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23820 Hits
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88.19% Score
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26 Votes
Page Type:
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Mountain/Rock |
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Lat/Lon:
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52.15119°N / 117.09984°W |
Activities:
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Mountaineering |
Season:
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Summer |
Elevation:
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9700 ft / 2957 m |
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Overview
A2While many people come to view, climb, and photograph Mount Athabasca's icefalls and glaciers and Snow-coaches take tourists and photographers out onto the glacier, to get a closer view of this terrain. Most people including climber’s intent on Athabasca itself pass on this smaller easier peak. This can easily be done as a day of glacier crossing with some moderate scrambling during the last 1/2 hour to the summit. A good outing offering excellent views of the surrounding peaks it is also a good one for introducing someone to the terrain. You should expect to rope up as you cross the glacier. There is at one point some exposure to the seracs hanging off of the east glacier of Athabasca.
Getting There
View from Boundary peakFollow the Snow coach Road through a first set of metal gates, which are left open at night to allow access to climbers and backcountry users. During the day they are closed, stop in front of the gate to wait for the next passing Snow coach shuttle driver to open the gate for you. This happens every fifteen minutes or so. Do not attempt to open the gate yourself. We waited for our bus to do this for us. This bus driver did not want us to pass for some reason and we had to get out and explain where we were going. She finally reluctantly let us by. Rules are pretty clear but there was some confusion on that day.
Continue on this road uphill to the second gate, located just past a small bridge, which is always locked. A small gravel parking lot is to the left. A registry box is located on a pedestal at the right side of the lot.
There is a second way in via Hilda lake off of the Icefields parkway just before the Icefields Centre. This involves much more glacier crossing with larger cravasses to navigate. It is done however. I will not detail this route as I have not done it myself.
Satellite Map
Out of OrderRed Tape
A2Contact the Jasper Parks Visitor Centre for more information: (780) 852-6176 or check out the Jasper National Park Home Page for trail reports and avalanche reports.
A National Park Pass is required if you will be stopping anywhere in Jasper National Park. 8CDN$ per person or 16CDN$ per vehicle.
Open campfires are not allowed anywhere in Jasper National Park, except at approved campsites.
Reserve a campsite up to three months in advance.
Contact Parks Canada for more information.
Camping and lodging
Mt Sask. from A2Contact Parks Canada for more information.
Columbia Icefield Campground
Columbia Icefield CampgroundLocated only 1 km north of the Icefield Centre.
Available are two wood cook huts, each with a wood-fired stove and two picnic tables with benches.
A pay telephone and bulletin board for messages is located at the campground entrance. Outhouses are clean. The Icefield Campground offers no showers.
A water tap when working may provide drinkable water. A creek runs near the campground.
Wilcox Campground
2.7 km south of the Columbia Icefield Centre on Highway 93.
Opens in mid-June until October.
Cost $18 per night, self-registration is in effect.
Bivouacking on Mt. Athabasca itself will require a backcountry permit, available from Park Wardens at the Ranger Stations or the Icefield Centre for $6 a night.
Information is available at The Canadian Rockies.com. There is a backpacking information page available, look for Backpacking Jasper National Park.
Hostels
Hostelling International runs a chain of excellent, low-cost hostels, four open year-round, are located near the icefield. These hostels are clean, well-kept and managed by full-time custodians. Contact numbers too come.
Most offer kitchens, gas and wood stoves.
Located at Athabasca Falls, Beauty Creek, Hilda Creek and the town of Jasper. Reservations are recommended.
Hilda Creek Hostel is open again via reservation through 1-866-762-4122. Six beds with a kitchen and common room, smaller than its past grandeur of 24 beds - but still the quickest access to the Icefields routes, or a great place for a day's ski touring followed by a pint of whiskey with friends.
Emergency numbers
Emergency phone numbers for Jasper National ParkRoyal Canadian Mountain Police
(780) 852-4848.
P.O. Box 1800 600 Pyramid Lake Road, Jasper, AB.
Jasper Hospital
(780) 852-3344
518 Robson St. Jasper, AB.
Fire & Ambulance
(780) 852-3100
Jasper Firehall, Patricia St. Jasper, AB.
Park Warden Office
(780) 852-6155 / 56
Maligne Rd. Jasper, AB. (km 2)
Sunwapta Park Warden Station
(780 )852-6181
Mile 45, Highway 93 (Icefield Parkway)
Pobotkan Creek Warden Station
(780) 852-5383
Highway 93 (Icefield Parkway)
Search and Rescue
(780) 852-3100
Jasper, AB
Emergency calls:
Jasper Park Warden (780) 852-3100
or the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) at (780) 852-4848.
Alpine Club of Canada and local guides
Mt. Athabasca from A2Glacier ski tours by veteran climber and ACC member Marcus Kellerhals for trips on the Athabasca Glacier.
Services, programs, trips, memberships, information
Services, programs,trips,memberships,information
Comprehensive listings, features, services and tourist information
Located on the top floor of the Columbia Icefield Visitors" Centre, this well-appointed hotel offers all the comforts of a modern new hotel, in the austere surroundings of the Columbia Icefield and it's awesome surrounding peaks.
This page contains information for snocoach tours onto the Athabasca Glacier, as well as pricing and other related information
Veteran climber and Alpine Club of Canada member Marcus Kellerhals leads ski tour groups onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield. Information is available on this page.
- Backpacking Jasper National Park>Backpacking Information
This page gives information about backpacking areas and regulations in Jasper National Park.
- Parks Canada Fee Page - Jasper National Park>Parks Canada fees for National Park Access and Activities
- Jasper National Park Home Page>The Home Page for Jasper National Park
- Environment Canada Website>Environment Canada
Complete weather reports, alerts, forecasts, satellite imaging, and more. An invaluable resource to anyone planning a trip to Mt. Athabasca or the Columbia Icefield area.
Home page for the Hostelling International organization in Alberta. Complete information on locations, services, prices and other information
- Parks Canada>
Home page for Parks Canada, with links to all areas of Park Canada services and information
Home page for avalanche.org/ Avalanche reports, warnings and alerts, links, news
The home page for The Canadian Rockies.com, with information on hiking, scrambling, trekking and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies
Up-to-date weather reports, climbing conditions and other valuable information for climbers, outdoor enthusiasists and backcountry users, By Rescue Dynamics of Edmonton, AB
There are a number of licensed guide services throughout the area.
Joining or contacting the Alpine Club of Canada can be useful.
The Alpine Club's Edmonton Section
The Alpine Club’s Calgary Section
The Canadian Avalanche Association is an excellent source of current avalanche information.
The Association of Canadian Mountain Guides can provide you with information regarding guide services.
They include services from groups such as Yamnuska Mountaineering, Inc.
External links
Snocoach glacier tours onto the Athabasca Glacier can be arranged at the Icefield Centre. These are privately led hikes supervised by local licensed guides.
Glacier ski tours by veteran climber and ACC member Marcus Kellerhals for trips on the Athabasca Glacier.
Services, programs, trips, memberships, information
Services, programs,trips,memberships,information
Comprehensive listings, features, services and tourist information
Located on the top floor of the Columbia Icefield Visitors" Centre, this well-appointed hotel offers all the comforts of a modern new hotel, in the austere surroundings of the Columbia Icefield and it's awesome surrounding peaks.
This page contains information for snocoach tours onto the Athabasca Glacier, as well as pricing and other related information
Veteran climber and Alpine Club of Canada member Marcus Kellerhals leads ski tour groups onto the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield. Information is available on this page.
- Backpacking Jasper National Park>Backpacking Information
This page gives information about backpacking areas and regulations in Jasper National Park.
- Parks Canada Fee Page - Jasper National Park>Parks Canada fees for National Park Access and Activities
- Jasper National Park Home Page>The Home Page for Jasper National Park
- Environment Canada Website>Environment Canada
Complete weather reports, alerts, forecasts, satellite imaging, and more. An invaluable resource to anyone planning a trip to Mt. Athabasca or the Columbia Icefield area.
Home page for the Hostelling International organization in Alberta. Complete information on locations, services, prices and other information
- Parks Canada>
Home page for Parks Canada, with links to all areas of Park Canada services and information
Home page for avalanche.org/ Avalanche reports, warnings and alerts, links, news
The home page for The Canadian Rockies.com, with information on hiking, scrambling, trekking and backpacking in the Canadian Rockies
Up-to-date weather reports, climbing conditions and other valuable information for climbers, outdoor enthusiasists and backcountry users, By Rescue Dynamics of Edmonton, AB
Home page for Rescue Dynamics, an Edmonton, AB company specializing in high angle mountain rescue, guiding, weather reports and conditions, mountain first aid, courses, gear recall information and other links
Website for the Canadian Avalanche Association. Avalanche forecasting, news, alerts, and other information
ACC Mountaineering accident history in the Canadian Rockies.
Home page for the Calgary Mountain Club, a pioneer institution in the history of Canadian mountaineering
Website for climber and photographer Dave Stephens, with trip reports, images and more.
Weather Underground report on weather, 5 day forecast and much more for the Jasper area.
Local tours
Snocoach glacier tours onto the Athabasca Glacier can be arranged at the Icefield Centre. These are privately led hikes supervised by local licensed guides.
Glacier ski tours by veteran climber and ACC member Marcus Kellerhals for trips on the Athabasca Glacier.