lake Loop is the only one with campsites (and in the summer, Parks does helicopter patrols of the bench to find illegal campers, due to the fire hazard and the proximity to town). Pyramid Bench is a lower elevation, heavily forested, lake-dotted terrace with lots of pleasant trails, but I sure hope you're not taking the train all the way from Winnipeg for that ... there are much better trails in the park and if you want to camp in the woods and get eaten by mosquitoes, you can do that in Manitoba. :-) Also, the first few kilometres at either end of the loop tends to be very busy with hikers, runners, and people walking their dogs.
If you could mention approximately when you are coming and the distance you want to hike (either km's or how many nights you want to be out), I'm sure you'll get much better feedback. Besides the Maligne shuttle or hitch-hiking, there are also taxi companies that offer trailhead shuttle service. |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 8:40 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by rillenkarren
GordieW, you don't say when it is that you are coming, which could make a lot of difference in the recommendations given. You did mention "backcountry" trails, so that makes me think you are wanting to stay out overnight, not just do a day hike. Yes, there are tons of trails accessible from town, but as lobo mentioned, the Saturday Night Lake Loop is the only one with campsites (and in the summer, Parks does helicopter patrols of the bench to find illegal campers, due to the fire hazard and the proximity to town). Pyramid Bench is a lower elevation, heavily forested, lake-dotted terrace with lots of pleasant trails, but I sure hope you're not taking the train all the way from Winnipeg for that ... there are much better trails in the park and if you want to camp in the woods and get eaten by mosquitoes, you can do that in Manitoba. :-) Also, the first few kilometres at either end of the loop tends to be very busy with hikers, runners, and people walking their dogs.
If you could mention approximately when you are coming and the distance you want to hike (either km's or how many nights you want to be out), I'm sure you'll get much better feedback. Besides the Maligne shuttle or hitch-hiking, there are also taxi companies that offer trailhead shuttle service.
Maybe a Jasper resident will even volunteer to give you a short lift, for a gas and a few bucks extra, or yes, take a taxi. Worth it to get to the trail you really want to go to, since you're coming that far, and have the money.
(I was about to make a flying car jibe, in case Path Finder read this, but I should hold back! ;-)!!!
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282 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2012 : 9:58 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by GordieW
Jeff if I stated in this thread that I was driving to Jasper, I bet you would have said 'Why don't you take the train?' I have a feeling you are one of those types.
Darn it Gordon, you figured me out. |
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Calgary, Alberta
Andorra
3787 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 11:03 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by GordieW
Why would I waste money on a car? Why don't you sell yours Jeff and use public transportation? I have never had a license and I don't ever plan to. Quit being a troll.
Personally, I spend money on a car and don't sell mine and use public transportation because I spend a lot of time in the mountains, and want to be able to make it to trailheads where I want, and on my own schedule. If you want solitude in the Canadian Rockies, you generally need a car to take yourself to one of the lesser-used areas. Public Transportation will only take you to one of a couple major centres.
Or, if you don't have a car, other commonly accepted ways to get around in the Rockies are things like hitchhiking. If you have a full time job and need reliable transportation, a car is the standard reliable transportation around here, and it's hardly trolling to point that out. Deriding reasonable suggestions that are given as beneath you and refusing others isn't overly endearing.
If you said you were driving to Jasper, no-one here would bat an eye, let alone suggest you take the train, as driving is the standard expected method of transportation. If you said you were coming to Jasper, it would be assumed that you meant by car.
Whether or not it *should* be the case the reality in the Canadian Rockies is that public transportation will get you to a few heavily-tourist-laden areas, and a vehicle (driven by you or someone else) is necessary to get to any chance of solitude.
Well, that or many days of hiking from the tourist-centres. |
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Winnipeg, MB
Canada
40 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2012 : 2:36 PM
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I have been using public transportation and hitchkiking to get into the backcountry for over 20 years. I go on usually 3 trips a year. And I go solo. The train will drop you off and pick you up anywhere along the line as long as it is at a mile marker. But I prefer to stick to managed parks. I have a trip planned in June to Sleeping Giant PP outside of Thunder Bay, transportation is all secure. I have an inflatble kayak that I can throw on a plane, train or bus and go paddling somewhere. Beleive me, a car is not needed.
The reason I'm coming to Jasper is simply that public trasportation will get me there and I have never been there before. If I go, it will most likely be in June or Sept, less bugs.I am trying to see as many as Canada's National and Provincial parks as I can. I am not new to this guys. Here is my website... http://www.backcountrycamping.info/
When a guy asks a question, if you don't have an answer, don't come into the thread and say.. "Well why don't you blah blah." That is rude. It would have been more polite to say "Why is it that your choosing the train?" And I would have explained myself, but I don't feel I have to explain myself to people who pop into a thread to throw in their comments that has nothing to do with my original query. :) There, does everyone understand me a little bit better now? lol ;) |
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1078 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2012 : 03:52 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Rachelo
quote:
Originally posted by GordieW
Why would I waste money on a car? Why don't you sell yours Jeff and use public transportation? I have never had a license and I don't ever plan to. Quit being a troll.
Personally, I spend money on a car and don't sell mine and use public transportation because I spend a lot of time in the mountains, and want to be able to make it to trailheads where I want, and on my own schedule. If you want solitude in the Canadian Rockies, you generally need a car to take yourself to one of the lesser-used areas. Public Transportation will only take you to one of a couple major centres.
Or, if you don't have a car, other commonly accepted ways to get around in the Rockies are things like hitchhiking. If you have a full time job and need reliable transportation, a car is the standard reliable transportation around here, and it's hardly trolling to point that out. Deriding reasonable suggestions that are given as beneath you and refusing others isn't overly endearing.
I don't think GordieW was doing that....he merely seemed to think hitchhiking was not reliable, (and I'd be thinking that to....though I have no experience with it). His implication that he had a job, did seem to suggest that he felt the issue was money related, but that too was completely warranted, as Jeff clearly talked about saving money!
It was Jeff's follow-up reply about buying a car that was out of line. GordieW was right...that was just an inflammatory snipe. It's not a particularly reasonable, insightful, or sincere suggestion to say "buy a car!" when a guy is asking for specific advice about one specific trip he is planning by train...Jeff clearly was angry at that point.
Save yourself a few dollars and hitchike.
No, I need a more reliable method, and I have a full time job.
Well buy yourself a car with the job!!!
Sorry Jeff, but that last line is where things went awry, and GordieW didn't deserve that one.
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282 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2012 : 07:47 AM
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| Hey, I would like to sincerely apologize for my comment made earlier on this thread. My intent was to make a simple, innocent, and light hearted joke but it was taken the wrong way at no fault of anyone else but mine own. Obviously you cannot do that on this site or at least with people you don’t know. I regret doing it and will refrain from making similar comments in the future. Thank-you for your understanding. Hopefully this issue can be laid to rest now and we can all move on as fellow human beings and lovers of nature and the great outdoors. As a huge fan of Jasper and our Rockies, I wish Gordon an excellent trip to Jasper. May he find the skies blue and be able to seek out the solitude he desires. |
Edited by - jeffs78 on 04/27/2012 07:56 AM |
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2421 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2012 : 2:41 PM
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Wow! Gordie/Jeff.
A simple misunderstanding and cleared up nicely. This must be a first for CT.
Thanks for setting a good example. |
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Taking the train to Jasper
