Update from Jasper National Park

JASPER NATIONAL PARK UPDATE

Hello Jasper National Park Volunteers:  

Caribou Habitat Delayed Access: Is now in effect once again for the Maligne, Brazeau, Tonquin and North Boundary areas to protect southern mountain caribou populations in Jasper National Park. For more info, please visit: www.pc.gc.ca/caribou 

Winter opportunities to enjoy: While we’re still waiting for a serious dump of snow or two in the valley bottom, there are now ungroomed ski-able conditions in subalpine and alpine areas of Jasper National Park. The new 2019 winter guide is also out and up on the web! Have a look through it and send any questions to us or jnp.info@pc.gc.ca 

The Whirlpool winter hub is being prepared at one end of Highway 93A as is the trailhead at Athabasca Falls. For anyone who loves their snowshoeing, there will be a 6km loop along the river and back over the hill to the Geraldine fire road along. new this winter is also the opening of Lake Annette picnic area year round (usually the gate is closed. Not this year!). 
Thinking ahead in 2019: All about Whistlers!  As you are no doubt aware, 2019 marks an interesting year in jasper’s history as the main campground of more than 700 sites will be closed until 2020. Repairs and upgrades here are necessary and long, long overdue. As mentioned above, it will pose challenges to the volunteer program and the availability to access camping here in the park. We are conscious of this fact and will simply be asking volunteers only to volunteer whatever they can.  There really aren’t any solutions for volunteers who will need a place to camp as visitor demand on our available camping offer will be higher than ever. (Wapiti, Wabasso, Poco, parkway campgrounds and Snaring). There will longer/extended campground openings in most of these campgrounds.  

It means you will find MORE campsites open in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, but a very, very tight summer season in June-September.  

Possible suggestions: 

• Get onto PCRS early in the year and secure your reservations. Ideally, be flexible and aim for midweek dates in shoulder seasons if possible. 

• Explore provincial parks at albertaparks.ca and some of the provincial recreation areas near Hinton. Or in the south end of the park, stay in Rampart Creek in Banff, Silverhorn (new). Waterfowl Lakes or Thompson Creek PRA near Saskatchewan Crossing. But note that gas was $2/litre at the nearest gas station this summer. ;( 

• Stay at hostels, including Jasper’s BRAND NEW international hostel in town which is already taking 2019 reservations. www.hihostels.ca.  Midweek is often a good time to stay in wilderness hostels at HI Hilda Creek, Beauty Creek, Maligne Canyon, Edith Cavell or Athabasca Falls. HI Rampart Creek and HI Shunda Creek (Nordegg) are also within reach. 

Kevin Gedling
Coordinator, Volunteer Programs| Coordonnateur, Programme de bénévolat
Jasper National Park| Parc national Jasper
Phone| Téléphone : 780-883-0486
jasper.volunteers@pc.gc.ca | benevoles.jasper@pc.gc.ca