The Jasper Local Issue July 1, 2017

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LOCAL + independent

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thejasperlocal.com

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saturday, july 1, 2017 // ISSUE 100

THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL // CAM MAHLER ENGAGES THE DESCENT OF MOUNT ATHABASCA VIA THE SILVERHORN ROUTE JUNE 17. WHO SAID SKI SEASON WAS FINISHED? // TRISTAN NISSEN

Terry Fox Foundation looking for a local hero The 2017 Terry Fox Run in Jasper needs a hero.

On September 17, the Terry Fox Foundation wants to bring back the Terry Fox Run in Jasper, but the organization dedicated to eliminating cancer needs the community’s help to do so.

“After 28 annual runs in the area that started in 1985, there hasn’t been a community run in Jasper since 2013,” said Wendy Kennelly, provincial director.

Kennelly wants to bring the tradition back. To do so, she is hoping to recruit a lead organizer of the event—a hero, as she put it.

“The Foundation is looking for an enthusiastic individual,

group or organization to be that hero,” she said. She noted the Foundation supplies everything volunteers need to organize the event.

“The cost to you is nothing and we will be with you every step of the way.”

Kennelly said $140,000 towards the fight against cancer was raised over the 28 years of hosting the Run in Jasper.

“Your community has made a great impact on cancer research over those years,” she said.

If someone you know can be a hero, email wendy.kennelly@ terryfoxrun.org or visit www.terryfox.org for more info.

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page A2 // the jasper local // issue 100 // saturday, july 1, 2017

editorial //

Local Vocal Not all heroes wear capes.

In Jasper, many of them wear polyester collared shirts affixed with plastic name tags.

Sure, it’s hard to see them behind the crush of tourists buying cases of bottled water, angel food cakes, 24 packs of wieners and giant boxes of disposable plates, but they’re there. They have to be, otherwise the lines would never end, the shelves would never get restocked and the black forest ham would never get sliced.

I’m talking of course, of Jasper’s most courageous front line workers: the supermarket staffers.

Recently I overheard a local complaining about the grocery store experience. He was incensed at the lineups, the confusion, the utter mayhem.

He was upset that people were walking the opposite way down the aisle, that his preferred brand of bread had run out and that shoppers’ carts were bouncing off his shoes. Yet he was there for less than 30 minutes of one week! Did he not have a shred of empathy for the staff who have to deal with that gong show full time?

Look, Grumpy Guses, we all have to eat, even folks on vacation! Not all of those folks are going to know innately to pick up a basket rather than push a cart. Not all of them are going to know to enter and exit through the left door, rather than the right. Not all of them will have the correct change (or currency).

The point is, your twice weekly dash for sustenance is peanuts compared to the summer of slam that our valiant grocery store staffers are staring down. My advice? If you really must brave the crowds during peak bat-poop, instead of boiling over at the bottlenecks, bring a book. Instead of getting bent that the bread got bought up, bake your own. Instead of whining about the price of potatoes, plant a garden.

It should go without saying to never, ever shop on an empty stomach—not because you’ll impulsively purchase a family sized box of Cap’n Crunch, but because your mood will go from hangry to homicidal. Finally, show a little understanding for the folks who have to answer the same silly customer questions hour after hour, all the while remembering the PLU codes for every obscure vegetable in the building, bagging your weird groceries and doing it all with a smile on their face.

Supermarket staff, you really are super. From the bottom of our hearts (and stomachs), we salute you.

One more thing: please don’t quit. bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

Meet our newest team member, Megan!

Hey Jasper, you remember Megan Warren! Megan grew up here but these days, she’s pursuing a creative and professional writing degree at the University of Victoria. Good news: she’s back for the summer and among other awesome adventures, she’s writing for The Jasper Local. Before she gets scooped up by Nat Geo, you’ll find her boppin’ around these parts, hiking the trails or riding her motorcycle. Megan’s looking for stories this summer, so if you have some to share, don’t be a stranger. Help her get some experience in the field, would you? Email megan@thejasperlocal.com and let her know what’s going on! She’ll make ya famous! - BC

The Jasper Local //

Jasper’s independent alternative newspaper 780.852.9474 • thejasperlocal.com • po box 2046, jasper ab, t0e 1e0

Published on the 1st and 15th of each month Editor / Publisher

Bob Covey.................................................................................... bob@thejasperlocal.com Art Director

Nicole Gaboury.................................................................. nicole@thejasperlocal.com Advertising + sales

..............................................................................................................ads@thejasperlocal.com cartoonist

Deke.................................................................................................deke@thejasperlocal.com

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// Local science

saturday, july 1 2017 // issue 100 // the jasper local// page A3

Parks on pine beetle: We've got this Parks Canada maintains it has a handle on risks presented by mountain pine beetle (MPB) in Jasper National Park.

Meanwhile, the Municipality of Jasper will be barking up another tree in the hopes of getting more action to prevent a potential disaster.

Despite Jasper’s mayor “sounding the alarm,” according to a June 16 CBC article, over the threat MPB-infested forests pose to public safety in the form of wildfire risk, Parks Canada says it has tools in place to actively manage MPB as the situation dictates.

Moreover, officials assert Jasper National Park is not an epicentre of mountain pine beetle from which the insects are spilling uncontrollably into Alberta’s working forest.

“Our policy completely allows us to actively manage this situation when there are economic, social or public safety implications,” said Salman Rasheed, resource conservation manager for Jasper National Park.

On June 16, Yellowhead MP Jim Eglinski rose in the federal House of Commons to suggest MPB does indeed have implications. He asked what sort of plan the Liberal government has put in place to protect Jasper from mountain pine beetle.

“Residents are concerned for their own safety,” Eglinski said. “There is a high risk of wildfire fuelled by a forest devastated by the pine beetle.”

Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna replied that Parks Canada is working on it.

Jasper National Park’s mountain pine beetle plan has three main management actions available to officials: single tree harvesting—removing single or multiple trees from accessible, leading edge zones; patch harvesting—the removal of larger stands of trees to create wider fire guards; and prescribed burns. Rasheed said the plan is based on the best science available and also pointed out the partnerships Parks Canada nurtures with provincial and regional partners,

WEST OF JASPER ON THE GANGES TRAIL//BC

industry stakeholders, as well as the Municipality of Jasper.

“I feel strongly that we are working in a cooperative and collaborative way,” Rasheed said.

Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland said town council has had full and frank discussions with Parks Canada over the long course and that at this point, he’s satisfied a good working relationship exists on this issue. However, he is hopeful that Eglinski will raise the issue with the federal Minister of Public Safety.

“We’ve gone as far as we can go with Parks Canada,” Ireland said. “We still believe that in order to protect lives first and the economy second…perhaps more should be done.”

Asked what he would say to people concerned that the townsite is at greater risk with more pine trees being infected by beetles, Rasheed said that the issue is less about mountain pine beetle and more about living in a forested landscape. He added that Jasper has resources available to it should wildfire threats escalate.

“Yes there’s mountain pine beetle in the park but there’s a lot of fuel regardless of mountain pine beetle,” he said. “Whether mountain pine beetle was here or not we would probably have a similarly high level of response to wildfire.” bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page B1 // the jasper local // issue 100 // saturday, july 1, 2017

Local inspiration //

One year after paralyzing climbing accident, local mountain guide is standing tall Ryan Titchener is back on his feet.

Twelve months ago this July 15, Titchener, an aspiring mountain guide and a source of boundless energy to his friends and

for a guy who has a strong core and upper body, but limited mobility below the waist.

There would be friends, sand and surf.

There would be seafood, wine and playoff hockey. And there would be no wheelchair.

keep myself from going into dark places by getting out with friends.”

And he is getting out. After their west coast adventure wraps up and Titchener finds his form with his physiotherapist again, he’s

JUMPING IN WITH BOTH FEET // RYAN TITCHENER AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, TEREZA TURECKA, TOOK A TRIP TO THE BROKEN GROUP ISLANDS IN PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK. BEFORE THEY LEFT, TITCHENER BID ADIEU TO HIS WHEELCHAIR, A SYMBOLIC STEP IN HIS RECOVERY FROM INJURY. // PHOTOS SUPPLIED

colleagues, broke his back in a freak climbing accident.

Shortly after being admitted to Calgary’s Foothills Hospital with a snapped spine, 14 broken ribs and a punctured lung, doctors told the 32-year-old they weren’t sure if he’d ever walk again.

“When I got up from my chair to go on this trip, I looked back at it and said ‘I’m never going to sit down in this thing again,’” he said.

Titchener has shown he will do what he sets his mind to. From those first few days in traction when he willed his big toe to move a fraction of an inch, to carving turns on a Since then, Titchener has exceeded all sit ski, to finding his balance on a bicycle expectations, checking off milestone after and pedalling down the street, he is living milestone en route to recovery. proof of mind over matter.

His work ethic and attitude Ditching the wheelchair has have inspired people all across been significant, he said, “It was a bridge I the small, connected Rocky not only for physically finehad to get over, a Mountain communities in tuning his gait, but mentally, gap I had to clear.“ Jasper and the Bow Valley. to force himself to stand on People watched in amazement his own feet. as he learned to use adaptive “It was a bridge I had to get recreational equipment, take strides in the over,” he explained. “It was a gap I had to pool and finally walk under his own power. clear.”

And now Titchener has once again eclipsed It’s now been more than a month without the most optimistic predictions for his the chair. He still relies on those close to recovery. On May 24 Titchener walked away him to help, of course, but—as always—he from his wheelchair. For good. does what he can.

“I’m one hundred per cent back on my legs,” “We’re camping right now. I can’t set up a he said from a campground near Nelson, tent, so I make sure I’m chopping veggies,” B.C. on June 29. he laughed.

One month ago Titchener and his girlfriend It’s not like Titchener doesn’t long for the embarked on a west coast adventure. days when he had full use of his legs. When Titchener needed some quality time driving through the mountains he can’t help outdoors after spending so much time over look up at the cliffs and imagine the best the past year cooped up inside. The couple line. Particularly as mountaineering season planned to paddle the Broken Group Islands shapes up, he has his tough days. in Pacific Rim National Park, SCUBA dive “You sometimes go through a thousand and hang out on the beach—good activities emotions in one day,” he said. “But I try to

focusing on another paddling adventure— this time by canoe—from Telegraph Creek, in Northwestern B.C. to Wrangell, Alaska.

He sets out in August.

“I’m still trying to take it day by day, still trying to figure out things to do with a mobility impairment,” he said.

The list is longer than he first thought possible. Titchener has been involved in Canmore-based Rocky Mountain Adaptive’s climbing program, he’s found his paddling rhythm and he’s discovered his gift of inspiring others through public speaking events and interviews. But one of his biggest steps—and most exciting, for his friends—is yet to come: Titchener plans on moving back to Jasper in the fall.

“I’ve moving back in October,” he declared.

Through his long-time connections to Marmot Basin, Titchener has lined up a job as a dispatcher. He’ll also be Jasper’s most famous sit ski ambassador.

“There’s a lot of firsts to be had in the sit ski,” he said. “I just may need someone to haul it up to the peak for me.” bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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Local fundraising //

Mountains of Relief momentum continues When Mountains of Relief set out to organize a musical event the Jasper Legion, they did so with two goals in mind.

The first was to raise money for the development of a school in the community of Lisakhani, Nepal, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 2015. The second was to bring the community of Jasper together for a night of music and celebration.

“Music is happiness. It’s getting together, having fun, dancing.

Happiness is the plan of the project,” said Raj Ghimire, a coordinator of Mountains of Relief and a Nepali ex-pat.

On the night of June 15, Mountains of Relief’s Music for Good event put that plan into action. It was an evening of live local music and dancing, featuring an art auction and a 50/50 draw. The event pulled in $2,275 which, coupled with the over $6,000 raised by the Mountains of Relief garage sale June 11 and 12, will contribute to achieving the foundation’s goals.

“We feel that is a huge amount,” said Ghimire. “We found that people who donated at the garage sale donated again at the musical

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event, which is amazing. This community is always here for us.”

Since 2015, Mountains of Relief has raised enough money to successfully rebuild the structure of the school. Until then, the children that still came to school after the earthquake had been forced to attend class outside, often in cold weather and wearing improper clothing.

“Before the earthquake hit, there were 86 kids going to the school,” said Sherrill Meropoulis, another coordinator of the foundation.

THIS MOTHER GRIZZLY AND HER TWO CUBS WERE SPOTTED NOT FAR FROM THE “There is only a fraction of that MOBERLY BRIDGE ON THE MALIGNE LAKE ROAD. // SIMONE HEINRICH PHOTO number going now because there’s been no school for two “We’ve got a wish list,” said are also in search of a local years. They’ve been outside. And Meropoulis. “It includes the registered charity that would be they’ve been walking up to two garden, it includes resources for willing to raffle off a handmade hours in one direction to go to books. Anyone willing to take on quilt by Jasperite Theresa Seifert school.” a project like that would really (Mountains of Relief is not a help these kids to get on with registered charity). If anyone Though the their education knows of or is a part of a charity structure of the sooner.” who would be willing to take this school has been on, they should contact Sherrill at “Music is happiness.

It’s completed, the Mountains of project still has Relief is seeking seldomin@hotmail.com. getting together, having a long way to volunteers to “Thank you to all the people fun, dancing. Happiness is go. Mountains fundraise for who’ve contributed their time, the plan of the project” of Relief plans specific portions their money, their ideas, and their to support the of the project’s support, because collectively school and its budget. we’ve been able to achieve a students by great benefit for the children of Mountains of Relief has more funding a science lab, a small Lisakhani,” Meropoulis said. fundraising events to watch out library, a garden and school for this summer. Currently, pieces uniforms (which are mandatory in of fine art are being collected Megan Warren // Nepal). However, even building megan@thejasperlocal.com for an auction called H’art for toilets has to be budgeted for.

Nepal, (date TBA). Coordinators

HOPE IS WHERE THE HEART IS // MAYOR RICHARD IRELAND LEADS THE TOUR OF HOPE OUT OF THE GATES JUNE 14. THE TOUR OF HOPE RAISES MONEY FOR THE KIDS WITH CANCER SOCIETY. RIDERS BIKED AROUND JNP WITH EX-OILERS CAPTAIN ANDREW FERENCE. // BOB COVEY

SAFETY FIRST, SNACKS SECOND// JACKSON IRWIN WAITS PATIENTLY FOR JASPER VOLUNTEER FIRE BRIGADE MEMBER DAVE HOFHUIS TO PASS THE POPCORN DURING THE JUNE 17 SAFETY FAIR AT THE JASPER FIRE HALL. // BOB COVEY

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page b3+B4 // the jasper local // issue 100 // saturday, july 1, 2017

FEATURE // STORY BY BOB COVEY //

PADDLE FORWARD TO CANADA’S PAST TRENT ENZSOL // LENS ON NATURE

More than 170 adventurers have a new appreciation for the challenges—and connections—early settlers and fur traders would have experienced after a six day, 333 km trip on the Athabasca River.

Jailin Bertolin was one of more than 14 dozen paddlers who retraced the strokes of Alberta’s forefathers during a bi-centennial canoe brigade from Jasper to Fort Assiniboine. The Hinton resident said being on the river for almost a week was an incredible way to get a

stopping points, the brigade took part in special “right to land” rituals. The group reenacted permission to land ceremonies, requesting access to the shore from First Nations groups.

“It was a really powerful experience and a really touching way of being greeted,” Bertolin said about the ceremonies.

TRENT ENZSOL // LENS ON NATUR Bernie Kreiner was one of the Athabasca River Fifteen large (22 to Brigade’s lead organizers. He said canoes replicated being on remote parts of the historic

by Voyageurs in trade. Bertolin s eagles soa “It’s a chance to connect while and the songs fr with nature and our past echoed along th in a different way” something she w

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sense of Canada’s history.

“These were Canada’s highways,” Bertolin said. “Rivers are a really good way of bringing people together.”

Not only were bonds formed between those who shared a boat, but Bertolin said the brigade made connections with communities they visited along the way. At certain

river gave him renewed appreciation for the hardships incurred by early pioneers.

“A lot of the paddlers contemplated what people 200 years ago would have felt and experienced,” he said. “And of course not having infrastructure support would have been that much more difficult.”

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Assiniboine. In 18 Assiniboine was b Hudson’s Bay Com became a key tran in a new, faster, les continental transp linking the Saskat Athabasca river sy the 2017 Athabasc

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ATHABASCA RIVER BRIGADE HONOURS HISTORY, ENVIRONMENT AND CULTURAL CONNECTIONS OF CANADA’S CROSSCONTINENTAL WATERWAY

three days of the trip were wet and cold. Kreiner said it was another opportunity to reflect on how the Voyageurs of yesteryear would have had to work to keep their crews moving.

“I think the biggest difficulty for a lot of us was getting enough sleep,” Kreiner laughed.

“We enjoyed socializing in the evening.”

RE

o 36 foot long) the boats used n the original fur said paddling ared overhead rom the brigade he riverbank is won’t soon forget.

GRAPHY

For Kreiner, the memory he’ll hold dearest is that of the brigade landing at Fort

823, Fort built by the mpany. The fort ns-shipment point ss-dangerous portation system tchewan and ystems. When ca River Brigade

pulled up to the bank, they were greeted by Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor, local elected officials and about 1,000 residents cheering them on. Nineteenth Century muskets boomed as the Edmonton House Black Powder Brigade gave them a traditional peaceful welcome.

“The amount of people greeting the paddlers on the bank, the singing and the amazing energy that came from the crowd and the paddlers as they finished their journey in a pretty historic part of the Columbia Express route from Churchill to Fort Vancouver was emotional,” Kreiner said. “It was spinetingling.”

Parts of the journey were also bonechilling.

The weather in Jasper National Park was sunny and warm, but the last

While the brigade was promoting an appreciation for Canadian history, environmental stewardship and cultural cooperation, Kreiner said the new friends made while celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary will have the most lasting impact.

“There’s a lot of fond memories of people working together,” Kreiner said.

Bertolin agreed, adding that she hopes the event inspires others to explore Alberta’s rivers.

“This was a chance to connect with nature and our past in a different way,” she said.

bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com

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page B5 // the jasper local // issue 100 // saturday, july 1, 2017

Local leisure //

'Hopping' Valemount craft beer festival pours one for veterans They came for the mountains, they stayed for the beer.

Craft Beer Experience while roadtripping in Wells Grey Park. After scrounging up tickets from a local scalper (the event had been sold out for a month), they were chasing a brisket sandwich from Clearwater’s Hop and Hog mobile food truck with a double IPA from Golden’s Whitetooth Brewery.

“The views are great, everyone we’ve met have been really welcoming and the beer is hitting the spot,” Rick said.

Throughout it all, Lewis reminded festival-goers that the true beneficiaries of the party were

are signing up to make the ultimate to do so that I can defend the values sacrifice for their country, Lewis of what I believe my country has told the patrons. established.’”

“You’ve got to honour that sacrifice Now that the vALEmount Craft that they made and you have to Beer Experience festival has been figure out how we can help our established, Lewis wants to make veterans if they need it.” year two bigger and better.

Beyond patronizing the local “Next year we’ll have more people, Legion, Lewis said some of the more vendors,” he said. “I want ways people can support veterans people to realize what Valemount’s include having conversations about all about and I think as you grow helping service members transition that experience, the opportunity back into civilian life and being grows to widen that message.” aware of why people serve in the bob covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com first place. Moreover, whether those veterans have seen action or not, there can be a suite of challenges beyond headline-grabbing post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) issues.

In general, Lewis believes veterans are misunderstood.

“A lot of people don’t understand that thought process, when they say ‘ok this is what I’m going to learn how SERVING UP A SAISON FROM WHEELHOUSE BREWERY // BC

Or in this instance they may have came for the beer and stayed for the music. And the brisket. And the mountain biking.

More than 400 people descended onto the Valemount Airport for the community’s first annual Craft Beer Experience June 17. In one case, the descent was quite literal: Chris Blower and five friends flew the 2.5 hours from Edmonton in Blower’s 1965 Cessna directly to the festival site.

“We were excited to take in the festival and to explore town and “I want people to realize what it has to offer,” Blower told the what Valemount’s all about Rocky Mountain Goat. and I think as you grow that Festival organizer Michael Lewis experience, the opportunity was pleased with the turnout. For grows to widen that message.” him the event was an opportunity to show off his adopted home. The owner and head brewer of Three Canadian service veterans; the Ranges Brewing Company said event’s chosen charities included Valemount is coming into its own Communities for Veterans and the thanks to a resurgence of young Royal Canadian Legion. energy.

Those who sign up for the military “You have 30 and 40-year-olds now taking interest and ownership in this town,” he said.

The vALEmount Craft Beer Experience featured a handful of B.C. breweries, a cidery and a winery, along with several food vendors. The event was organized block party-style; several bands entertained the crowds from the airport’s hanger and ancillary events over the weekend rounded out the schedule. // CBE ORGANIZER MICHAEL LEWIS SEEMED STARTLED BY THE Joanne and Rick Chase, from CAMERA, BUT NOT THE SOLD OUT CROWD. // BOB COVEY Toronto, heard about the

// FERNIE’S SHRED KELLY TOOK TO THE STAGE FOR A SUNSET SET AT THE VALEMOUNT AIRPORT DURING THE FIRST ANNUAL CRAFT BEER EXPERIENCE. // BOB COVEY

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saturday, JUly 1, 2017 // issue 100 // the jasper local// page B6

Local angling //

Maligne Lake, Jewel of the Rockies One of Canada’s premier fishing experiences is Maligne Lake.

Surrounded by snow peaked mountains, Maligne’s glacier-filled waters boast an abundance of mint-silver rainbow trout and highly colourful eastern brook trout.

The fishing can range from challenging to magnificent, and the relationship between fishing for, and catching these mountain trout is direct: the more time you put into this lake, the more fish you will catch. There are shortcuts to this one truism, and it is my hope for prospective anglers that reading this piece will be one of them.

I’ve been fishing Maligne Lake for more than two decades, and it has given me some of the most rewarding fishing experiences of my life. With the Rocky Mountains towering around you, their striking images reflecting in Maligne’s aqua marine waters, the angling can easily come secondary to the experience.

the shores and over the shallow sections of the lake. Shallow, of course, is relative.

In Maligne, where depths often exceed 100 feet, and in some parts of the lake more than 300 feet, shallow is 20 feet of water. This shallow water is where fish feed and where I spend most of my time chasing them.

MALIGNE DREAM // AT MALIGNE LAKE, THE ANGLING CAN COME SECONDARY TO THE EXPERIENCE, BUT DON’T KID YOURSELF, THE FISHING CAN BE EXTRAORDINARY. // FRED NODDIN

Don’t kid yourself, however; the fishing can border on The second fishing presentation is a bit more accessible for those the extraordinary. who aren’t kitted out with a fly line setup. It involves There are lots of ways to catch Maligne Lake’s trout, but suspending a beadhead fly under an indicator (fancy I’m going to narrow it to two presentations that I have word for bobber) in a place I know trout live. For this found pretty much always catch fish. The first is slowly fishing style I use a spinning rod and 6 lb test line. trolling a big fly off a sinking line, with my favourite I set up the indicator slipfly being a double shrimp pattern, bobber style, and I continue followed closely by a halfback. The trick to vary my depth until I find “Go for the to fishing this way has a lot to do with where the trout are feeding. experience, stay for leader length. The leader is that clear I know I’m at the right depth the fishing. Maligne piece of fishing line which connects when I start getting a lot of the fly to the thicker, coloured fly line Lake has it all.” bites, because trout rarely (my preferred leader material is 8 lb refuse a beadhead fly. My fluorocarbon, but 8 lb monofilament will two favourite beadhead flies also do). I use a very long leader between the fly line and are the beadhead prince nymph and the beadhead the fly so that fish do not associate the two. My advice pheasant tail nymph, both in sizes 10 and 12. is to use a 25 to 30 foot leader. Then I slow troll near Both the indicator and trolling presentations work well in home bay, which is the bay you are on the

A HEALTHY MALE BROOK TROUT.

Service Directory

moment you launch your boat. However, I highly recommend you spend the day slow trolling your way down the western shore until you reach the hallowed grounds four to five miles down the lake. At four miles the upper Maligne River empties into the lake. At five miles is a prominent point locals call—you guessed it—Five Mile. This one mile stretch is often filled to capacity with trout and when I get there I look for the tell-tale concentric rings of rising trout. When I see them I stop the boat, anchor, and throw them those beadhead flies under the indicator. I typically anchor in 15 to 20 feet of water and I find that suspending that beadhead fly 10 to 14 feet down is magic depth. Once I hit that depth the fishing action can be non-stop.

Go for the experience, stay for the fishing, and enjoy the stunning scenery. Maligne Lake has it all.

Fred Noddin calls Edmonton home, where he works as an aquatics biologist. He recently earned his MSc in Ecology at the University of Alberta, and has spent the last decade involved in the study of Alberta and NWT fisheries. Fred comes to the mountains at every opportunity, for the fishing, the scenery, the hiking, for the wide open spaces and for the great people. Email noddin@ualberta.ca