WAD Valley

December 14, 2016

I returned to the Rockies on my vacation with my puppy and attempted to explore the WAD Valley. The exact whereabouts escaped me though it turned out to be relatively simple. On Maligne Lake Road you will continue south to the end of Medicine Lake.  Continue driving south past the Beaver Lake (Jacques Lake / South Boundary Trail) staging area.  Once the hill starts a gradual climb you've gone too far, and can circle back to the first (blatant) drainage on the side of the road.

Miette Falls

February 14, 2016

I first heard of this in search of ice climbs in Jasper.  I believe this one is called Rocky River Blues to the ice climbing community, however I went with a more proper title, denoting the Miette Range that it belongs.  The Rocky River is actually where this waterfall drains into, making it hard for me to commit to naming it after the river it later becomes.

I wasn't able to get a good enough angle of the waterfall from where I stood, however it is visible (mostly though a powerful zoom lens) from the Talbot Lake boat launch.  The picture above is from the pull over located in the middle of Talbot Lake, a couple kilometers further away from the waterfall.

I overshot the Talbot Lake boat launch thinking the bathroom stall located at the start of Jasper Lake would offer me a better view.  I was sorry to notice that the location was under repair with some heavy machines taking up the majority of the parking lot.  As I got a picture and was capable of noting this waterfall I decided that I would push onward on my journey looking for more ice climbs.

Melt Out

February 14, 2016

This is a waterfall that took me by surprise.  I knew about Curtain Call further North and Tangle Falls to the South; however this easily miss-able waterfall is found in between on Tangle Peak.  I wasn't even sure this was a waterfall at first, but decided to pull over and take a picture anyways.

It was when I got home that I noticed this was a ice sheet, and after further research found out that it was an ice climb by the name of Melt Out.  In any case, this was a pretty waterfall, with a pop of light blue on an otherwise grey mountain rock.

Kerkeslin Falls

February 14, 2016

This marks a waterfall that I've known about for years, but for one reason or another had never pulled over to witness it.  Kerkeslin Falls even has a couple pull outs and even a campground to allow you to get in off the road and see the waterfall.  On my trip i pulled into one of the pull overs, which offered a broad view of the waterfall.

Mount Kerkeslin

Snake Indian Falls - Video!

After teasing this video in some of my compilations since the start of 2015, I've finally completed a video for my favorite trip in the Rockies!  Having tackled this on bike three times, once alone, I can finally say after my trip in 2014 that I've come back successful!

As mentioned in the write up in July of last year, I wasn't able to properly film the entire trip.  I opted to complete the bike ride, over spending the extra energy filming.  This came as a necessity since by the end of the 11 hour day of straight biking, I was exhausted.  This said, I did have the camera out for some pieces of the trip, not forgetting that my goal was to share this with everyone.  However without having enough to put a full trip together, the video is actually a compilation itself of the three trips I've taken.

(Morro) Hawk Canyon Falls

July 10, 2015

Once again back in Jasper, and once more doing the search for this elusive canyon I'm told about.  The word of mouth ice climbing community has pointed me in this direction, and I find myself back with my puppy attempting this bike path once more.  My initial goals were to venture on a number of trails in the Maligne Lake region, however overnight Jasper received a lightning strike along Excelsior Creek (where I planned to spend the night had I left on time the day prior).  This marks the second time this trail has become my back-up plan.

Though I would love to make this trail a Plan A - with my bike!

Morro-Hawk Canyon

May 30, 2015

This trip was to redeem my May plans of biking in the Ghost Region.  Though I didn't bring my bike, I did bring man's best friend along with me.  As my girlfriend and her uncle were tourists in Jasper for the day, I had only a couple hours with my puppy on this mountain.  I would caution when bringing a dog along with you that on this mountain I have always seen goats, in a large 20 plus size family as well as the biggest cougar tracks imaginable. 

Maligne Canyon

January 31, 2015

Though my initial attempt would be Morrow-Hawk Canyon, I was chased off the mountain top by sheep.  So not a bad second option.  I've come to this canyon a few times now, but today was the first time I made it during a decent freeze.  Though this winter has mostly been a prolonged spring, it was cold enough in the early going of the day to keep most of the water locked away in ice.

Trapper Creek Falls

December 13, 2014

My initial intention in the Maligne region of Jasper was to scout for what Ice Climbers refer to as "Shades of Ugly".  However as the parking lots were not clear and a line of sight from the road wasn't readily available, I opted for a secondary option and headed down to the lake for Maligne Pass.

Morro Hawk Canyon

December 13, 2014

My trip to Jasper in December had one goal in mind, scout out some trails to known ice climbing hot spots.  Not only are Ice climbs most often the best indicators for waterfalls in the winter time, I also have future plans to learn the sport!  Hopefully in a month's time I'll be strapping up for a ice climb and of course I'll be filming my attempt (however poor).  This region of Jasper however is used by a slightly more experienced group of climbers.  Knowing that I'm not anywhere near their skill, I only wanted to search out my future competition.

I would park off the highway in a small pull-over parking spot, West of Edna Lake and East of the Palisades (Celestine Road).  I would hike near 3Km however stop just shy of the canyon, as I would need more proper gear to scramble into the canyon for a photo.

Click the photo to open the Geo-Panorama

Charlton Falls

August 2, 2014

I don't think there could have been a more stereotypical Canadian experience.  Paddling on a glacier melted lake in the Rockies with loons serenading you.  This lake is none other than Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park.  Camping the night at Fisherman Bay only topped the experience of a true Canadian outing, with pica, red tailed squirrels and deer a plenty in the area.

Snake Indian Falls

July 19, 2014

Canada Parks Day, once again I found myself in Jasper completing the North Boundary trail in search of Snake Indian Falls.  Just like the last two years, I would attempt the trip via mountain bike, and just like last year I would bring a friend to help with the 26.5Km journey.

Last year we decided to stop at the Shalebanks campground, having spent all of our energy, and not knowing what the route back would take out of us.  This year we pushed ourselves beyond the river and would explore new terrain once more, always inching closer to what we desire.  Little did we know what was in store for us.

Curtain Call

May 18, 2014

Sadly at the end of the ice climbing season this waterfall tucks itself away for the summer.  On this day I would pull over by chance and gawking at me from behind was this nearly completely faded ice climbing waterfall; known as the ominous Curtain Call.  In it's true form this waterfall is one known only by expert climbers, with it's approximate 250 meter drop this waterfall is almost just as hard to get to the base as it is to succeed its climb.

Cavell Falls

October 13, 2013

I managed to stumble on this waterfall as pure luck.  I pulled over at a sight seeing area on the Mt. Edith Cavell road and heard the rush of water beneath me.  Lucky for me there was another man pulled over as well and he confirmed that the waterfall did exist below, and even that there would be another one further down stream.

Angel Glacier Falls

Angel Glacier

October 13, 2013

What was a last minute unplanned trip in the morning; ended up being something special.  The morning before we would gorge ourselves on a Thanksgiving buffet in Jasper, me and a friend did a short hike towards Angel & Edith Cavell Glaciers.  The drive in to this glacier spot was wonderful, and seemed like something out of a BBC +Top Gear  broadcast.  The roads were as smooth as a baby's bottom with no crack or bumps (Yes this is still Canada, I didn't believe it either) and the road had hairpin turns as it had switchbacks to climb up alongside Mt. Edith Cavell.

Snake Indian Falls

July 20, 2013

Considerably the best time I've ever had on a bike.  For an approximate total of 26.7Km (53.4Km round trip), this trail is also the hardest I've ever come across.  For the first 17.5Km (until the Shale Banks Campground) you'll be travelling completely uphill, and not a slight incline either.  This is an unforgiving trail if you're not an avid biker.  I would suggest to take your time and camp out at Celestine Lake (5.2Km) before continuing the remainder of the trail.

Poboktan Falls

December 8, 2012



It seems like an eternity since I've gone searching for frozen waterfalls, and on this day I would do just that, along the Poboktan Creek in Jasper.  On this occasion I would make it an attempt to travel on my trail via snowshoes.  After the snow storm the night before, there would now be an additional 15cm of fluffy powder to trudge through.

Geraldine Falls

September 28, 2012

For one I was surprised at this point that there was still more waterfalls for me to capture in Jasper; and for those keeping track, there are still plenty more.  Geraldine Lakes is the name of the hiking trail, and it follows a moderately difficult trail.  Not to worry, I did do a video again.

Snake Indian Falls

July 20, 2012



On this mid July journey I would re-attempt the journey to Snake Indian Falls.  This was my first attempt in fully documenting the way towards the falls, along with narrating the video.  Unlike my first time visiting this area, I returned with a bike in order to complete the 58km hike (29km one way).

Stanley Falls

Upper

June 15, 2012

On my journey to Stanley Falls this time around I brought my bike.  My intention on this day was to head into the North Boundry trail, however this was not an option due to the constant rainfall that hit the Rockies the previous weeks.  This along with a couple other adventures were my back up plans.