Urgent Alert: Hidden Snow Dangers Await Hikers on Jasper Trails
Even though it’s spring, winter isn’t over yet for hikers in Jasper National Park. Higher areas like Skyline, Sulphur Skyline, Tonquin Valley, and Maligne still have dangerous snow conditions.
If you plan to hike in Jasper, you need to be ready for several dangers. ‘Widespread avalanche hazard on all aspects above 2000 metres.’ This means snow could slide down mountains unexpectedly.
Parks Canada warns hikers about these conditions, as Jasper National Park writes on their official notice board.
Slip hazard
Another big risk is ‘snow covered trails that present a slip hazard and risk of injury. Sturdy footwear and snow cleats are recommended. Isothermic snow can make for tiring and hazardous conditions’. This means the snow is wet and can make walking very difficult.
You might also get lost because ‘snow-covered trails at higher elevation that are difficult to follow. Skills in route-finding and navigation may be required’. If you can’t follow the path, you might end up in dangerous places.
Time of the day
The time of day is also important to think about. ‘Deep, unsupported snow that will make sections of trail impassable at warmer times of day. Hard snow surfaces crossed in the early morning may become impassable for the return trip in a few hours’, writes Parks Canada. This means a path that was safe in the morning might be dangerous by afternoon.
