Early on the morning of 7-31-13, the day after Lupe’s explorations up the glorious Berg Lake Trail to see Mt. Robson and Berg Lake, Lupe and SPHP headed S in the G6 back towards Jasper. It was the 23rd Day of Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation, and time to start the long drive back home. There wasn’t any huge rush though – there was still time for a few more great Dingo adventures along the way!
From Jasper, Lupe and SPHP continued S along the beautiful Icefields Parkway Hwy 93. SPHP stopped the G6 at a pullout a few km before reaching the Icefields Centre across from the Athabasca Glacier. The pullout provided an excellent spot to admire the upper Sunwapta River Valley, and a portion of the Columbia Icefield beyond. At this point, the Sunwapta River is just a braided stream bearing little resemblance to the mighty river it becomes further N by the time it roars over Sunwapta Falls.
While still in the area of the Columbia Icefield, SPHP thought it would be a good idea for Lupe to check out the Wilcox Pass Trail before leaving Jasper National Park. Just a few km S of the Icefields Centre across from the Athabasca Glacier is a short gravel road on the E side of the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 which goes to the Wilcox Creek Campground. The Wilcox Pass Trailhead is located along this gravel road immediately before the road reaches the campground.
Wilcox Pass is only a 4 km hike from the trailhead, but until nearing the pass, most of the way the trail climbs pretty steeply. It starts off winding around through a forest, but the forest thins out about the time the trail comes around a bend and reaches the first stunning views of the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding mountains.
There were lots of people on the trail. It was easy to understand why. The already amazing views became better and better as the trail continued climbing above the remaining forest. Eventually the trail reached the high point of Wilcox Pass, which proved to be at a very broad, gently sloping open area of heather dotted with small ponds and streams.
The trail continued NNW on over the pass to the E of Mount Wilcox, but the best views were clearly going to be towards the SW in the direction of the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding peaks. Lupe and SPHP left the pass heading that direction. Lupe loved the open high ground along the way. Pretty soon, Lupe and SPHP arrived at the edge of a ridge situated 1,400 feet above and just NE of the Icefields Center.
The views of the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding snow-covered peaks from Lupe’s final perch were astonishing. Photos barely begin to convey the sense of height, space and frozen splendor inspired by the icy panoramic sweep of the towering mountains and gleaming white glaciers that met Lupe’s gaze from that high ridge. More of the dazzling Columbia Icefield shone brilliantly above the glaciers than Lupe and SPHP had ever seen before, yet even that was still just a tiny part of the whole. In an instant, the Wilcox Pass Trail became Lupe and SPHP’s favorite half-day hike in the Canadian Rockies or anywhere else.
Lupe and SPHP stayed at the edge of the ridge SW of Wilcox Pass for a long time. It seemed like a shame to ever leave, but time waits for no Dingo, nor even any Carolina Dogs. Fortunately Carolina Dogs are immensely practical. Lupe was in high spirits on the return trip from the SW ridge back across the heather to the Wilcox Pass Trail, and on down to the G6.
Lupe and SPHP resumed the drive heading S over Sunwapta Pass, the border between Jasper and Banff National Parks. The Wilcox Pass Trail had been so wonderful, SPHP had already started thinking about what else Lupe could still do this day. So, just 5.5 miles S of the pass, SPHP turned off the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 to the Nigel Creek trailhead. The map at the trailhead showed that it was 7 km up to Nigel Pass. The first part of the trail was actually a continuation of the gravel road to the trailhead. Lupe and SPHP set off for Nigel Pass.
Lupe was quite ready for another adventure, but after trudging up the road 0.5 mile or so, SPHP realized it wasn’t really going to happen. After the 42 km round trip up to Berg Lake and Mt. Robson the previous day, and hardly a break after the climb up to Wilcox Pass, SPHP didn’t really have the steam left to continue – at least, not for a little while. It was time to rest. Lupe was surely puzzled when SPHP turned around and led her back to the G6. The beautiful drive S on the Icefields Parkway resumed.
Near the Waterfowl Lakes campground, SPHP parked the G6 again. SPHP still wanted to do something easy that Lupe would like. After a bit to eat, Lupe and SPHP walked through the campground and took the bridge over the lovely Mistaya River. Lupe followed the same trail she had just a few days before to Chephren and Cirque Lakes.
This trail gains very little elevation while proceeding through a dense forest. With the campground closed for the summer for repairs to the flood-damaged water system, no one was around. The trail was abandoned. It was a pleasant, easy stroll through the very quiet forest. At least, it had been quiet until an American Dingo arrived. Lupe found lots of squirrels to bark at along the way. Her excitement rang through the forest. She was having a most excellent time.
This time, the junction where the trail divides to go to either Chephren or Cirque Lake was as far as Lupe and SPHP went before turning around. Gradually twilight was coming on. The squirrels started hitting the hay. Slowly the darkening forest grew quiet again. By 10:00 PM, Lupe was back snoozing peacefully in the G6.
Did she dream about the scenic wonders of Wilcox Pass, or the squirrels in the forest? SPHP bet on the squirrels.
Links:
Next Adventure Prior Adventure
Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-29-14)
Nigel Pass & Panther Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (7-31-14)
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