Jacques Lake, Jasper National Park, Canada

Jacques Lake is a great beginner hike - and we used it as just that. The hike is under 13km one way. 

Dean had done multi-day hikes before. Kay was used to day hikes/bushwalks in Australia. But had never done anything overnight.

It took some convincing to get Kay to go - like many Australians, she was scared of Canadian wildlife. 

In preparation we did a bunch of small hikes around Edmonton, and Elk Island National Park. 

It was April and the snow in Edmonton had completely melted. 

Elk Island too was snow-free (though still a little muddy).

We had an exceptionally warm spring - the 2 days of our hike were around 20 degrees celsius. So the air temperature was warm. However, the snow in the mountains around Jasper had not melted. 

Getting There:

Jacques Lake is in the Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. 

If you're coming from Jasper, head east on Hwy 16 towards Edmonton. About 2km from Jasper you will turn right onto Maligne Road. 

Continue towards Maligne Lake, and the trailhead is close to the end of Medicine Lake, about 28km from Hwy 16. 

To park at the trailhead you will need to pay the park entry fee, or have a Canada Parks Pass. 

The trail is fairly flat, and not challenging - making it great for an introduction to backcountry camping. 

Our Experience

We arrived to the trailhead and realized there was still a good 16 inches of snow. 

Not sure why we expected different - it was only April, after all. 

Crossing the bridge from the carpark

We quickly learned the value of investing in gaiters. They weigh next to nothing, and you just never know when you might need them. 

Thankfully the snow was hard-packed from cross country skiers and snowshoers

A few times though, we would step off of the hard-packed snow and be knee deep in it. That's not easy on the body. 

This hike offers excellent views

Approaching the campground

Sunrise on Jacques Lake

Q&A

Is hiking in snow worth the effort?

Absolutely. It was hard and tiring - especially when we stepped off the hard-packed snow and were in it knee deep. If you like a challenge it's totally worth giving it a go. And the views were amazing. 

We were beginners at the time and enjoyed the experience very much. 

Did you have any special gear?

Not exactly. We had some lightweight gear - but Kay only had a day pack at this point. This was a practice hike to see if it was something we wanted to get into. We loved every minute and decided to invest in some proper gear after this hike - including gaiters. 

To get started with backcountry hiking you will need:

• a lightweight tent
• a backpack big enough to carry your items. When we started we did not have ultra-light anything... it's not ideal, but it's doable. 
• a sleeping bag rated for the temperature you plan to sleep in
• a sleeping mat, preferably with a high R value
• good walking shoes/hiking boots
• a stove
• a water filter

All the extra gadgets and stuff are great - but not necessary when you start out.

What was the biggest challenge?

The daytime temperatures were quite warm, but the overnight dropped shockingly low. We didn't have a thermometer with us but it was probably close to -10 degrees celsius. Our mats, sleeping bags and clothes were not warm enough for the temperatures. We put on all our clothing and huddled to stay warm. 

In the morning Dean was kind enough to get up and make coffee for us :)