Adventure Press

SNOW DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-03-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

One week before Spring begins, and we get an unbelievable snowfall!! Marmot Basin received a whopping 17cm in the past 24 hours and its still snowing hard!! Can you say POWDER??

And no one's complaining in town either, or maybe its just that everyone called in sick so that they could hit the hill!!

With a new fresh blanket of snow, the Maligne Canyon Icewalk will be even more enchanting this weekend, so make sure you get out on tour if you are in town! We have departures daily at 10am, 2pm and 7pm. Please remember that pickups start 30 minutes before each tour, so you will need to book ahead!

If this blast of winter decides to hang around, you may be able to take in a Discovery Snowshoe Tour, or perhaps an Intro To Cross-Country Skiing lesson with Dieter!! What a treat!

Be sure to call us early to book your tours as Jasper is going to be a popular place this weekend!
780-852-5595

An Athabasca River Adventure

2010-03-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

As we begin the month of March here in Jasper, it would seem that Spring is on its way and with the unseasonably warm weather Bev and Murray got out for a beautiful canoe down Athabasca River. This river travels through the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jasper National Park.

The Athabasca River rises in the glaciers of Alberta’s Jasper National Park, one of the most beautiful areas of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. For 168 kilometres the river passes below spectacular snow-covered peaks, many rising more than 2,500 metres above the valley floor. Not seen by white men until the early 19th century, the river’s upper valley played a significant role in the development of the Canadian west for more than 100 years. A major fur trade route, the valley also has close connections with the surveying and mapping of western Canada, and with the building of railways and roads which have linked this country from east to west. The Athabasca is accessible by both road and rail from all major centres in Alberta and British Columbia and offers excellent canoeing, kayaking, hiking and rafting with all of the attendant services and facilities usually found in Canada’s national parks.

Because of this outstanding natural beauty, historical significance and importance for river recreation, the section of the Athabasca River within Jasper National Park has been nominated as a Canadian Heritage River.

The Athabasca River as a whole is the longest river in Alberta, winding 1,538 km through mountains, prairies, forests and muskeg to Lake Athabasca in Wood Buffalo National Park. One of the major drainage conduits for western Canada, the Athabasca originates in the Columbia Icefield, a 325 square kilometre area along the Continental Divide, and flows across three of the major physiographic regions of Canada, namely the Rocky Mountains, the Interior Plains and the Canadian Shield.

The section of the Athabasca River nominated to the Canadian Heritage Rivers System is 168 km long and lies entirely within Jasper National Park. Here, the river flows swiftly through the mountains, sometimes through narrow, confined channels, with

gorges, rapids and waterfalls; other times, in wide, open, braided river channels with alluvial flats more than a kilometre wide.

It is truly unbelievable that Bev and Murray were able to travel this river in such warm weather yesterday. They were prepared to walk through the shallows, as can be necessary because of water level fluctuations, but the river was flowing fairly well and they only touched bottom in 3 places.

Starting at Old Fort Point, a very popular put-in point and pulling out at Moberly Bridge the trip proved to be absolutely stunning.

WELCOME TO 2010!!!!

2010-01-05T10:34:00.001-08:00

Its a new year for everyone and here in Jasper its a wonderful beginning! Warm weather and sunny skies are gracing our days and we enjoying them as much as we can!

New Year's day was a fun one for Murray and his family. A snowshoe tour was on the books so out they went to enjoy the fresh snow! This tour, it would seem, was out of this world...as you can see in the pictures, it would appear that Abby fell from the sky!!

Our Maligne Canyon Icewalks were in full swing over the holidays, operating everyday at 10am , 2pm, and 7pm. The new format for the Icewalk appears to be a great decision....

For those of you who have been on the Icewalk before, you probably remember parking at the 5th Bridge and making your way into the Canyon from there, then returning the same way. For part of last year, and of course now this year, we are starting the walk from the 1st Bridge and ending at the 5th bridge with our vehicle being moved while the walk occurs!! What a change!! You get to see the whole canyon without having to walk back up that hill!!

Of course, we do have other winter adventures available. We have a Snowshoe Discovery Tour, Maligne Valley Tour, and a Cross-Country Ski Intro Course.

Feel free to call us before you arrive in Jasper to book your tours as booking ahead is always a good plan!! You can also book your tours online through our website. If you want to wait until you are in town, drop by our office located at 618 Connaught Drive, across the street from the Historic Black Steam Engine. We are also able to offer you ski and snowboard rentals so stop by and check us out!!

2009-04-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

The end of the season is very near with highs for the next few days up to 16c.
Say goodbye to the icewalk for the season. There is still plenty of ice in
the canyon, but things are dangerous due to a varity of objects falling in from
above as the ice melts releasing rocks, tree limbs and pieces of ice.

Some fading memories of the ice this year.

1. Fresh snow on the Icefall below Bridge 1,
taken two days ago when it snowed/rained
in town, but at the canyon up to 10-12cm of snow.

2. Entering the Canyon. At the start of the year, we were
walking under this tree with clearance of several feet.
Ever Evolving in the canyon.

3. Approaching what the guides are calling the Grotto. This icefall formation
has stayed up all winter. There is a cave behind this fall that goes back 3-4m
Generally the icefall collapses partway through the winter with a warm period.
But not this year. Didn't have that break in the weather this year.

4. Looking from Angel Icefall to the
Queen of Maligne Icefall

5. "Queen of Maligne" Icefall in all her glory.

6. The Queen's Behind

7. Showers constantly happening that form up the Queen
throughout the winter.

A few more weeks of Skiing and Bye Bye Winter 08/09!

Could It Really Be????

2009-03-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

After a disastrously cold beginning to the week, I'm feeling optimistic. Spring may actually be right around the corner! Of course, the weatherman wants me to believe that March will be cold, cold, cold...but today is once again the kind of beautiful day that people hope for in Jasper. With the weekend weather becoming warmer and warmer, we expect a great weekend of Maligne Canyon Icewalks! Although the cold snaps this winter aren't the best, they sure make the ICE FORMATION in the canyon a true marvel of nature. I've been told that the canyon hasn't been this ice-filled in 6 to 8 years...amazing!!

Our tours depart at 10am, 2pm and 7pm for those wanting to hit the slopes at Marmot Basin before their Icewalk! With the warm weather, you could arrive in Jasper completely unprepared and still go on the Maligne Canyon Icewalk, as the only thing you really need is yourself and a camera, since we provide appropriate footwear and ice cleats for your safety! Our friend the bighorn sheep has been hanging around the canyon this season, and if you're lucky he might just make an appearance during your tour!! Young and old, this tour is for everyone who wants to see what Mother Nature does in her spare time!!

Give us a call or stop by our booking office for more information! We are located at 618 Connaught Drive, across from the Historic Steam Engine. 1-800-565-7547

See you on the ICE!!!

SPECTACULAR!

2009-03-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

That's about all that needs to be said about a day like today. The sun is shining, warming up the cool mountain air just enough. Our Maligne Canyon Icewalks are in full swing, spring break is almost upon us and we are READY! The Canyon is the most beautiful its been in years. With the warmer weather for large parts of the season, the snow and ice has been melting and creating some absolutely amazing formations right on the floor of the canyon! In my four winters in Jasper, I've never seen so much ICE in the canyon. This tour is a must during your trip to Jasper!! But what to do once you've done the icewalk?? During the week, we offer a snowshoeing tour, and also an Introduction to Cross Country skiing. We always appreciate reservations for our tours, but most of the time we can fit you in if you just happen to be walking by! The Maligne Canyon Icewalk is a great tour if you pull into town in the late afternoon, as our evening tour departs at 7pm.

Have a great week and have fun planning your trip to Jasper!!!

Welcome to 2009!!

2009-01-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

A new year has come and here we sit contemplating what the last year gave us. For Ryan Titchener (at right), life is full of adventures. Originally from Ontario, Ryan fits right in here in this majestic mountain town. As an ice climbing enthusiast, he is out there every chance he gets, and wanted to share some of that with you!!

Here are a few photos taken on Ryan's most recent ice climb, with fellow guide Troy Gallant.
Who ever knew that frozen water could be so absolutely magnificent??

This is not a hobby for the faint hearted. You have to be confident and strong to get yourself to the top of those icefalls.

The Maligne Canyon is always a popular spot for Jasper's ice climbers, and they don't have a schedule...they are pretty much always out there! If you are brave enough to venture out on our Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour, chances are pretty good you'll see this amazing action taking place.

A long climb up!! During the summer the rock

face that these falls sit upon, is mostly

impassable.

What kind of animal makes tracks like that?? Only a few ice climbers! That's right! Ryan and Troy don't drop bread crumbs, they follow their feirce tracks home!

Enjoy 2009!! Get out and about and enjoy the beauty that Jasper has to offer!!!

Come out and Explore Maligne Canyon!

2008-12-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

At last, the weather has co-operated and we have started our Maligne Canyon Icewalks. We have also picked a great guide crew for this winter season! To book any tours, simply go to our main website http://www.jasperadventurecentre.com/ and select winter tours...where you will find all the tours that we offer during the snowy winter months. You can book directly from the website, or give us a call at 1-800-565-7547. Our phones are answered from 8am until 8pm daily.

Our guides for this season are Murray Morgan, who is owner/manager of the Jasper Adventure Centre, Ryan Titchener, Chuck Cantley, Alicia Waller, Troy Gallant, JF Bussieres, and Dieter Regett.

These photos show our guides, and their supervisor Bev, out in the canyon preparing for a season of guiding. For safety reasons, we go in early and break up the ice in order to help solidify soft spots, where the top layer of ice is thin. This gives us a thicker, more secure base to hike on!

Check out the post from November, in which Murray does an interview on the Canyon!!

WINTER HAS ARRIVED!!

2008-12-16T08:57:00.000-08:00

Who knew that the beginning of winter would be so harsh, although fairly short lived?? We started out this past weekend with around -25* then continued down to -30*, and yesterday much to Jasper's demise we reached a frighteningly cold temperature of -38*!! Today, sitting at a very nice -19* even before the sun came up, I'm surprised to see no one is wearing shorts, then I remember, it is still winter, just not so terribly cold!

I received a nice email from one of our guides, Alicia Waller, who along with Ryan Titchener (another one of our guides) took the opportunity during the warm month of November to go climbing in Watchtower Canyon. Our guides never have a "day off" because they love to keep themselves busy, whether it be exploring the areas we guide in, or going out on a totally new adventure. They each offer different views and information on each location, but here's Alicia's rundown in photos of Watchtower Canyon!

Murray's Adventure In Jasper

2008-11-27T09:27:00.000-08:00

Murray Morgan, owner and manager of Jasper Adventure Centre has dedicated many years to promoting the enjoyment of Jasper National Park. Along his way, he has experienced some really interesting adventures, and wanted to show everyone what exploring the Park is like. Check out the photos of Murray on his adventures, along with his partner in crime, Bev. Also photographed is Skip "the WonderGuide", wandering off into the unknown.

The bottle seen below, was found by Murray and Bev, while cleaning the bottom of Pyramid Lake. This bottle is currently being researched by the University of Saskatchewan, as it is believed to date back to between 1750 and 1850!!

The bottles and cans seen here are of recent history, and really DON'T belong in the lake. Along the top left hand corner you can see a grate off an old wood burning stove. This is believed to be from a shelter which once stood on Pyramid Island.

Check back again for more of Murray's adventures!!

SNOWLESS JASPER

2008-11-20T09:04:00.000-08:00

Fear not adventure seekers...Jasper does still exist when there isn't any snow! Although we haven't been able to start up our traditional winter tours yet, we are still encouraging everyone to get out there on our adapted summer tours. What better time to come to Jasper...the streets are quieter, the stores aren't jam packed, you can even hear yourself think right now!! Popular tours this season are the Maligne Valley Tour, which takes you away from the hustle and bustle, all the way up to Maligne Lake, where it has been rumoured that there is in fact SOME snow!! A stop at the top of Maligne Canyon, and sightseeing at Medicine Lake are all a part of this 3 hour tour. Or maybe you've never been to Jasper?? Consider the Discover Jasper Tour, another 3 hour adventure, which takes you to the top sights of Jasper...Athabasca Falls, Pyramid and Patricia Lakes, and Old Fort Point. You say you want to walk?? Nature walks are still going on. This three hour adventure takes you up above Jasper, to Cottonwood Slough for a relaxing walk, while you track and spot wildlife.

Click on the link below to see Murray Morgan in action. Venture to Jasper mid-January to experience the beauty of nature on a Maligne Canyon Icewalk!

http://www.travelistic.com/video/show/9549/Maligne-Canyon-Ice-Walk-near-Jasper,-Alberta

Maligne Canyon Ice Walk featured in the Kingston Whig Standard

2008-02-13T08:12:00.001-08:00

Hi, please follow the link below to the full article, featuring Murray as guide in the Maligne Canyon, earlier this winter.
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=896481&auth=Jo+Matyas

See Wayne on City TV

2008-02-09T13:56:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago, Wayne took a television crew from City TV Edmonton on the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk.

Check out this link: http://www.citytv.com/edmonton/yourcity_53469.aspx to see the program which aired on February 8, 2008.

FYI, it has been very cold in Jasper, some of the coldest temperatures in over five years. The result is a fabulous looking canyon. With the upcomming family day weekend, comes spring breaks to follow. Be sure to book well in advance for your winter excursions as this is looking to be a busy spring break season.

The Whole Canyon

2008-01-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

Ryan rappelling 37 meters into the canyon, off the first bridge.

Ryan checking our some of the interesting water sculpted rock formations.

Ryan climbing the first waterfall found under the first bridge of the Maligne Canyon.

This week, Guides Ryan Titchener and Wayne Robinson decided to do something they had been wanting to do for years, explore the entire length of the Maligne Canyon.

The guides rappelled off the first bridge (37 meters) to the base of the first ice fall, found at the top of the canyon. Ryan and Wayne walked down to the the 'Cathedral, and then back to the first bridge. The upper portion of the canyon is impossible to navigate with out ice climbing gear, including ropes, crampons, ice screws, and ice axes. They made the best of the day and climbed over the first ice fall to end where they started.

Wayne and Ryan were astounded with different rock formations created by moving water./ There were areas that suggested that the Maligne River (or a former river) flowed into the canyon between the first and second bridge. There was an area where the water cut a hole through the rock for some unknown reason. There was another small waterfall issuing from out of a crack in the canyon walls that was covered in a fine dust. Upon closer inspection, the guides found that it was covered in travertine (the mineral that makes up stalagmites and stalactites). It became very obvious to both that the canyon must have been a cave, or part of a cave system at one time.

Can you check out this area of the canyon too? Unfortunately not. This is an area requiring technical gear and knowledge to get into, but you can see the guides' pictures, or join them on a regular ice walk and learn all about it first hand.

Full Moon Maligne Canyon Ice Walks

2008-01-18T10:41:00.000-08:00

The full moon arrives on January 22.
This means that there will be pleanty of moonlight to illuminate the canyon for our Ice Walks, between now and January 22, 2008. It seems that other people have figured this out and have already booked for this extra special event(s).
People often ask what is the best time of day to take our Maligne Canyon Ice Walk. Ususally I can't really decide, but when a full moon is near, the 7 pm departure can't be beat! Book now for your Maligne Canyon Moonlight Ice Walk. Not in Jasper this full moon.?.. next full moon is February 21, 2008.

Praise for our Guide Ryan

2008-01-07T07:47:00.000-08:00

A quote from one of our guest regarding one of our guides, Ryan Titchener

Hello

I have had the pleasure of going on the Icewalk Dec. 31 from the Jasper Park Lodge with one of your FANTASTIC guides and unfortunately, I cannot remember his name! But, I would like to compliment this young man on his expertise and his ability to make us feel safe and comfortable.
And, the way he conveyed his knowledge of the surroundings.It made the tour extra fascinating. He is from Ontario!!!!!!

Sincerely yours Bente Christensen Denmark
Med venlig hilsen / Best regards Bente Christensen Calibration/GEO
AREPA Test & Kalibrering A/S Mads Clausens Vej 12 DK-8600 Silkeborg Denmark

Great work Ryan!

Wayne Robinson's highlight of 2007

2008-01-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

For me, 2007 was an excellent year. I reached two peaks over 11,000 ft and climbed several lesser peaks as well. I was able to spend quite a few nights out on the trail both guiding and personal. I even spent a few nights with my wife in the wilds of the Dominican Republic wilderness, while attempting Pico Duarte, the highest peak of the Caribbean Islands (3129 m).

Wayne on the balcony of the 'Hall of the Gods"

The highlight of my summer is difficult to pin point down to one event; however, if requested to do so I would have to choose my trip to Ultra-Maligne Lake. Ultra-Maligne Lake is a small lake (a km wide) found over 600 meters above the south end of Maligne Lake, between Mount Charlton and the Llysifran Peaks. It is called Ultra-Maligne because the colour of the water is said to make Maligne's water look a dull blue.

I had heard about this lake for many years and longed to see it as few others had ever visited it due to the technical skills required to reach it. My friend Neil and I decided at the last moment to try to reach it and brought a wide array of rock gear, mountaineering equipment, and camping gear... not knowing exactly what we were going to encounter. It was a hot day, over 30'C during the first week of July. At 2 pm we started our 17.5 km paddle to the day use area, where we were to leave my Sunwapta cedar strip canoe behind. We reached this spot in an amazing 3 hours and started up the rocky terrain to the headwall guarding the lake. What we found was a small rock band that we easily climbed and then a snow gully over 300m high. We elected to climb the snow gully, roping up and utilizing our alpine axes while kick stepping our way to the top. The process was slow due to the weight of the overnight packs. We reached the top at 10:30 pm as the sun was setting. We struck camp quickly, cooked some food, and finished off with a night cap under a beautiful, clear starry night.

We awoke at 5 am and were treated to a glorious view of the land around us. The peaks were noticeably tall and rugged, Maligne Lake looked like a blue ribbon winding below. The only thing marring our experience was the fact that 90% of Ultra-Maligne was still frozen. We explored the area for a few hours but decided to descend the snow slope early as the day was heating up very fast. The descent was quick and we happened upon a spruce tree that would require four adults to wrap their arms around... very big for Jasper standards. The paddle back was perfect on the still, glass like surface of Maligne. All in all the trip was actioned packed and completed in only 26 hours... not bad for a day and a half off!

Meet our newest guide.

2008-01-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Introducing Jocelyn MacGregor!

We are very excited to have Jocelyn who has come to us from Strathcona Park Lodge and originally Kanata, Ontario. Jocelyn is a keen "bird nerd" and an experienced interpretive guide who has a love for the outdoors and children. Next time you book a Maligne Canyon Ice Walk, ask for Jocelyn as your guide. We are excited to have Jocelyn on our guiding team.

Want to meet more of our guides? Keep checking back, we'll post something about all of our guides before the end of the winter.

Canyon Freeze

2007-12-10T21:06:00.000-08:00

We've experienced some pretty extreme temperatures lately. Most evening have fallen well below -25'C and even below -30'C at times. Day time temperatures appear to be rising to the -6'C range and holding for now.

Here is a photo taken of the ice fall under the first bridge. We'll post more photos of the Maligne Canyon Ice Falls shortly.

We are now offering our 7 pm Maligne Canyon Ice Walks. This year we are utilizing green headlamps that do not require batteries, and 2,000,000 candle rechargeable lamps. We hope you will join us on this truely unique night time adventure.

-- our next next full moon is on Christmas Eve --

Join us for a moonlight canyon trip this coming holiday season.

Read Our Former Blog Entries.

2007-12-02T17:03:00.000-08:00

Want to read our former blog posts? Click Here!