If last winter was the season of closures, this winter is the season of opportunity.
After closing the west side of the Maligne Valley last December in an effort to protect the dwindling Maligne caribou herd, recreationalists spent the season scrounging for accessible skiable terrain and snowshoeing opportunities.
With the closure in place again this winter, Parks Canada has announced new winter terrain and opportunities both at Maligne Lake and closer to town to ensure there are opportunities for visitors and locals to enjoy the winter season in Jasper National Park.
To help you plan your winter, here’s a rundown of the park’s new winter offers.
In the summer, Marmot Meadows is a group campsite at Whistlers Campground with two cook shelters and gorgeous mountain views of either Mount Tekarra or Whistlers Mountain, depending where you’re standing.
Transitioning into winter, for the first time this year, the area is being transformed into a “winter hub” with the addition of a manmade ice rink and a brand new “purpose-built” intermediate cross country ski trail.
“We got an expert in from outside, a cross country ski expert who runs his own ski resort, and he basically guided us in building this trail,” said Rogier Gruys, product development specialist for Jasper National Park.
“The big thing is it’s up and down, it’s hilly, it’s the kind of trail that an avid cross country skier would really enjoy, like what you go to nordic centres for,” he said.
The trail is still under construction, but it’s currently about four kilometres long. Gruys said one of the perks of building it, rather than creating a trail on existing terrain, is it doesn’t require a significant amount of snow before it can be track set.
“There’s not twigs or boulders sticking out that in the past we would have to wait for all the snow to cover, so the idea is it’s very smooth. So with very little snow we can actually start grooming and offer a longer season.
“That’s the way we hope to really promote our cross country skiing.”
As well as the new recreational opportunities, there will also be Aboriginal interpretation taking place on the weekends throughout the winter months.
Gruys expects winter offers to begin at Marmot Meadows in early December, depending on the snow.
Whirlpool is another group campsite in the park, near Meeting of the Waters, with cross country ski trails at the ready. But for the first time this year, Parks is offering winter camping at the site, allowing people to stay overnight no matter the weather.
“We thought what a great opportunity—without any extra investments—we’re able to open it up for winter camping,” said Gruys, noting that the site already has a new privy and a cook shelter complete with a wood stove.
“People can camp there or they can park their RV or trailer and basically cook breakfast in the morning and get out on their cross country skis right from the door of their RV or their tent.
The site has marked tent pads and will have a plowed area for RVs.
“So people who are really keen to get out there, especially when it’s not that cold outside, there’s a great new winter camping offer.”
Although alpine skiing on the west side of Maligne Lake will remain closed this winter, Parks has approved winter use on some of the lower lateral trails, including Moose Lake Loop and Big Moose Loop, as well as a section of the Maligne Pass trail, toward the Trapper Creek Campground.
“This year the east end Mary Schaefer Loop is open as before, but we’re adding some more signage there and on the west end, we’ve opened up the Moose Lake Loop for people to go snowshoeing and user track set skiing,” said Gruys.
“It’s not alpine, but it’s a great way to explore Maligne Lake and to enjoy the beauty of the lake and the snow there, while still protecting the caribou that are up higher in the Bald Hills.”
Hidden Cove Campground will also be open for winter camping or picnics and can be accessed on skis or snowshoes.
Alpine areas will open for winter access on March 1, 2016.
Expanding on its efforts from last year, Parks will flatpack new trails on Pyramid Bench this winter, offering new places for fat bikers, snowshoers and winter hikers to explore.
Gruys said the plan is to flatpack the trail that leads from town all the way up to Pyramid Lake Resort, as well as the Pyramid Fire Road and the loop around Mina and Riley lakes.
“So that gives people several options for fat biking, snowshoeing and winter walking,” said Gruys.
“The idea there is that even though there’s not that much snow in the valley or in that area, it’s perfect for those activities and by flatpacking we just make it a little bit easier to get into a sport like fat biking.”
Parks will also be plowing the day use area at Sunwapta Falls this year to allow people to ski or snowshoe around the falls.
“They can actually go all the way to Big Bend either on skis or snowshoes; they can go there for a picnic or if they’re really keen they can go winter camping.”
Nicole Veerman
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