Thursday 18 December 2008

Hiking Trails - Wapta Falls



Wapta Falls is near the west end gate of Yoho National Park on the Kicking Horse River. From the TransCanada Highway it is an easy half hour hike one way going 7-kilometres round-trip. The Kicking Horse River drops 27 metres at its full height and is 61 metres across. Wapta Falls has the largest volume of water of all waterfalls in Yoho National Park; with the distinction in 1858 of being close to the spot where Kicking Horse Pass explorer James Hector was kicked in the chest while trying to recover a runaway horse. He recovered enough to push on with the expedition which proceeded to make the first recorded passage of what is now known as the Big Hill leading up into the Bow Valley from the present day location of Field. Expedition members aptly named the river The Kicking Horse.








Source:
http://www.field.ca/yohonationalpark/waterfalls/
Tales From The Canadian Rockies, Brian Patton (1994)

Photo Credits: pinkcanoe CC=nc-nd-flickr.

18 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

I love the sound of waterfalls. So powerful

Anonymous said...

I have not seen nearly enough waterfalls in my life. They are a bit on the scarce side here in this dry state of South Australia, although Tasmania has some pretty waterfalls, the effort to get to them was quite difficult when I was camping there years ago.Spirit willing, back weak!! I love them though, the roar,the moisture in the air!

David Cranmer said...

I ditto Mr. Gramlich's comment. I think I've mentioned before in one of your older posts that waterfalls can be so menacing but yet so soothing.

Rune Eide said...

I have never seen a more aptly named water fall - and clearly a heaven for photographers.

Anonymous said...

Always very beautiful.
François

MTA said...

Waterfalls, as a liberator sob.

Travis Erwin said...

One of these days I'm going to show up on your porch and demand you take me to all these stunningly beautiful places.

Barbara Martin said...

Charles, the torrent of water flowing through the narrow passage between the mountains sets it up.

Pam, walking is good for back muscles: I have to walk for mine. The mist from waterfalls can drench a person.

David, menacing for these falls when seen up close.

Barbara Martin said...

RuneE, there are many different angles to take photo shots.

François, these photos provide a nice reminder I need to return to the Rockies to experience the wonder again.

Marie, waterfalls are many things to people.

Barbara Martin said...

Travis, sounds a bit ominous, but it's a deal.

laughingwolf said...

canuckistan sure has lovely places, but so do other countries

thx barbara...

L.A. Mitchell said...

Love the rainbow captured in the photo :)

BernardL said...

That's a beauty.

Cloudia said...

Barbara-
Your blog is like a waterfall; so much abundance! beauty! info! It'd a "pour-de-force"!
How d'ya do it?
I'm with Travis. If I ever get to visit 'll definitely use your posts to guide me. . . Aloha!

Barrie said...

I'm with Charles and David, there's just something amazing about waterfalls.

J. L. Krueger said...

I second Travis' threat, I mean promise! I love wild places like the ones you show here.

bindu said...

What an amazing hike this must be!

Rune Eide said...

A not unknown phenomenon. I live on the coast, so we usually get only small amounts of snow and it seldom stays for a long time. The first snowfall always creates chaos, even though we ought to know better.

Many years ago I lived up north where things were a bit different...