Hiking Trails - Fryatt Valley (Day 2)

[20 - From Headwall campground]


This is a continuation of Day 1 of the hike through lower Fryatt Valley. Fryatt Valley is in Jasper National Park, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. This is considered a difficult hike and any hiker should consider making this a 4 to 5 day excursion.






[21 - Headwall Falls]


The headwall portion of the trail gains 200m in less than a kilometre.














[22- Looking down lower Fryatt Valley from the trail up the headwall]





[23 - climbing the headwall]





[24 - Part of the Headwall Falls - click to enlarge]














[25 - Nearing top of the Headwall]




[26 - Mossy waterfall in Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]

Near the top of the headwall is a small waterfall with a pool – good place to stop and rest.





[27 - near the top of the headwall overlooking Fryatt Valley toward Athabasca Valley]





[28 - Upper Fryatt Creek above the headwall - click to enlarge]



100m farther along is the Sydney Vallance Hut run by the Alpine Club of Canada at approximately the 22km mark. The hut accommodates 12 hikers and is the only place to stay overnight in the upper valley.



[29 - Sydney Vallance Hut in upper Fryatt Valley]




[30 - Sydney Vallance Hut - click to enlarge]


From the ACC hut after a night's rest plan on exploring the upper Fryatt Valley with a light pack.



[31 - Upper Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]


Above the headwall the upper Fryatt Valley opens up to reveal ice-clad peaks and subalpine meadows.

The trail here is often wet and covered in a carpet of wildflowers in July. The route climbs a rocky moraine then descends thru stands of alpine fir to the shore of a small lake fed by the meltwaters of the nearby Belanger Glacier. From here there is an unobstructed view of rugged peaks and glaciers.




[32 - Harlequin ducks on Fryatt Creek]







[33 - Harlequin ducks on Fryatt Creek - click to enlarge]





[34 - Upper Fryatt Valley]





[35 - White speck is Mountain Goat - click to enlarge]









[36 - Mountain goats shedding winter coats - click to enlarge]





[37 - Upper Fryatt valley toward the glaciers - click to enlarge]











[38 - Butterfly on wildflowers - click to enlarge]







[39 - Upper Fryatt Valley - click to enlarge]




Source: ParksCanada - Jasper
Photo Credits: [20][25][37][38][39]-HandsLive CC=flickr, [21][22][23][24][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr, [27]-wikipedia, [36]-filo1000 CC=nc-nd-flickr.