Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park
A Mountain With a History linked to Norfolk England
Sep 28, 2009
Nestled amongst the mountains towering over the town of Jasper at over 11,000 feet is a mountain named Edith Cavell mountain.
Forever A Link Between Canada and England
Several of the mountains were named in the early 1900’s, with Edith Cavell mountain being named in 1916 in memory of a heroine from Norfolk, England. Edith Cavell was an English Nurse who was executed for helping prisoners of war escape from German-occupied Belgium during the First World War.
Known locally as Mount Edith Cavell, it stands majestically in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. A winding road named, of course, Cavell Road, takes the hiker or tourist or climber to an area under the mountain’s stunning north face. Either take a picnic and enjoy the spectacular scenery of Cavell Meadows, or start the “Path of the Angel Glacier” trail, where the visitor can experience glacier formations, icebergs, snow and ice shelves, waterfalls, and emerald green lakes.
Many Popular Climbing Routes and Hiking Trails in Jasper
There are several popular climbing routes in addition to the north face. The West Ridge is probably the most frequently climbed route, and there is also the East Ridge.
There are also trails to Cavell Lake, which is frozen over for much of the year. Certainly by mid-October onwards until May or June.
Approximately four kilometres along Cavell Road is the Astoria Valley Viewpoint which is an excellent location for viewing the range of mountains and the stunning scenery of the area.
Native Americans in the area told early explorers this mountain was called White Ghost. Even in the height of summer, the mountain is seen to have a capping of snow, which probably gave it its original name.
For those less active the mountain can be seen superbly from the town of Jasper. On a clear day the snow capping is clearly visible.
Jasper Offers a Variety of Accommodations
There are many campsites in the area, and Jasper offers a variety of accommodations suitable for all pockets. Jasper is a quaint Canadian town surrounded by the mountains and an ideal base for exploring the amazing scenery and all that the area has to offer.
Wildlife in the area includes caribou, elk, moose and grizzly bear.
Jasper is also the end of the Yellowhead Route of the Rocky Mountaineer train, a spectacular train trip that follows the valleys through the Rocky Mountains to Vancouver.
Whether touring, hiking, mountaineering, or merely passing through, the town of Jasper and Mount Edith Cavell are worthy of a taking some time to explore.
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