All caribou closures lifted
The last of Parks Canada’s caribou closures were lifted on March 1 allowing backcountry users to venture into the Maligne-Brazeau and North Boundary areas for the first time this winter.
The area was originally closed Nov. 1 to help protect Jasper’s dwindling caribou herds, considered a species at risk.
Cavell Road, Portal Creek and the Tonquin Valley were also closed Nov. 1, but reopened Feb. 16.
According to Parks Canada, the closures are in place to help protect caribou from wolves, which use human tracks to hunt caribou in the alpine.
Jasper splitboard festival returns
The third annual Ascend Splitboard Festival returns to Jasper March 4 to 6.
The annual festival is designed to celebrate backcountry snowboarding, promote backcountry safety, and increase awareness about the sport.
For the uninitiated, a splitboard is a snowboard that can be separated into two skis, allowing riders to trek high into the backcountry before clipping back together to ride down through untouched powder.
To register for two days of splitboarding with a certified guide, visit www.ascendsplitfest.com. Registration costs $375, including tax, but does not include equipment.
In addition to splitboarding, a special guest speaker from Avalanche Canada will be at the D’ed Dog for a special presentation March 5.
Presentations begin at 7:30 p.m. and there will be a silent auction, raffle and skills competition. All of the money raised will support the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides (ACMG).
Les Rendez-vous de la Francophonie begins this week
ACFA Régionale de Jasper will be hosting a variety of Francophone events from March 3 to 23 to promote the French language and celebrate International Francophonie Day March 20.
The first event will be a Franco-Albertan flag raising ceremony at École Desrochers on March 4 at 11:15 a.m.
On March 9, Lise Paiement, a Francophone teacher, activist, author and visionary, will host an English conference called “Let’s Talk.” The free event will be held at École Desrochers starting at 6:30 p.m.
For a full list of activities, check out the back page of this issue of the Fitzhugh.
