Glacier NP BC

Glacier NP and Mt. Revelstoke NP are separated by about 16 miles.  We stayed at a campground in between so got to see both parks from one starting point.  The Trans Canada Highway runs thru Glacier NP and thru an area called Roger's Pass.

When the Canadian Pacific Rail Road was trying to get to the western shores of BC they had to get thru Rodger's pass.  This area is part of a very steep and difficult terrain of the Selkirk Mountain range.  Many men lost their lives building this rail.  Once complete a major problem was snow avalanches.  These would wipe out large sections of track leaving torn up landscape and piles of debris.  Even today avalanches are a problem.  We were able to see what are called avalanche trails.

These avalanche trails wipe out everything in their path.  Since they happen each year only small plants come back.

The debris piles left are massive.

We hiked along a trail where they had built large towers to support the track and train.  Ultimately this part of the project was abandoned.  But it was a nice hike.

Glacier is a large park, but with access limited to along the Trans Canadian Highway better known as 1.  So for the average tourist a drive thru Roger's pass and a few short hikes from the pull outs along the road covers the park.  There is back country hiking and camping but most tourists don't do that.