Thursday 12 November 2009

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.

16 comments:

Teresa said...

Thanks for another post of gorgeous scenery, Barbara. I loved the pictures of the mountain goats and the butterfly on the flower and the pictures of what seem to be hobbits frolicking in the hills.

Leah J. Utas said...

I'm breathless just looking at the hike. Beautiful.

Rick said...

You must be in fantastic shape, Barbara with all of your travels. I'm ashamed to say that I spent the entire last week sitting in this chair typing. The good news is that I actually got up to go to bed.

Gallow said...

Wow, spectacular. How long were you there?

Barbara Martin said...

Teresa, if you ever venture to Jasper National Park you might want to walk part of the way up the trail for the experience of being in the wilderness.

Barbara Martin said...

Leah, this particular hike is strenuous from the rapid elevation in the latter part (going up the headwall). I would be hard pressed to do this hike now, and would have to stop at each of the campgrounds on the way up to make the distance. It would be the same coming down and I can feel my knees already complaining about the steep incline on the headwall trail portion. Though I would dearly love to stay at the hut which would make the effort worthwhile.

Barbara Martin said...

Rick and Steve, I'm not in the best of shape. Most of these hiking posts are from memories and dreams of trails I have done and others only partially. I did a portion of this trail many, many years ago when I was much younger and spry.

I do these virtual hikes to keep my memories fresh while keeping up-to-date on new hiking techniques as part of my research for my manuscripts.

Cloudia said...

Magical.



Aloha, Friend!


Comfort Spiral

Julian Davis said...

Fabulous shots! I cant take my eyes from this collection of pictures of Fryatt Valley . No words to say about it .

Frank Baron said...

Gorgeous. Thanks Barbara. Are we spoiled in this country or what?

Barbara Martin said...

Cloudia, to be in the upper Fryatt Valley would be magical and serene providing the sun was shining. Hiking and camping in the rain isn't much fun.

Julian, welcome. The scenery grows progressively more impressive as the hike moves farther up toward the headwall, and once climbed it opens up even more.

Frank, Canada is truly blessed for such spectacular scenic locations.

Charles Gramlich said...

Lana and I were talking last night about going to Banff. We are both enamored of your gorgeous hiking pics.

Barbara Martin said...

Charles, you will not be disappointed, though be prepared for Banff tends to be very commercialized.

diane b said...

Wow What a wonderful experience.

Leslie said...

Hi Barbara! As part of my work here in Banff, I get to peruse any blog that comes up with the word - Banff - and yours has come up a few times! It is always beautifully written with great pics. On a personal note and as a lover of the trails, you may enjoy my blog. I started it a few years ago to share the beauty of my backyard with everyone. I am a mountain runner, who likes to run the trails and photo document along the way.

Thanks for sharing!

Dave Olsen said...

I went on this hike on Thanksgiving day long weekend when I was 18,in 1976. Would love to do it again soon hopefully I can still do it.