by Brian Patton | Aug 15, 2023 | Jasper National Park, Weather |
A freak rain-snow event that dropped more than 80mm of precipitation over Jasper National Park on June 19 continues to affect access and travel into the park’s backcountry. Washouts on the Miette Hot Springs road resulted in a closure that remains in effect and... by Brian Patton | Jul 1, 2022 | Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, Weather |
Updated July 12 Most hiking trails in the Sunshine Meadows are still snow-covered during the first two weeks of July. Near record snow still blanketed the meadows on the Canada Day weekend. So much that the resort reopened the mountain to skiers during the July 1st... by Brian Patton | Mar 24, 2020 | Weather |
In these uncertain times, it’s hard to guess what the 2020 season holds for hikers. But snow pillows are predicting one of the latest hiking seasons in recent years. Since I started writing this blog back around 2014, I’ve tried to predict when the first... by Brian Patton | May 28, 2019 | Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Weather, Wildflowers, Yoho National Park |
Stretching your legs for the following best spring hikes in the Canadian Rockies. Here are some favourite early trips that virtually guarantee wildflowers and wood ticks. I’m always amazed how so many hikers rush the season in the Canadian Rockies. The marquee... by Brian Patton | Aug 14, 2017 | Trip reports, Weather |
Many hikers are calling this the summer of wildfire smoke, but it’s also the summer of avalanche debris. These hiking obstacles are the result of heavy spring snowfall followed by avalanches that deposited trees and other debris across mountain park trails. It... by Brian Patton | Jun 29, 2017 | Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Weather |
An above average snowpack in the Canadian Rockies will likely plague many high trails until late July this year (2017). Trails above 2200m (7,200ft) on north and east facing slopes will be particularly vulnerable to lingering snow banks. While snowpack tracked close...