Bob's Canadian Rockies - Mt. Wilcox, Jasper National Park

Mt. Wilcox and Wilcox Pass

Jasper National Park

A View of Mt. Wilcox (looking north)

Mt. Wilcox is the mountain behind the Icefield Information Centre, along the Icefield Parkway, 90 km. South of Jasper. Experienced climbers think of it as an afternoon warm up, before climbing Mt. Athabasca on the other side of the highway.

I however, took several attempts, over ten years, before standing on the top (about 9,463 feet/2,886m). It seemed that every time I'd get above the green line (there are no trees on this side) the weather would not cooperate; either it would rain or snow, and become very slippery, or just the low clouds would move in. Why bother, if I couldn't see all there was to see.

One day, as I was standing about this elevation, I herd the drone of a large aircraft.
I recognized it as unusual, because the lower air space of our national parks is off limits to regular flights.
I immediately looked up. It took a few moments to locate the Canadian Forces C-130 Hercules, about 300 feet below me! It's not often one would get a chance to watch one in the air, from above! I later learned the Air Force is permitted a limited number of low altitude training flights through these long mountain valleys.

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