{"id":155,"date":"2015-03-20T10:54:35","date_gmt":"2015-03-20T16:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=155"},"modified":"2023-11-25T16:19:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T23:19:40","slug":"wilcox-pass-trail-jasper-national-park-canada-7-29-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=155","title":{"rendered":"Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-29-14)"},"content":{"rendered":"

An easy\u00a0side hike SW from the\u00a0high point on the Wilcox Pass Trail is the edge of a ridge featuring the most splendid panoramic snow-covered mountain and glacier view Lupe and SPHP have ever seen anywhere.\u00a0 Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome, and Mt. Kitchener are on display in all their frozen glory.\u00a0 Although basically the same scene can be seen from down along the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, the view is even better from 1,400 feet above and well worth the effort.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Wilcox Pass trailhead is located just E of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 along the gravel road that leads to the Wilcox Creek campground. The turnoff is just a mile or two N of the Banff and Jasper National Parks boundary at Sunwapta Pass, and just a couple miles S of the Icefields Centre\u00a0across from\u00a0the Athabasca Glacier.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The spectacular view of Mt. Athabasca<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(11,453 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>, Mt. Andromeda<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,286 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and the Athabasca Glacier from Wilcox Pass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe arrived at the Wilcox Pass trailhead on 7-29-14\u00a0less than 10 minutes after having just completed a wonderful short day hike to\u00a0Parker Ridge<\/a><\/span><\/strong> to see the Saskatchewan Glacier.\u00a0 It was 12:06 PM, 72 degrees F, with totally clear skies and a dead calm when Lupe set out up the Wilcox Pass trail.<\/p>\n

The trail starts out climbing steadily at a pretty good clip through a conifer forest.\u00a0 This is deservedly a very popular hike and there were lots of people hiking the trail.\u00a0 For the first third or more of the roughly 4 km to the top of Wilcox Pass, the trail is climbing through the forest with only glimpses of the spectacular scenery nearby.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe and the view toward Snow Dome<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,483 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> & Mt. Kitchener<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,417 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R). 7-29-14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first really good look at the fantastic scene to the SW comes at a rock ledge just a few feet off the trail shortly before the trail emerges from the forest.\u00a0 From the ledge you get a clear view of Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome and Mt. Kitchener.<\/p>\n

Lupe only stopped here for a few minutes before continuing on.\u00a0 From this 1st viewpoint, the trail climbs at a slower pace and soon emerges from the forest.\u00a0 Scattered clumps of trees are still around, but the area is mostly open so most of the time the view to the SW is unobstructed.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Athabasca Glacier flows down from the 325 square kilometer Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains of North America.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After almost completely leveling out, the trail, which has been heading NW, takes a jog more to the N for a rather steep stretch of climbing until it gets completely above tree line. Gradually the rate of ascent decreases as the trail turns back more to the NW once again.\u00a0 Shortly before reaching the high point on Wilcox Pass, Lupe came to a nice creek where she cooled off and got a drink.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Wilcox Pass area in Jasper National Park, Canada. Mt. Athabasca (L) and Mt. Andromeda (R).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the high point on Wilcox Pass, the trail continues NW over a broad, open,\u00a0gently sloping area between\u00a0Mount Wilcox<\/a><\/span> (9,462 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0to the SW and a large rocky ridge to the NE\u00a0extending out from Nigel Peak<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (10,535 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0 If followed beyond the pass, the trail eventually leads down to the Tangle Creek area.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
This view of the Wilcox Pass area looks NW in the direction of Tangle Creek.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, the spectacular\u00a0panoramic view\u00a0Lupe had come to see, was not in the direction of Tangle Creek.\u00a0 Instead,\u00a0Lupe turned SW\u00a0at Wilcox Pass and\u00a0followed an unmaintained trail which climbed a little bit before reaching the edge of\u00a0a ridge 1,400 feet above the Icefields Centre.\u00a0 Here Lupe stopped to rest and survey the breathtaking\u00a0scene.<\/p>\n

Lupe and SPHP spent a long time gazing out at Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome, and Mt. Kitchener.\u00a0 The Icefields Centre, the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93, and the parking lot for the hike to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier were all in view, too.\u00a0 Special buses designed for glacier tours\u00a0were crawling slowly like little black caterpillars up towards and onto the Athabasca Glacier. \u00a0A portion of the huge Columbia Icefield from which the Athabasca Glacier descends loomed above the glacier.<\/p>\n

\"P1050381\"<\/a>
Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda & the Athabasca Glacier. 7-29-14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and\u00a0SPHP spent quite a bit of time at this glorious viewpoint.\u00a0 Lupe had some water, some\u00a0Taste of the Wild\u00a0and posed for photos.\u00a0 She soon spotted a strange creature she had never seen before coming towards her from the southern end of the Wilcox Peak area to the NNW. \u00a0It was a large mountain goat!\u00a0 Lupe watched intently, but silently, as the mountain goat strolled very calmly on by heading SE.\u00a0 The mountain goat seemed completely unfazed by Lupe’s presence and eventually disappeared over a little ridge.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/a>
The large mountain goat approaching from Mt. Wilcox. Lupe watched in amazement, but did not even bark. 7-29-14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When it was finally time to leave this most glorious viewpoint, Lupe headed a little way up towards Wilcox Peak to see if a view of the huge Sunwapta River valley heading NW and the mountains beyond it could be easily reached.\u00a0 Reaching the spine of the ridge coming down from Wilcox Peak, Lupe saw that only a partial view was possible in that direction without a considerable further climb.\u00a0 Instead of doing that, Lupe headed ESE back down towards the country to the NW of the Wilcox Pass high point.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe near Wilcox Pass. Athabasca Glacier and Snow Dome beyond her.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A new goal was in\u00a0SPHP’s mind, and that was to go see Wilcox Lake, which is tucked in a cirque to the NW of Nigel Peak. \u00a0Lupe crossed over to the NE side of the Wilcox Pass area.\u00a0 To get to Wilcox Lake, it was necessary to climb over a large ridge extending NW from Nigel Peak.<\/p>\n

SPHP studied the ridge as Lupe approached it, looking for the best route up and over, without having to do too much climbing.\u00a0 Selecting a likely route that appeared to have some sort of trail leading up it, Lupe and\u00a0SPHP were soon climbing up the ridge, which seemed quite a bit higher than it had looked like from afar.<\/p>\n

\"P1050368\"<\/a>
Lupe, Mt. Athabasca (L) and Mt. Andromeda (R) from near Wilcox Pass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The main problem though, was that the ridge consisted of extremely sharp rocks. \u00a0SPHP began to worry that Lupe would cut up the pads on her paws on the jumble of extremely sharp rocks.\u00a0 Lupe did get to the spine of the ridge, but the view on the other side to the SE in the direction of Nigel Peak was discouraging.\u00a0 Wilcox Lake was nowhere in sight.\u00a0 A beautiful, but very barren rocky terrain lay in the direction where Wilcox Lake had to be.<\/p>\n

If the rocks hadn’t been so sharp, Lupe would have pressed on to Wilcox Lake.\u00a0 However\u00a0SPHP didn’t want her paws to get cut up and gave up on the idea of reaching the lake.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0now made an error in judgment. \u00a0(Not exactly the first time!) \u00a0Instead of just going back down the steep scree slope Lupe had just climbed,\u00a0SPHP led her NW down a more gradual slope that looked like it would be an easier route down.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the sharp rocks continued in that direction too, and it proved to be quite a long hike NW before an easy way down off the ridge presented itself.<\/p>\n

\"P1050375\"<\/a>
Lupe, Snow Dome & Mt. Kitchener from near Wilcox Pass. 7-29-14<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once back down on the heather, it was an easy matter to hike back to Wilcox Pass.\u00a0 Lupe drank from streams, and cooled off in shallow ponds on the way.\u00a0 Amazingly, the pads on her paws looked just fine after all those sharp rocks, and she showed no signs of discomfort.\u00a0 Quite the contrary, Lupe was full of energy and rambunctious.<\/p>\n

It was now getting later in the day and most people had already left the Wilcox Pass area, although the sun was still well up in the sky.\u00a0 A few puffy white clouds were drifting by in a sea of blue. \u00a0On this beautiful and amazingly warm early evening, Lupe started heading back across the open heather.\u00a0 She passed well to the E of the high point on the Wilcox Pass trail, but eventually worked her way back to the trail for the hike back down.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It was 6:58 PM and still 75 degrees F when Lupe reached the trailhead again.\u00a0 Lupe had been gone almost 7 hours, but had spent several extra hours enjoying the most glorious viewpoint and on her unsuccessful exploration up to the ridge in the direction of Wilcox Lake.<\/p>\n

Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2014 Canadian Rockies & Beartooths Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span> or Master Adventure Index<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An easy\u00a0side hike SW from the\u00a0high point on the Wilcox Pass Trail is the edge of a ridge featuring the most splendid panoramic snow-covered mountain and glacier view Lupe and SPHP have ever seen anywhere.\u00a0 Mt. Athabasca, Mt. Andromeda, the Athabasca Glacier, Snow Dome, and Mt. Kitchener are on display in all their frozen glory.\u00a0 … Continue reading Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-29-14)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":164,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[105,34,30,31,106,33,104,36,35,38,37],"class_list":["post-155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2014-canadian-rockiesbeartooths","tag-american-dingo","tag-athabasca-glacier","tag-canada","tag-canadian-rockies","tag-carolina-dog","tag-jasper-national-park","tag-lupe","tag-mt-andromeda","tag-mt-athabasca","tag-mt-kitchener","tag-snow-dome"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/P1050370.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=155"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49511,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/155\/revisions\/49511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/164"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=155"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=155"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=155"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}