The Canadian Backcountry Trails Preservation society

The Canadian Backcountry Trails Preservation Society was incorporated in 2024 to preserve and protect safe access to remote wilderness areas in Canada’s National Parks and other public land use areas through private partnerships and positive, productive advocacy.

We hope you will join us on this path and get involved with our work.

We are a coalition of backcountry enthusiasts who deeply appreciate Nature and wish to help other people experience the beauty and peace of the backcountry of Canada’s iconic National Parks.

Through our advocacy, we work to partner with all stakeholders to ensure safe, sustainable and ecologically beneficial access to some of the most remote and awe inspiring areas in Canada.

Simon Creek Bridge, Athabasca Pass Trail, Jasper National Park Of Canada

The Problem:

Simon Creek is typically dangerously impassible during the summer months due to glacial melt and its steep drop toward the Whirlpool River. This is what a human/horse bridge has been in place for as long as anyone can remember.

Even when water is low late in the season, it presents a clear and present danger to all who attempt to cross it, even those backpackers and horse parties with high levels of backcountry experience.

As a result, visitors to Jasper National Park of Canada are being denied safe access to the Athabasca Pass Trail and to the Athabasca Pass National Historic Site.

Overview:

ALL documentation regarding the proposals and rejections and other background referenced by the Park, including various studies and backcountry Trail Maintenance Matrix criteria, are available for you on our Documents And Maps page.

1. After completing trail clearing work and bridge building on the western side of Athabasca Pass in British Columbia, the organizations involved, including the Alpine Club Of Canada, requested that Jasper National Park commit to replacing the bridge over Simon Creek and maintenance of the trail to keep it clear of obstructions.
2. This request was denied by the Superintendent, citing financial costs.
3. The group, then came up with a very lengthy proposal to offer a FULLY funded bridge, completely installed at no charge to Jasper national Park.
4. This was again rejected, citing many financial concerns, including not having the budget for end of life removal but ALSO no funding to EVEN ASSESS THE PROPOSAL.
5. The group once again found the funding to reimburse the Park for the assessment AND secured a commitment from a Benefactor that end of life removal funding for this bridge would be part of that Benefactor’s last will and testament.
6. After solving ALL previously cited issues by Jasper National Park management, a third rejection was given, this time by an Acting Superintendent, citing “environmental impact” of having people in this area.

Reviewing the facts shows:

A. – that the Park first cited the lower numbers of users in this area as a reason for not replacing a bridge that had been across this particular waterway for as long as memory serves.

B. – that the Park then suggested the replacing of this bridge would somehow lead to an increase in visitations and presented this a a negative outcome.

C. – that the Park itself sets visitation quotas based on the number of “campsites” and “tent pads” available on any given trail (and we use both “terms” loosely in remote areas) available for reservation. (This is not a random camping zone. All campsites must be reserved) Therefore, the Park itself controls the number of visitors that can traverse an area at any given time, yet cites this as a reason for not investing in a replacement bridge, and then cites it again as a reason not to replace the bridge due to higher usage fears?

Even a casual observer will be able to note the obvious contradictions.

Background:

David Thompson first crossed and mapped Athabasca Pass in 1811, to expand the fur trade west of the Rocky Mountains. This pass and the trail to it became the main route between the Columbia and Athabasca River watersheds. It was the main route between what is now Alberta and British Columbia, before the era of roads and railways.

The Métis First Nation, now living east of Jasper National Park, have a long history of using the Athabasca Pass Trail. They have hunted, fished and guided explorers in what is now Jasper National Park, for over 200 years. Their ancestor, Thomas the Iroquois, led David Thompson over Athabasca Pass in 1811.

In a spirit of reconciliation between the Métis and Parks Canada, the Métis propose that this bridge be named “Thomas the Iroquois Bridge”. This will commemorate Thomas’ extensive knowledge of the land and crucial role in guiding Thompson over this pass. David Thompson is well known, but Thomas the Iroquois deserves much more recognition for his significant contribution to the history and development of Alberta.

In 2018, the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District commissioned the Golden and Area A Trail Strategy, which includes the Athabasca Pass Heritage Trail. After extensive community consultation and stakeholder engagement, at the top of the list of Key Findings was the public’s request for the restoration of cultural and historic trails.

The lack of Simon Creek Bridge prevents trail users from using the Athabasca Pass Trail until there is snow on the ground. The creek is glacially fed, very fast, 3 to 4 ft deep and about 80 ft wide.

The Solution:

Full private funding has been arranged for the replacement, maintenance and eventual end of life removal of this bridge.

No funds and no investment in time, manpower or money are required from Parks Canada, only permits. Professional engineer drawings, logistical planning and project management will be provided by experienced engineers. Proven, experienced volunteers are available to complete all the work.

The planned bridge is a 100 ft fibreglass equestrian bridge, resting on gabions (wire cages around local rocks), 6 ft above the high water level. Previous bridges at this site were only 2.5 ft above water level, had gabions in the creek and were washed away. Timber ramps will be provided down to the ground on both sides for pack horses and hikers. This bridge will have a 50+ year design life.

A high quality 96 ft log bridge was built in 2022 across Jeffrey Creek near the Jeffrey Creek Campground, 1.3 km from the west Trailhead.

The full traverse of Athabasca Pass Heritage Trail is 73 km long, and can be completed in about 6 days, including vehicle shuttling. A charter boat service is available to take hikers from Sprague Bay / Boat Encampment to the Wood River Bridge. Hikers walk 8 km from this Bridge on good logging road to the Athabasca Pass Heritage Trailhead.

In 2023, Japer National Park of Canada Managers refused this gifted bridge on three separate occasions, citing different reasons each time. Managers kept “moving the goalposts” after the group was able to address all cited concerns. It is therefore, fair to speculate that for some unstated reason, Managers simply do not want to allow safe access to this trail and to the Athabasca Pass National Historic Site.

Our group is not the only one to recognize the deteriorating conditions in some of the most beautiful areas of our mountain National Parks. Please take some time to read their stories, as well as reporting on our initial project, Simon Creek Bridge.

To Support Rebuilding SAFE Trail Access in Jasper National Park, Our Current Project, PLEASE Email AND Call:

Gerald Soroka, MP for Yellowhead (Jasper National Park’s MP)

EMAIL: Gerald.Soroka@parl.gc.ca

PHONE: 780-723-6068

MAIL:

Gerald Soroka, MP
119 – 50th Street
Edson, Alberta
T7E 1V9

AND

Alan Fehr, Superintendant – Jasper National Park

EMAIL: alan.fehr@pc.gc.ca AND jasper.superintendent@pc.gc.ca

PHONE: 780-852-6171

MAIL:

Mr. Alan Fehr, Superintendent
Jasper National Park
Parks Canada Agency
Box 10
Jasper, AB T0E 1E0

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