Spring is here, and it might be time to dig out the golf clubs – but it’s not time to hang up the cross country skis for the year, according to Jasper’s many skiers.

Rogier Gruys and Marcia Dewandel, visitor experience and product development specialists for Parks Canada, say there are plenty of higher-elevation ski trails still ready to be enjoyed. 

Edith Cavell is one trail that has received a dusting of snow lately. Gruys said the lower area might have to be walked, but higher up the trail is full of fresh, powdery snow. He completed the ski to the top of the awe-inspiring mountain road just two weeks ago.

“It was beautiful,” he said. 

Other areas that are still ready to ski include Summit Lakes and Maligne Lake. Gruys recommends anything higher up, or in back country areas such as the Bald Hills. If using those areas, however, Dewandel recommends checking in before heading out, and being up to date on avalanche bulletins. 

“It’s always good to check in with the info centre,” she said. 

Dave MacDowell, Jasper Cross Country Ski Club member said the Cavell Road is a highlight. 

“It’s amazing out there,” he said. “It’s winter up high.”

One of the great successes this year has been the new Jasper Cross Country Ski Club Facebook page. Skiers have been exchanging information and providing up-to-date reports of their experiences out on the trails. 

Parks has been working with the ski club to get input on where to groom trails. The club has also expressed some interest in helping out with the actual track setting work in the future.

“It’s great to get all the support from the local skiers,” Gruys said. 

Dewandel is also happy with the local support, adding that they provide a great resource for the visiting skiers, and are constantly out using the trails.

“They’re out there so much,” Dewandel said. 

This year, Parks Canada developed a new winter trail map for skiers, snowshoers and walkers, and signage for trail heads. 

“This is a first for us,” Gruys said.

The new detailed signage has received lots of feedback from out-of-town users. The signs have a difficulty rating, information on trail crossings and more. They are up at all of the areas that Parks Canada track sets. Parks is taking what they’ve heard from skiers so far, and plans to update the signage and maps if necessary. So far the feedback has been positive, and visitors are happy to find groomed trails in the national park. 

“That really surprised them,” Gruys said of the trails. Jasper isn’t the only park that has groomed trails; Lake Louise also has a selection of track-set trails. The trails in Jasper are limited by the available equipment and Parks staff. Thea Mitchell, public relations and communications for Jasper National Park, said the Bench area behind Jasper has old ski signs where there used to be groomed trails. Now, that area isn’t track set as much due to less snow. 

“Over time, the climate has changed,” Dewandel said. 

Gruys said Jasper is very well known for its downhill skiing at Marmot Basin, but the world-class cross country skiing is lesser known. The trails have grown from being mainly local and regionally used, to being an attraction for visitors. 

“It would be great to have people come to Jasper just for the skiing,” Gruys said. 

The new signs and maps help visitors access the cross country ski trails that were previously frequented by locals, but can also help new local users get onto the trails as well. 

“A lot of them don’t really know what to do or where to go (when they get here),” Dewandel said. 

The cross country ski season got a late start this year, but it is continuing late into the spring due to fresh snow. 

“We’ve been having snow every single week since Christmas,” Gruys said. “From what I hear, it’s the best season in ages.”

Snowshoeing is also growing in popularity. Gruys said it’s great for families because there is no learning curve like for cross country skiing. Both cross country skiing and snowshoeing are less expensive options than downhill skiing. 

“Once you’ve rented your skis, then off you go,” Gruys said. 

Gruys said the recent Jackrabbits program that started this year is a great opportunity to get kids involved in cross country skiing, and they enjoyed working with the instructors to develop kid-friendly trails. By the end of the Jackrabbits season, the kids were starting to use more advanced trails.

“We were able to work with the ski club and make sure there were tracks set for them,” Gruys said. 

Dewandel said the sport is starting to become something kids really enjoy, and look forward to doing. 

“The kids are saying this is cool, this is fun,” she said. 

Parks installed a stove and shelter at Marmot Meadows off the Whistlers Campground trails, which provides an opportunity to “spice things up for the youth,” Dewandel said. The shelter provides an opportunity to have a day trip complete with a hot dog roast. 

MacDowell said that from the club’s point of view, the Jackrabbits program was the highlight of the season, and many kids joined and learned to ski. He hopes the club continues to grow, and the group has many plans for the future. 

Gruys said Jasper’s proximity to nordic clubs such as Canmore and Hinton provide a great opportunity for visitors to try out Jasper’s more natural trails, and then head on to Hinton for a day on their nordic groomed trails. 

Dewandel said she hopes anyone with feedback or comments on the ski season will contact the Info Centre.