{"id":1802,"date":"2016-02-24T08:10:10","date_gmt":"2016-02-24T15:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1802"},"modified":"2019-03-16T11:30:23","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T17:30:23","slug":"wilcox-pass-trail-jasper-national-park-7-31-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=1802","title":{"rendered":"Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-31-13)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, Lupe and SPHP headed S in the G6 back towards Jasper.\u00a0 It was the 23rd Day of Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation, and time to start\u00a0the long drive\u00a0back home.\u00a0 There wasn’t any huge rush though – there was still time for a few more great Dingo adventures along the way!<\/p>\n

From Jasper, Lupe and SPHP continued S along the beautiful Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.\u00a0 SPHP stopped the G6\u00a0at a pullout\u00a0a few km before reaching the Icefields Centre across from the Athabasca Glacier.\u00a0 The pullout\u00a0provided an excellent spot\u00a0to admire the upper Sunwapta River Valley, and a portion of the Columbia Icefield beyond.\u00a0\u00a0At this point, the\u00a0Sunwapta River is just a braided stream bearing little resemblance to the mighty river it becomes further N by the time it roars over\u00a0Sunwapta Falls<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Sunwapta River Valley & the Columbia Icefield from the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe wasn’t concentrating much on the view from the pullout along the highway. Instead she seemed plenty happy just hiding out in the lush foliage near the road.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While still in the area of the Columbia Icefield<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, SPHP thought it would be a good idea for Lupe\u00a0to check out the Wilcox Pass Trail before leaving Jasper National Park.\u00a0 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\u00a0Campground.\u00a0 The Wilcox Pass Trailhead is located along this gravel road immediately before the road reaches the campground.<\/p>\n

Wilcox Pass\u00a0is\u00a0only a 4 km hike\u00a0from the trailhead, but\u00a0until nearing the pass, most of the way the trail climbs\u00a0pretty steeply.\u00a0 It\u00a0starts\u00a0off winding around through\u00a0a forest, but the forest thins\u00a0out about the time the trail comes around a bend\u00a0and reaches the first stunning views of the Athabasca Glacier<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and surrounding mountains.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Athabasca Glacier comes into view along the Wilcox Pass Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"The<\/a>
The Dome Glacier (C) between Snow Dome<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,483 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> (L)\u00a0and Mt. Kitchener<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,417 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> (R)\u00a0from the Wilcox Pass Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mt.<\/a>
Mt. Athabasca<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (11, 453 ft.)<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0(L), Mt. Andromeda<\/a><\/strong><\/span> (11,286 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> (C) and the Athabasca Glacier (R) from the Wilcox Pass Trail.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There were lots of people on the trail.\u00a0 It was easy to understand why.\u00a0 The already amazing views became better and better as the trail continued climbing above the remaining forest.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP left the pass heading that direction.\u00a0 Lupe loved the open high ground along the way.\u00a0 Pretty soon, Lupe and SPHP arrived at the edge of a ridge situated 1,400 feet above and just NE of the Icefields Center.<\/p>\n

The views of the Athabasca Glacier and surrounding snow-covered peaks\u00a0from Lupe’s\u00a0final perch were astonishing.\u00a0 Photos\u00a0barely begin to\u00a0convey the\u00a0sense of height, space and frozen splendor\u00a0inspired by the\u00a0icy\u00a0panoramic sweep\u00a0of\u00a0the towering mountains and gleaming white glaciers that met Lupe’s gaze from that high ridge.\u00a0 More of the dazzling Columbia Icefield\u00a0shone brilliantly\u00a0above the glaciers than Lupe and SPHP had ever seen before, yet even that was still just a tiny part of the whole.\u00a0 In an instant, the Wilcox Pass Trail became Lupe and SPHP’s favorite\u00a0half-day hike in the Canadian Rockies or anywhere else.<\/p>\n

\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe at the viewpoint SW of Wilcox Pass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mount<\/a>
Mount Athabasca<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (11,453 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> from the ridge SW of Wilcox Pass.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mount<\/a>
Mount Andromeda<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (11,286 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> & the Athabasca Glacier<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lupe<\/a>
Lupe\u00a0stays alert\u00a0while relaxing with Snow Dome<\/a><\/span><\/strong> (11,483 ft.)<\/strong><\/span> (L) and Mt. Kitchener<\/a><\/span> (11,417 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This<\/a>
This shot shows the Icefields Centre<\/a><\/span><\/strong> and Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 both 1,400 feet below the ridge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP stayed at the edge of the ridge SW of Wilcox Pass for a long time.\u00a0 It seemed like a shame to ever leave, but time waits for no Dingo, nor even any Carolina\u00a0Dogs.\u00a0 Fortunately Carolina Dogs are immensely practical.\u00a0 Lupe\u00a0was in high spirits on the\u00a0return trip from the SW ridge back across the heather to the Wilcox Pass Trail, and\u00a0on down to the G6.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A last look at Snow Dome (L) and Mt. Kitchener (R) from near the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP resumed the drive heading S over Sunwapta Pass, the border between Jasper and Banff National Parks.\u00a0 The Wilcox Pass Trail had been so wonderful, SPHP had already started thinking about what else Lupe could still do this day.\u00a0 So, just 5.5 miles S of the pass, SPHP turned off the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93\u00a0to the Nigel Creek trailhead.\u00a0\u00a0The\u00a0map at the trailhead showed that it was\u00a07 km up to Nigel Pass.\u00a0 The first part of the\u00a0trail was actually a continuation of the gravel road to the trailhead.\u00a0 Lupe and SPHP set off for Nigel Pass.<\/p>\n

Lupe was quite ready for another adventure, but after trudging up the road\u00a00.5 mile or so, SPHP realized it wasn’t\u00a0really going to happen.\u00a0 After the 42 km round trip\u00a0up to\u00a0Berg Lake and Mt.\u00a0Robson\u00a0the previous day, and\u00a0hardly a break\u00a0after the climb up to Wilcox Pass, SPHP didn’t really have the steam left to continue – at least, not for a little while.\u00a0 It was time to rest.\u00a0 Lupe was surely puzzled when SPHP turned around and led her back to the G6.\u00a0 The beautiful drive S on the Icefields Parkway resumed.<\/p>\n

Near\u00a0the Waterfowl Lakes campground, SPHP parked the G6 again.\u00a0 SPHP\u00a0still wanted to do\u00a0something easy that Lupe would like.\u00a0 After a bit to eat, Lupe and SPHP walked through the campground and took the bridge over the lovely Mistaya River.\u00a0 Lupe followed the same trail she had just a\u00a0few days before to Chephren and Cirque Lakes<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

This trail gains very little elevation while proceeding\u00a0through a dense\u00a0forest.\u00a0 With the campground closed for the summer for repairs to the flood-damaged water system, no one was around.\u00a0 The trail was abandoned.\u00a0 It was a pleasant, easy stroll\u00a0through the very quiet forest.\u00a0 At least, it had been quiet\u00a0until an American\u00a0Dingo arrived.\u00a0 Lupe found lots of squirrels to bark at along the way.\u00a0 Her excitement\u00a0rang through the forest.\u00a0 She was having a most excellent time.<\/p>\n

This time, the\u00a0junction where the trail divides to go to either Chephren or Cirque Lake was as far as Lupe and SPHP went before turning around.\u00a0 Gradually twilight\u00a0was coming on.\u00a0 The squirrels started hitting the hay.\u00a0 Slowly the darkening forest grew quiet again.\u00a0 By 10:00 PM, Lupe was back snoozing peacefully\u00a0in the G6.<\/p>\n

Did she dream about the scenic wonders of Wilcox Pass, or the squirrels in the forest?\u00a0 SPHP bet on the squirrels.\"Lupe<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Next Adventure<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Prior Adventure<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-29-14)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Nigel Pass & Panther Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (7-31-14)<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2013 Beartooths & Canadian Rockies 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><\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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.\u00a0 It was the 23rd Day of Lupe’s 2013 Dingo Vacation, and time to start\u00a0the long drive\u00a0back home.\u00a0 There wasn’t any … Continue reading Wilcox Pass Trail, Jasper National Park, Canada (7-31-13)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1797,"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":[76],"tags":[105,34,30,31,106,57,26,273,36,35,38,37],"class_list":["post-1802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2013-beartoothscanadian-rockies","tag-american-dingo","tag-athabasca-glacier","tag-canada","tag-canadian-rockies","tag-carolina-dog","tag-columbia-icefield","tag-dingo-vacations","tag-dome-glacier","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\/09\/P1050286.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\/1802","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=1802"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20800,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1802\/revisions\/20800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1797"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}