Alberta ’s Skyline Trail is popular for a reason . It offers arresting alpine scene , exciting tramp , and it ’s easy to access . We spent two days trekking it ; here ’s everything you require to know to harness it yourself .
Why should you go?
Hikers are greeted with alpine land within a few hour of embarking on the Skyline Trail , which swash the highest middling peak ( its eminent point is 8,238 ’ ) of any trail in Jasper , Alberta . At about 27 miles long , it ’s remote enough to offer a real backcountry experience , but it ’s inadequate enough to be completed in just two or three days . It ’s passing approachable too — the track finish just 10 second ’ drive from downtown Jasper .
Its well - trodden route snakes through alpine meadow and skirts along ridgelines , offering both peaceful tranquillity and an exciting mother wit of exposure – make it the perfect effort for anyone who seeks to answer the mountains ’ call .
Full Disclosure : Travel Albertahooked us up with a Jeep for the workweek so that we could move freely throughout the province ( trivial did they know we ’d be sleeping in it too ) , whileTourism Jaspertook care of our permit and camping ground fee for the Skyline Trail , ensuring we could just show up and hike .
The trip
Gil and I had make it in Jasper the dark before , after a stunning effort up Alberta ’s famous Columbia Icefields Parkway from Banff — where I had just wrapped up training alongside the pros atGoPro ’s Athlete Camp .
It had n’t taken us long to learn the good that is Tim Horton ’s ; we stopped in for the second fourth dimension in eight hours to grab breakfast and snag some WiFi before lead to the Skyline ’s north trailhead to arrest a shuttle to the south one .
We met another couple of hikers who were there to experience the same journey — but before long all four of us were frantically contain our watches and exchanging faces of concern . The shuttle was fifteen minutes late . And then thirty . It seemed as if we had miss our ride .
A call to the bird service revealed that we were at the wrong pickup degree , simple minutes from the correct one . They had a term of enlistment stop at our localisation though and would foot us up within the hour .
We apace leave alone the tree diagram behind . ( Photo byGilberto Gil )
By 11 am , Gil and I were on the track and hiking quickly to make up for lost clock time . We ’d be covering the intact trek in ( less than ) two days and one night . Fortunately , the trail was well - neaten , the elevation amplification was mild — and within a pair of minute swaths of evergreen plant firs had been replaced by golden meadow that were speckled with splash of red , green , and orangish . The lead lazily meandered before us , without ever gather or lose much elevation — yet the alpine scene never lay off to baffle .
TheLa Sportiva Synthesis Mid GTX($145 ) provided plenty of protection for Gil ’s foot , in a software package that ’s adequate to of moving fast and light over just about any terrain .
We briskly strolled through meadow after hayfield as the valley build northward , encountering several flow crossing along the way of life — each as cool , calm , and inviting as the one before .
As the 24-hour interval progressed , cloud began to roll in — filling the sky with varying monochromatic dark glasses that blocked all but the most persistent rays . As we continued on , those clouds deliver the lightest nose candy fuss and air current — absolute perfect conditions for hiking in .
After a brusk mounting , we reached a conjunction in the trail . The path to the right wing presumably led to the Watchtower — a dissimilar trail that was not on our order of business ; the one that continue straight would ineluctably lead us to our stop for the night : Curator Campgrounds .
As it turned out , the lead we took was now defunct ; as we keep on along the path , our route quickly became a transversal - country thing . Fortunately we had a topo map of the area ; before long Gil and I were drop ALT down to a grove of tree , having spotted tents from above .
All hiker on the Skyline trail are require to camp at pre - reserve , designated backcountry campgrounds . The Curator Campgrounds are place just diffident of the halfway dot when start in the south to north ; and just before reaching The Notch — which is the trek ’s high point at 8,200 feet .
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Thanks to our recent start , most of the first - come in , first - serve campsites were full , but we were still able to arrest one nestle in the back near some firs . All of the campsite we encounter along the trail had pre - built bear hangs , outing tables , and orchestra pit toilets — and the Curator was no dissimilar .
By the clock time Gil and I check for the night , C had begin to fall at a much more accelerated rate than before so we wasted no clip setting up ourHyperlite Mountain Gear UltaMid 2pyramid shelter to scat the inevitable encounter with Canada ’s first sign of wintertime .
Hyperlite Mountain Gear ’s cuben fiber stuff sacks($14 - 37 ) made for the perfect lightweight bear hang bags .
While I was set up guylines for the UltaMid , Gil got to go boiling water for our Backpacker ’s PantryRisotto with Chicken(by far , my favourite miscellanea of the freeze - dry out transportation . ) Not require to prevail the set about night for longer than necessary , we scarf down our food for thought , set up the bear hang , and grovel into our erectile protection . light out .
We awoke early the next morning to the stillness of the season ’s first blow . Several inches of the white powder covered everything in sight . After a breakfast of hot oats , Gil and I pack up camp and headed back out on the trail . There was a lone mankind who left the campgrounds before us ; we could see his silhouette against the snowy mountains up ahead .
As we arise up out of the timberland , mansion of the itinerary became less specify ; before long we were break trail through the freshly fallen snow . The Notch was our next objective ; we could see it up ahead .
Gil and I continue toward the pass , but the human beings whose racecourse we were following disappear over a ridge that was clearly off - rail . We hoped that he have it away where he was going as we steadily gain natural elevation over a airfield of scree until we get to our objective .
TheSalomon S - Lab X - Alp GTX($300 ) are light and flexible enough to wear while tramp — yet carbon vulcanized fiber innersole make them wet enough for go up . Built - in supergaiters keep C , rain , and mud out too — making them perfect for fast and light wintertime adventures . ( picture by Gilberto Gil )
The Notch extend expansive 360 - degree views out over Jasper ; nearly everything was covered in white . We began dropping down the north side of the pass and then succeed the insidious configuration of the mountain to our right . Eventually we reach an exposed ridgeline , which we followed for the next several hundred meters .
TheDynafit Vulcan hood Down Jacket($279 ) usesDownTekand theWestcomb Switch LT Hoody($450 ) usesPolartec NeoShell – both of which did an exceptional chore of maintain Gil tender and dry despite some pretty knotty weather conditions .
Weather was rough along the ridgeline ; as the temperature dropped a chilly wind blow . Using our trek poles for stability against the wind , we continued on . Spindrift set our visibility , but a serial of orotund cairns reinforced our route - find ability as we traversed the barren landscape .
finally we capture a glance of the lead snaking through a valley below , so we continue trudging along with a newfound vigor and signified of purposeful focal point .
Down humiliated , the snow had already begun to mellow , creating a muddy mess — but the sun ’s ardent rays were a welcomed release from the glacial tundra we meet up high . As Gil and I keep check off off the miles , the sun ’s oeuvre continued too ; before long winter had seemingly go by , receding its self-possession of fall .
Almost too promptly , we reached the trail ’s end . The adventure was over — but our workweek in Jasper was only beginning .
How do you get there?
Because the Skyline Trail is a stage - to - point , arrangement for pickup must be made at either the start or the finish . Your unspoilt bet will be to tackle the trail from south to north . bequeath your railway car at the north trailhead , and then take the 9:15 amMaligne Valley Direct Shuttle($30 p / person ) to the south trailhead to start your hike . The shuttlecock ride will take about 45 minutes ; it drops you off right at the trail head , so you should be able to start boost by 10 am .
The north trailhead parking set where the birdie picks up is kind of hard to incur because it ’s unmarked from the route . Here it is on Google Mapsso you do n’t get lose and miss your shuttle like we did .
TheHyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400(55L ) Pack kept my gear squeamish and ironical despite ample snow and rainwater . ( Photo by Gilberto Gil )
What do you need to bring?
pack cogwheel . call for advice on how to pack your pack ? Check out our latestWild 101 video . bring in a goodrain crown , dress for the frigidity , and be prepared to sleep in it too — atmospheric condition can commute quickly in the mountains , especially as far north as the Canadian Rockies .
Hiking the Skyline Trail require a permit ; it ’s a popular trek — so ensure toreserve yoursplenty of time in betterment . You ’ll also need to earmark a designated campsite for each night you intend to remain on the trail .
Grizzly bears also roam these parts , so be certain to clean up a can of bear spraying — and have it on your someone at all time . It ’d also be a skillful idea to researchhow to handle a grizzly clash .
There were lot of running water origin along the lead so you should n’t need to carry much . As always , treat any water supply you line up outdoors .
There were so many scramble - desirable peaks along the Skyline Trail .
What we would have done differently
If we had more time , it would have been great to expend an extra day on the lead to do some peak scrambles along the way . There are a couple books available in the Friends of Jasper gift shop class in downtown that provide datum , but a lot of them looked easy enough to onsight too .
Canyoning withMaligne Adventureswas Gil ’s favorite part of the full calendar week .
What else should you do while you’re there?
Jasper is an outdoor adventurer ’s nirvana ; we spent a week doing everything fromcanyoningto canoeing to climbing . We even made an endeavour on Mount Athabasca . That fib ’s arrive next .
photograph : Chris Brinlee , Jr. unless otherwise note .
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