Jasper Alberta Has Burnt
07-25-24, 02:23 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Jasper Alberta Has Burnt
Current estimate 30-50% structural damage from "3 to 4 hundred foot flames" which entered the town Wednesday night.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfire-that-roared-into-jasper-was-a-wall-of-fast-moving-flame-says-fire-official-1.7274825
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/wildfire-that-roared-into-jasper-was-a-wall-of-fast-moving-flame-says-fire-official-1.7274825
07-25-24, 03:13 PM
#3
07-25-24, 07:00 PM
#5
I've never been, but it is a fairly major ski resort town and summer sports attraction.
It is on a major bike touring route that goes through a national park of the same name, and is considered by many to be one of the most scenic in North America.
It is on a major bike touring route that goes through a national park of the same name, and is considered by many to be one of the most scenic in North America.
Last edited by Polaris OBark; 07-25-24 at 08:56 PM. Reason: more detail
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07-25-24, 07:32 PM
#6
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07-25-24, 08:19 PM
#7
Hooked on Touring
Jasper National Park Is Closed
A horrific wildfire has destroyed half of the town of Jasper.
The Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) and the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16) are closed.
Given the extent of the damage, Jasper National Park may remains closed for the rest of the season.
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyj423n2jdgo
It is one of the most beautiful bike rides in North America.
The Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93) and the Yellowhead Highway (Hwy 16) are closed.
Given the extent of the damage, Jasper National Park may remains closed for the rest of the season.
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyj423n2jdgo
It is one of the most beautiful bike rides in North America.
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07-26-24, 01:10 AM
#8
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Thread Starter
Jasper is also the start point of the Great Divide route, North America's most famous long distance MTB/gravel challenge.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grea...ain_Bike_Route
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grea...ain_Bike_Route
Last edited by Yan; 07-26-24 at 01:13 AM.
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07-26-24, 05:57 AM
#9
In the '80s & '90s the "Great Parks North" (Missoula > Jasper) was ACA's most popular tour. In 1983 I rode a longer version called "Great Parks Odyssey" (Durango CO > Jasper). Subsequently I made return tours through Jasper.
Many fond memories of that town. It's a shock to learn of the devastation. Thanks for the notification Yan. Not much reporting yet from news sources here in the USA.
Many fond memories of that town. It's a shock to learn of the devastation. Thanks for the notification Yan. Not much reporting yet from news sources here in the USA.
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07-26-24, 06:58 AM
#10
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Merged duplicate threads.
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07-26-24, 08:15 AM
#12
bicycle tourist
This is where I started in 2016 after having taken the Icefields Parkway (and Dalton/Alaska/Cassier/Yellowhead before that). However, in 2018 ACA opened a new section from Jasper to Banff - https://bikepacking.com/news/great-d...oute-extended/ so it will be interesting to see reports of the new section and how it picks up.
Shame to see such small towns burn. I read Fire Weather earlier this summer, a book about both the Fort McMurray fires (2016) and a broader discussion on interplay of fire and climate. Shortly after finishing the book, a set of fires burned parts of Ruidoso NM including 1000+ structures and came within half a mile of a vacation property I own - so perhaps I am extra attuned to such fires happening.
Shame to see such small towns burn. I read Fire Weather earlier this summer, a book about both the Fort McMurray fires (2016) and a broader discussion on interplay of fire and climate. Shortly after finishing the book, a set of fires burned parts of Ruidoso NM including 1000+ structures and came within half a mile of a vacation property I own - so perhaps I am extra attuned to such fires happening.
07-26-24, 08:45 AM
#13
Hooked on Touring
They are not really duplicate -
Because the OP fails to mention that the park is closed.
Yes, the fire and destruction in Jasper townsite is tragic
But the most important piece of info for a cycle touring website
is the fact that the entire park is closed and will be for some time.
Unfortunately, some cyclists for years have tended to ignore closures.
There's a $25,000 fine for entry in Jasper National Park right now.
And probably for some time to come.
Because the OP fails to mention that the park is closed.
Yes, the fire and destruction in Jasper townsite is tragic
But the most important piece of info for a cycle touring website
is the fact that the entire park is closed and will be for some time.
Unfortunately, some cyclists for years have tended to ignore closures.
There's a $25,000 fine for entry in Jasper National Park right now.
And probably for some time to come.
07-26-24, 12:23 PM
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In an area that is still trying to recover from a forest fire I wonder how this fire could have been prevented. And that is not the official version but of what the residents have to say. And sure that may not have anything to do with bike touring but still, I want to know...
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Last edited by zandoval; 07-26-24 at 12:28 PM.
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07-26-24, 01:26 PM
#16
I took this photo at the X on the map below on a hike in Jasper NP in 1983. I think I see it on Yan's map above just outside of the fire perimeter.
Beryl Lake, Jasper NP Alberta
edit: The fire perimeter shown at Yan's screenshot is actually east of Mt Edith Cavell, my photo and map are slightly west of Mt Edith Cavell.
Beryl Lake, Jasper NP Alberta
edit: The fire perimeter shown at Yan's screenshot is actually east of Mt Edith Cavell, my photo and map are slightly west of Mt Edith Cavell.
Last edited by BobG; 07-27-24 at 06:37 AM.
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07-26-24, 03:55 PM
#17
But there are lots of very bad things happening every day, and also lots of very good things happening every day too. But we don't typically see threads about them here in the "Bike Touring" sub-forum of the "Bike Forums" website, unless they have something to do with "Bike Touring", or at least bicycles. As my post said, i figured that this was the case here, and just asked for that context to be provided.
Sorry i have offended you, and i hope i won't be arrested by the Tone Police. If you believe i violated some forum rule, do please feel free to report my post. Note that a mod merged the two threads about this fire after my post, so it may be that i did not actually violate any rules, despite offending you.
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07-26-24, 03:55 PM
#18
The way you posted this just sounds all wrong. Its a tragedy even if it did not have any bicycle touring effects. But your post did bring out further posts to identify many aspects of how the fire effects local touring.
In an area that is still trying to recover from a forest fire I wonder how this fire could have been prevented. And that is not the official version but of what the residents have to say. And sure that may not have anything to do with bike touring but still, I want to know...
In an area that is still trying to recover from a forest fire I wonder how this fire could have been prevented. And that is not the official version but of what the residents have to say. And sure that may not have anything to do with bike touring but still, I want to know...
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07-26-24, 08:03 PM
#19
07-27-24, 01:45 AM
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Wanted to add that exceptional weather events are becoming the norm. Forest fires and heat waves are more frequent, more intense than before, which definitely impacts touring.
07-27-24, 09:05 PM
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07-28-24, 08:45 AM
#22
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Jasper town map showing which buildings safe or gone.
Jasper Town Fire map PDF
And here's my 2 day car trip to Jasper with my CCM, still with the original front wheel.
I then drove by the Columbia Ice Fields, half way to Banff.
5 miles south. Hot afternoon/ cold morning day April 28, 2018.
Jasper Town Fire map PDF
And here's my 2 day car trip to Jasper with my CCM, still with the original front wheel.
I then drove by the Columbia Ice Fields, half way to Banff.
5 miles south. Hot afternoon/ cold morning day April 28, 2018.
Last edited by GamblerGORD53; 07-29-24 at 06:36 AM.
07-30-24, 01:15 PM
#23
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Yes it is...Jasper is the north end of the Banff/Jasper highway, popular with cyclists touring the Canadian Rockies. IN addition from there you can go west to Mt. Robson and the rest of BC; or go east and leave the mountains behind as you continue a cross canada tour. Whistler campground has a great hiker biker section.
Sad to hear about the fire damage, but with the forests are now managed by PhDs in forestry whose knowledge of logging consists of sharpening their cedar pencils. Much the same in the USA but worse.
Sad to hear about the fire damage, but with the forests are now managed by PhDs in forestry whose knowledge of logging consists of sharpening their cedar pencils. Much the same in the USA but worse.
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07-30-24, 02:15 PM
#24
Here we go!
07-30-24, 02:22 PM
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Jasper town map showing which buildings safe or gone.
Jasper Town Fire map PDF
Jasper Town Fire map PDF
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