Hi Everyone,
I just returned from a short and snowy overnight ramble along the Fiddle River Trail in Jasper National Park. In summary, while we are technically now in summer, the mountains are still a bit late to realize this fact.

Travel conditions along the trail were quite variable with many muddy sections and the occasional patch of snow between the trailhead and Slide Campground (1550 m). After Slide Campground, there were more patches of quickly melting snow from last weeks wintery-weather between 10-20 cm in depth. Above 1850 m, snow levels along the trail in the shaded forest deepened considerably with many sections encounteted between 50-80 cm (supportive to graceful tiptoeing but not regular walking). I turned around soon after Whitehorse Campground and would imagine that the deep snowpack continues towards Fiddle Pass (with shallower snowpack sections in open sun-exposed terrain). Reaching Fiddle Pass by conventional hiking conditions is still several weeks away.

Unbridged creek and river crossings along the trail were between knee and mid-calf deep with the deepest crossings near Slide Campground. Starting early to avoid crossings during the afternoon heat is highly reccomended.

Numerous recent wet loose avalanches were visible (especially on solar aspects), with the majority up to size 1 and a few isolated results to size 2.

Even with the substantial amount of lingering snow, the summer sun packed a punch, and the Jasper area will likely see significant melting over the next week if sunny skies continue.
Happy Trails,
Ben

Ben Nearingburg
ACMG HG
CAA Avalanche Practitioner