Back-up ideas south of Jasper

[Chuck the Mauler]

I have a 5 day trip planned in Banff and Jasper the beginning of August. I'm looking for ideas on a back-up plan. The reason being, Jasper is under an evacuation order due to fires and I'm not sure how this will play out 2 weeks down the road.

Where have you backpacked for 5-6 days in the area south of Jasper? Our flights take us in to Calgary if that helps.

Thank You.

 

[SteveR]

Calgary local here, with a few ideas, but with the disclaimer that I haven't really backpacked for a long time, and have only visited the areas mentioned below on day trips. I'm thinking that permits may well be a problem this late in the game. I'd ask backpacking friends to see if they have any ideas, but am heading out in a couple of hours for 4 days of very limited cell coverage.

Devon Lakes Backpack (Banff National Park) | 10Adventures

The Devon Lakes Backpacking trip is one of the best backpacking trails near Banff. This strenuous trail is one of the prettiest backpacks in Banff National Park.

www.10adventures.com

Sawback Trail Backpacking – Route Guide and Itinerary | 10Adventures

The Sawback Trail Backpacking route is one of Banff National Park’s premier destinations for overnight hiking. You may not know it, but this is a must-do.

www.10adventures.com

Brazeau Loop | A Backpacking Route Guide in Jasper NP | 10Adventures

The lengthy Brazeau Loop through Jasper National Park is a high elevation trail replete with mountain passes, rivers valleys, and extensive elevation gain.

www.10adventures.com

Turbine Canyon Backpacking | 10Adventures

The backpack to Turbine Canyon and Three Isle Lake leads you through two alpine passes, canyons, glaciers, and alpine lakes.

www.10adventures.com

Wonder Pass Loop – Backpacking around Mount Assiniboine | 10Adventures

The Wonder Pass Loop is a trail that takes hikers up Bryant Creek, over Assiniboine Pass and into the heart of Mount Assiniboine before gaining Wonder Pass.

www.10adventures.com

 

[Rockskipper]

Bugaboos

 

[OldBill]

Haven't been up there but did some research on the area. Might want to check White Goat Wilderness. They may allow random camping too.

 

[SteveR]

Plus 1 to the Whitegoat. Never been but I've heard good things. Likely no permits required.

 

[Rockskipper]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfire-threatening-jasper-national-park-and-town-prompts-evacuation-order-1.7272029

You’ve probably already seen this, but I might reconsider my plans to Canada and go somewhere without all the smoke. Right now that would probably be somewhere in the states.

 

[canadug]

I would seriously reconsider coming to anywhere in Canada this summer.....I live in Vancouver, BC and so far we have been lucky to not be on fire or covered in wildfire smoke. Pretty well all of Canada is tinder dry and we have over 400 wildfires right now in BC...Alberta is on fire and there are huge fires in the Yukon, NWT and Nunavut---Places that used to never have huge wildfires. Such a sad and scary time we live in!

 

[canadug]

Classic structures are now fully on fire as the fires have reached the townsite of Jasper!!

 

[Rockskipper]

Lots of news now about Jasper burning. I was there a few years ago and really liked it. So beautiful and more relaxed than Banff. So very sad.

 

[canadug]

Lots of news now about Jasper burning. I was there a few years ago and really liked it. So beautiful and more relaxed than Banff. So very sad.

It is a great townsite not wrecked by commercialism like Banff!

 

[Bob]

Smoke here in the GYE is probably just as bad..... See my yesterday's smoke map

 

[Wanderlust073]

Why did they wait so long to dispatch additional resources? I get the ‘these areas are too remote’ for a lot of it, but I saw Trudeau announce only last night they were sending federal resources to help.

 

[Bob]

Better leave completely.... Burned about 50% of Jasper.

 

[Bob]

Why did they wait so long to dispatch additional resources? I get the ‘these areas are too remote’ for a lot of it, but I saw Trudeau announce only last night they were sending federal resources to help.

Intensity is to much and crews cannot get close..... The way they are burning these will be hard to stop

 

[canadug]

Why did they wait so long to dispatch additional resources? I get the ‘these areas are too remote’ for a lot of it, but I saw Trudeau announce only last night they were sending federal resources to help.

The fire moved 5KMs in 30 minutes with flames reaching 100 meters in height.....There is no stopping the insane fires that are raging all over Canada