There are a million great photos of the waterfalls and Johnston Creek that show why.

This Photo of the Day is a photo of a fragment of the experience of Johnston Canyon, the edge where the water meets the limestone.  The smaller details can be easy to miss:  the rushing water of Johnston Creek, the jagged limestone rocks along the creek shaped by countless years of erosion, and the plants growing on the rocks.

Now multiply this by a hundred and you’ll get a sense why Johnston Canyon is amongst Banff National Park’s most popular hiking trails.

click image to view full size

View the image full size and set as a desktop wallpaper in preparation for a trip to Banff National Park.

Related posts:

1. Make time for the Icefield Parkway during your Canadian Rockies vacation

Shortly thereafter, I did several day hikes in Jasper and Banff National Park.  I loved having the trekking poles.

If you are planning to at least a few day hikes in Jasper National Park, I think that hiking poles are a great accessory.

I feel like my balance is better.  My knees feel supported.  It seems like my chance of stumbling is reduced.  I have more endurance.  I am a happy hiker.

Me hiking on a rainy day on the Sulphur Skyline Trail near Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park

It may sound strange, but I sometimes find myself walking rough terrain without looking down.  Instead, I’m somehow feeling the terrain with my poles and able to step softly.  Without poles, I’m watching my ever step.

On steep hills, I push on the poles with my arms and it seems to reduce the stress on the leg muscles, allowing my to hike further.  This was useful on the Sulphur Skyline Trail near Miette Hot Springs.  At the time, it was one of the longer hikes I’ve done.  The trail is uphill the first half until the summit and the trekking poles made a big difference.

The poles I used helped on the descent too.  I have antishock ones – which basically means a spring is inside the poles like a shock absorber on a car.   The antishock is nice when going downhill and putting a lot of force on the poles.  I also like the antishock feature because sometimes the ground is hard.  It softens the blow.

Recommending a brand is tough because this is new to me.  Shop around.  Some sporting goods stores sell trekking poles.  If found mine online.

Trekking poles can be inexpensive at $30-50 for a basic pair.   Expect to spend $50-100 or more for an ultralight weight pair or special features.

When shopping for a pair, consider the size and weight.  Most collapsible poles are small enough to fit in a suitcase.  Measuring before buying will help ensure fit.

A year later, I still use the poles for day hiking.

Hope this info helps make hiking a more enjoyable activity!

The photo is from a plateau area where hikers can take a breather and enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and valley below.

It was an intermittently rainy day, hence the rain gear one of the hikers was wearing.

The trail head starts at Miette Hot Springs and is one of the trails featured in the Done In Day Jasper book.

Hikers on Sulphur Skyline Trail, Jasper National Park

I took the picture as I was hiking.  It seemed like the colorful clothing complimented the mountain backdrop and made for an interesting shot.

Related posts:

1. Trekking Poles are the Secret Weapon of Happy Hikers in the Canadian Rockies and Beyond
2. Photo of the Day: Johnston Canyon Trail in Banff National Park
3. Visiting with Bighorn Sheep at Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park

I either need more suitcases or need to cut some things off the list!

Looking at the list, I noticed 3 things on my list that are essential for a Jasper National Park vacation and thought I’d mention it.

Having forgotten them before, they’re packed early this trip.

The 3 things are…

• Band-aids, ibuprofen, and toilet seat covers.

1. Band-aids are great just in case you get a blister while hiking.  A blister can take the fun out of hiking in Jasper National Park.  Put a bandage over a blister and “voila”, it stops the friction and feels better.  And if you have a trouble spot where you think you’ll get a blister, put a band-aid on ahead of time for protection from friction.

2. Ibuprofen is also your friend.  When you do a lot of hiking, it helps with any muscle aches.  I don’t know about you, but for me, things go better in terms of muscle aches if I take it before hiking.

It also helps make a long day of driving that much better to prevent muscle aches and backaches.

Or muscle aches from sleeping in a bed you’re not used to – or from sleeping on the ground while camping.

3. Toilet seat covers also have to be on my list.  Toilet seat covers can be a lifesaver if you are using outhouses a lot, which you may in the Canadian Rockies.  Most outhouses are clean.

But to be blunt, no one wants to sit on pee if the situation arises.  Enough said.

Also, a runner-up item on my list of essentials is toilet paper.  More than likely, it won’t be needed except for long hikes, but better to have it than not.

What items do you consider essential?

I compiled this list because I thought it would be cool (but by no means essential except for maybe backcountry hikers) to have trail maps on my handheld GPS device (mine is a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx) alongside printed maps.

The word on the street is that the amount of Canadian Rockies trails on the GPS topo maps is very limited and even non-existent for most hand-held GPS hiking devices.  The solution is to use GPS track maps (typically .GPX or .GDB files).   Put these files on your GPS to have Canadian Rockies trails at your fingertips.

The following offer free GPS track maps for hiking in Jasper National Park and other areas of the Canadian Rockies.

Calgary Outdoor Club

The Calgary Outdoor Club has lots of GPS tracks maps for Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis and a whole lot more here.

Hike Alberta

Hike Alberta also has a seemingly endless collection here of GPS GPX files for hiking all over Alberta, Canada.  Each of the hikes includes a description of the hike and photos.

This is a picture of what the raw data looks like once imported into a mapping program.  This shows the Old Fort Point trail in Jasper National Park.

Old Fort Point Trail in Jasper National Park

Southern Alberta Mapping Project

The Southern Alberta Mapping Project has also compiled a cache of trail maps here that includes some trails in the Canadian Rockies national parks.

Thanks to these hiking organizations for compiling and sharing these useful resources.

Know of any others? Do share.

Related posts:

1. Trekking Poles are the Secret Weapon of Happy Hikers in the Canadian Rockies and Beyond

While almost every activity in Jasper National Park seems to qualify (yes, I’m biased – I like Jasper National Park), here’s a hidden gem for those looking for a unique hiking experience:

• A guided ice walk on the Athabasca Glacier

Imagine hiking on a glacier.  Where else could you do that?

The guided ice walk offers a way to intimately experience the Athabasca Glacier.   Starting from the entrance just off the Icefield Parkway near the Athabasca Information Centre, the ice walk involves a guided hike where you’ll learn about how the glacier came to be as you hike right on the glacier.

There are 2 tours given by trained guides, a 3-4 hour “Ice Cubed” tour and a day-long 5-6 hour “Icewalk Deluxe” hike.  Both have frequent stops for rest, talks about glaciers, and enjoying the scenery.  The 3-4 hour Ice Cubed hike should be a good way to hike if you are in shape and able to hike but don’t want to be too tired out the next day.

Walking on ancient ice of the glacier is surely a different experience from any other hike in Jasper National Park.

There’s a certain element of danger to getting up close to this amazing ice sculpted landscape.  The waiver you’ll have to sign explains some of the potential dangers, such as:

“‘…Deep millwells, crevasses, or other holes, fissures or crevices may be hidden from view and not apparent to hikers.   Glacier ice can be very slippery, and ice conditions can change rapidly, without warning, in a short time or distance….”

Don’t be put off.  You’ll be in good hands with the experienced guides.

Athabasca Glacier Icewalks will teach you what you need to know at the beginning of the hike.  They’ll even provide crampon spikes that fit over your shoes.   Glacier streams also can make for some slippery areas so you’ll need to wear boots or hiking shoes.    They’ll also provide boots if you want.

Learn more at the Ice Walk website where you should make advance reservations if you plan on doing the walk this summer.

Not this one.

In “Done in a Day Jasper: The 10 Premier Hikes” you’ll find a passionately written, easily portable book containing just the right amount of details to make your Jasper National Park day hiking experience one of a kind.

Me Reading the Done in a Day Jasper Hiking Book

Kathy and Craig Copeland wrote the book in a mindful way, to help you appreciate the experience of day hiking in this corner of the Canadian Rockies.

Introduction

The book starts by introducing you to hiking in Jasper National Park, one of the gems of the Canadian Rockies.  You’ll get a quick glimpse of what to do and where to eat in Jasper.  You’ll learn what topographic maps are preferred and what weather to expect.

The introduction also contains hiking advice.  You’ll learn how to avoid bear encounters, why you should carry a compass, and how to prevent hypothermia.

A few pages cover wilderness ethics, a topic every new hiker should read.  The authors write:

“We hope you’re already conscientious about respecting nature and other people.  If not, here’s how to pay off some of your karmic debt load.”

Part of this karmic debt load can be reduced, the authors explain, by staying on the trail and respecting follow hikers.  I’m 100% behind that!

10 Premiere Jasper National Park Hikes

The book then goes on to cover the 10 premiere Jasper National Park day hikes.

Giving away the ending to a movie takes the fun out of it for your friends.  For the same reason, I’ll avoid listing all of the day hikes here.

The mix of top Jasper day hikes includes several easy 2 to 4 hour hikes, several moderate and challenging hikes, and an epic 10 to 12 hour day hike.

I will provide a teaser and say that the Cavell Meadows hike to Angel Glacier is on the list.  This is a popular hike (see why).  So let’s look at what Kathy and Craig write about the hike for a sense of the book.

The section on Cavell Meadows/Angel Glacier starts out with the basic facts:  location, circuit, elevation gain, key elevations, hiking time, difficulty, seasonal availability, and recommended map.  Then, an opinion section gets into the grandeur of the experience:  “If your timing is fortunate, your eyes will swim through bold splashes of red, pink, yellow, purple and white.”

A Map of a Jasper Day Hike

Because the authors know about the popularity of the Cavell Meadows hike, they made sure to suggest other options for “serious hikers seeking a wilderness experience.”

Next, the authors discuss facts about the Cavell Meadows and how you should check at the Jasper Information Centre to make sure the trail is open.  The book provides driving directions and then a detailed guide to the trail (distances, junctions, and key sites).

So that’s what the day hiking chapters are all about.

Several of the day hike chapters give short and long day hike options – it’s like 15 hiking options for the price of 10.  You’ll learn how to get the most out of a 3 hour Jasper National Park day hike, but if you’re up for extending it to a 6 or 7 hour hike, the authors provide details.

Preparing for hiking

The book concludes with tips on how prepare for hiking and has topics on clothing, trekking poles, first aid, water and food.  I’m a casual day hiker with aspirations for more and found this section educational.  I’m now convinced that my wife and I need to use trekking poles because of the added traction and reduced body strain.  What the authors say about certain types of trekking poles is hilarious:

“Don’t carry one of those big, heavy, gnarled, wooden staffs, unless you’re going to a costume party dressed as Gandalf.”

That will make me look at fellow stick toting hikers in a different light from now on.

About the authors

Kathy and Craig are incredibly dedicated hikers and have authored much on the topic (they have a few other books on Canadian Rockies hiking too).

Conclusion

Perfect size for Canadian Rockies hiking

Pros:

• Portable size – Packs detailed and accurate guidance in a small size.
• Passionate -  Kathy and Craig Copeland’s passion about hiking and the environment shows through in this book.  I can only hope the passion rubs off onto others.
• Humorous – Witty and humorous tidbits scattered throughout the book.
• Pictures – Contains pictures of inspirational scenes from actual Jasper day hikes.
• Worth the price – For not much more than the price of a good meal, you can have a guide to the views of a lifetime.
• A portion of proceeds goes to charity – The publishing company, run by the authors, is a member of “1% for the Planet“, a business that donates 1% of their sales to the natural environment.

Cons:

• None, though some might say more detailed maps would be beneficial.  Even though the book’s detailed descriptions provide all that’s really needed to navigate, I’d personally just bring my hand-held GPS (with compass) to see my current elevation, distance traveled and other measurements.

I’m glad I bought the book and expect it to help me to make the most of my next trip to Jasper National Park this summer.  The book will be in my hands while day hiking.  I wish I had it last time.

Would you like the book too? Get Done in a Day Jasper: The 10 Premier Hikes! from Amazon.com or Done in a Day Jasper: The 10 Premier Hikes! from Amazon.ca
. Going to Banff too?  Check out “Done in a Day: Banff” by the same authors.

Happy hiking!

To get the most out of hiking, pre-vacation hiking preparation goes a long way to increasing your enjoyment.

If you’re thinking about hiking, I encourage you to try to do step up your training at home as far before vacation as you can.  By preparing for hiking ahead of time, you can build up your endurance and your muscles.  You can use training to avoid being completely exhausted after a short hike and to avoid injuries or dangerous situations on long backpacking trips.

Skyline Trail in Jasper

Training for hiking is easy.  Just walk.  One foot in front of the other.

Practice walking short distances to build up your endurance for longer trails.  Start with short distances around the neighborhood or at a mall or on the treadmill at the gym.  Envision the Discovery Trail around Jasper or the Maligne Canyon trail on the way to Maligne Lake or Wilcox Pass near the icefields. Then progress to longer distances.  By the time you visit Jasper, you’re in top form and ready for all the Canadian Rockies have to offer.

I’d suggest writing your training down on a calender, whether you’re walking around the neighborhood or using the treadmill at the gym.  Seeing it written on a calendar can be motivating.

When you train for hiking at home, remember that you’ll be wearing a backpack in while hiking in Jasper.  If you have a chance while training, try to wear a backpack with a weight similar to what you’d expect to carry in the Canadian Rockies.

If you need motivation, here’s a video from YouTube of scenes from the Skyline Trail.  You DO NOT want to have to turn around because you are tired on a trail like this in Jasper and Banff.

Click here to view the embedded video.

For longer backpacking trips where you may hike 6, 8 or 12 hours a day for several days in a row, obviously a different level of training is required and you’ll really need to work on endurance so you can avoid collapsing from exhausting half-way through!

Related posts:

1. Trekking Poles are the Secret Weapon of Happy Hikers in the Canadian Rockies and Beyond

Both glaciers can be seen by hiking the Path of the Glacier Loop, a 1-2 hours hike from the trailhead on Cavell Road. The Cavell Meadow trail continues from the Path of the Glacier trail and will bring a Jasper National Park hiker past more views of the glaciers.

Seeing the icebergs from Angel Glacier and Cavell Glacier floating in Cavell Pond is a wonderful reward for the hike.  Many Jasper National Park hiking visitors have photographed this phenomena.  Here’s a selection of beautiful photos of Cavell Pond glacial ice:

As a frame of reference, this photo shows the scene with Angel Glacier (a topic for another day!) spreading its wings above Cavell Glacier and Cavell Pond.

As can be seen from the pictures from several photographers, every day is different on Cavell Pond.

(Photo credits: click photos to view original)

Notice how different the hiking clothing is.  It seems as if the 1930s Jasper National Park hikers are all dressed up.

It is also very likely, given what I’ve read about Jasper National Park’s history in Culturing Wilderness in Jasper National Park and in other sources, that the people visiting Jasper National Park in the 1930s were more wealthy than most.  Remember too that the great depression was in the 1930s.  In the 1930s, Jasper National Park was still relatively obscure compared to Banff National Park, with Jasper having an average of 14,859 visitors per year in the 1930s whereas Banff National Park had an average of 173,178 visitors per year in the 1930s (source: I used the visitor statistics chart on page 226 of “Culturing Wilderness in Jasper National Park” [2007] to come up with these averages).