Sunday, April 4, 2010

More Jasper - Maligne Canyon.

After our trip to Athabasca Falls, we ventured to Maligne Canyon for some hiking. There are 6 bridges in all from top to bottom. As for distance, I'm not sure, maybe 5kms or so.

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Fence at the start of the hiking trail.


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For scale note the shadow of me in the lower left! It's about 53 meters deep at this location. My shadow is about 1/2 way down!


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Ice Falls.


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Hanging on tight!


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Most of the trail is quite steep. Not a good place for running shoes.


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Lots of ice on the trail in spots. The girls turned back just before this when it started to get quite icy.


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We came across some trees that had been blown over last fall. These had not been cleared yet.


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There are tours that will take you up the frozen river to the falls. Next year I'm there!


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I love the coloring in the ice.


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As you get towards the 5th bridge, you climb quite a ways above the river. You are pretty much out of the canyon and it gets very steep. Where did the handrails go? Nothing here but a goat path. Good thing my son and I are part Mountain Goat! As you go around the bend behind my son, you descend a fairly steep slope down to the 5th bridge.


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Bridge 5 is a suspension bridge and by far the coolest of the bridges. It sways as you walk across it. here you are completely out of the canyon and the walk to bridge 6 is fairly level and kind of boring.


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Here the river widens and slows before meeting up with the Athabasca River. As the season progresses, there is more water flowing here.


Chris.

2 comments:

  1. Absolutely beautiful area - I would love to go there someday. Perhaps when someday arrives, we can go there together - you be the guide.

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  2. Bruce, that is a great idea. If you can make it here this summer, we will be there the last week in July. At least that is the plan! But, I plan to take the kids there every year.

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