Last May we had the opportunity to make a trip to Jasper National Park with Ingrid's father. He had not been there since before his late wife went into a care facility back in 2019. We realized that this might also be his last trip to the Canadian Rockies. It was good that we went when we did.
This past week, a wildfire hit Jasper National Park, the worst fire in a National Park in Canada in over 100 years. About 1/3 of the structures in the town of Jasper were lost including, as far as we can tell from maps that have been released, the Bed and Breakfast place we stayed at last May. When we booked a night there, the owner said it was her only night not booked through the end of September. Now it is gone, and the park and town of Jasper remain closed until all the fires in town are out and it is no longer threatened by the still raging flames.
Many areas the fire burned through have yet to be inspected including bridges and campgrounds; even within the burn perimeter there are areas that haven't burned or are only partially burned.
Jasper National Park holds a lot of memories for us. We got engaged while visiting the park 41 years ago. On our honeymoon, we stayed at Whistlers Inn—which firefighters managed to save this past week, though a building two doors down the road was lost. We have made many other visits to the park in the 40 years since we got married. Now, many of the places we have visited will be but charred remains. All that is left for us is photographs and memories of a different time. I can't imagine what it is like for those who lost their homes in the inferno.
So here are a few memories from from photos I have digital copies of.
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| View of Whistlers Peak from Austrian Haven Home B&B (which did not survive the fire) So far the tram up to the top of Whistlers Peak is intact. |
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| Athabasca Falls is within the perimeter of the burned area (May 2024) |
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| The Moberly Bridge over the Athabasca River needs to be inspected before being open to the public (May 2024) |
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| The Athabasca River served as a firebreak in some areas (May 2024) This is near the northern burn perimeter |
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| Edith Lake is also within the burn perimeter (May 2024) |
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| The Old Fort Point Bridge also needs to be inspected (photo from 2015) |
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| Maligne Canyon (2013) I don't think the fire went this far, but you have to drive through the burned area to get here |
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| View from Whistlers Inn, October 1983. All the buildings in the foreground appear to have survived the fire |
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| View of Jasper Townsite from the top of Whistlers Peak, October 1983 |
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| Trail to Whistlers Peak, 2004 So far this area is intact |
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| Pyramid Mountain is landmark to the North of Jasper This photo is from 41 years ago |
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| Pyramid Mountain last May. So far the fire has not reached this area. |
