Tips, tricks and regulations with Park Warden Joe Storms
Does your ultimate summer experience involve water? Check out Jasper’s many rivers and lakes this year to find your passion. From swimming and paddleboarding to whitewater rafting or overnight canoe trips, there is something for all ages and abilities in Jasper National Park.
Just remember, Jasper has cold water and you need to be prepared.
While lakes like Pyramid and Annette can warm up considerably (although warm is a relative term!), mountain lakes often have only three months or less to warm up after the ice comes off and many rivers are fed by glacial melt.
Add a few cloudy days and a day or two of snow, and you get cold lakes and rivers. For instance, at the peak of summer, the warmest bodies of water can rise to 20 degrees for a couple weeks, but places like Maligne Lake only warm up to 12 degrees—just two degrees warmer than tap water.
Cold water and hypothermia are major concerns when recreating in the waters of Jasper National Park. Frigid temperatures can render a person incapable of performing simple functions in a matter of 10 minutes in poor conditions.
Always paddle close to shore and wear a personal floatation device (PFD), also known as a life jacket.
If embarking on an voyage, inner tubes, $20 inflatable dinghies used to float down the Miette River, and stand up paddleboards are all considered vessels and therefore require minimum safety gear, including a PFD. Being on board your boat without a PFD will result in fines of $200 for each infraction, so ensure you have the following on board:
* 1 proper fitting PFD per person;
* 1 sound signalling device;
* 1 bailing bucket; and
* 1 buoyant heaving line.
Finally, unlike motorized watercraft which are prohibited in most national parks, electric motors are permitted on some lakes in Jasper. Check with the Visitor Information Centre about where electric motors are allowed and be sure you have your pleasure craft operator card in your pocket. If you do not have one, it can be easily obtained online.
Park Wardens, the RCMP and Jasper Bylaw work to ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike. Laws are in place for everyone’s safety and for the protection of this valuable place we call Jasper National Park. Visitor awareness and behaviour are keys to preventing incidents while connecting with this mountain landscape. With your participation, you can contribute to the protection of the park.
Contact Parks Canada to report any violation or situation you feel is not quite right 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 780-852-6155 or toll free at 1-877-852-3100. You can also email [email protected]. For more information on Jasper National Park regulations, visit www.pc.gc.ca/jasper and click on “National Park Regulations”.
Parks Canada
Special to the Fitzhugh
