As the snow recedes and people begin to venture further afield, the Jasper Trail Alliance will be out and about clearing deadfall, pruning shrubs and improving trails throughout the park to get them ready for the summer.
Done entirely by a group of volunteers, the trail alliance meets regularly to rehabilitate and restore trails in the Three Valley Confluence around Jasper.
“It’s open to anyone who wants to get involved,” said Sue Cesco, co-manager of the Friends of Jasper National Park, which oversees the Jasper Trail Alliance.
As part of the group’s work, volunteers remove deadfall and cut away branches to improve sightlines.
By improving sightlines users are able to see animals and other people on the trail, as well as avoid tripping hazards.
“We started this three years ago so we’re catching up on overgrown trails from 20 years ago,” said Loni Klettl, a Jasper Trail Alliance leader and one of its founding members.
“There’s a lot of work to do, but if you do it properly and you do it right you get about 10 years before you have to go back and do it again.”
In addition to the physical work, Klettl also trains and certifies volunteers to legally clear small deadfall and improve sightlines while they are out on their own.
She said, as far as she knows, it’s the only program of its kind in a national park.
“Anyone can do it. When you’re certified, the next time you’re on a trail and a branch gets in your way you will know how to get rid of it and why you’re getting rid of it.”
On average about eight or nine people show up each session and it takes about two to three hours, said Klettl.
She stressed that it’s important to bring proper footwear, like hiking boots or running shoes and suggests that people also bring their own gloves, backpacks, water and bug spray.
“You want to be comfortable. You don’t want to be too hot or too cold, so bring a variety of layers.”
The group will begin to meet weekly in June, starting on June 5th and will meet again on the 15th and 25th for what it calls “high five trail days.”
“If the date ends in a five, we will have a trail day,” said Cesco, adding that the group will have regular meetings from June to September.
“It’s a couple hours of your day and it’s so worth it. You definitely won’t regret it,” said Klettl.
For more information about where and when to meet this summer, visit the group’s Facebook page at Jasper Trail Alliance. The page is also a great resource for up to date trail reports.
Paul Clarke
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