Tonquin Valley

The Tonquin Valley is located in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, next to the border of the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, an area which is also the continental divide, running along the peaks of the South Jasper Range (Ramparts subrange) which rise above Amethyst Lake. Tonquin Creek drains Moat Lake and flows west into Mount Robson Provincial Park in British Columbia, and empties into the Fraser River. The Astoria River drains south and east into the Athabasca River.

Technically, the Tonquin Valley is not actually a valley, but rather a convert|5|km|mi|adj=on|sigfig=1 long mountain pass which cradles the Amythyst Lakes at its crest beneath the convert|1000|m|ft|adj=on Precambrian quartzite wall of the Ramparts Cite book
last = Patton
first = Brian
coauthors = Robinson, Bart
title = Canadian Rockies Trail Guide
date = 2007
edition = 8th ed
publisher = Summerthought Publishing
url = http://www.summerthought.com/canadian.rockies.trail.guide.htm
isbn = 0978237501
pages = pp. 194-195 ] . The valley was named after the Pacific Fur Company ship "Tonquin", destroyed in Clayoquot Sound in 1811.

Recreation

Within the valley there is the scenic Amethyst Lake and Moat Lake. It is a popular destination for back-country hikers, ski touring and horseback trips to the two outfitters camps on the shores of Amethyst Lake. There are also a number of backcountry campgrounds and an Alpine Club of Canada hut.

Two trails into the valley are utilized by outfitters, skiers and hikers alike. There is the Portal Creek access, and the Astoria River access trails. Unbeknownst to many is the older and unused access via the Meadow Creek trail. This trail is considered impassable as it has not been maintained for decades. Some portions of the current trail are visible in Google Earth.

Wildlife

The valley is a frequent local for grizzly bears during the summer months as well as mountain caribou, and other Rocky Mountain Wildlife. The lakes are home to an introduced, and stable populations of rainbow trout and brook trout.

References

Further reading

* Cite book
last = Copeland
first = Kathy & Craig
title = Don't Waste Your Time in the Canadian Rockies: The Opinionated Hiking Guide
date = 2004
edition = 5th ed
publisher = Hikingcamping.com
url = http://hikingcamping.com/time_canadian_rockies.php
isbn = 0968941974
pages =
* Cite book
last = Corbett
first = Bill
title = 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies
date = 2004
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/cor11000.htm
isbn = 1894765435
pages =
* Cite book
last = Gadd
first = Ben
title = Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
date = 1996
edition = 2Rev Ed
publisher = Corax Press
url = http://www.dogknows.com/corax/hcr/index.html
isbn = 0969263112
pages =
* Cite book
last = Haberl
first = Keith
title = Alpine Huts: A guide to the facilities of the Alpine Club of Canada
date = 1997
edition = 2nd ed
publisher =The Alpine Club of Canada
url =
isbn = 0920330320
pages = pp. 69-72
* Cite book
last = Scott
first = Chic
title = Ski Trails in the Canadian Rockies
date = 1998
edition =
publisher = Rocky Mountain Books
url = http://www.rmbooks.com/books/scoski.htm
isbn = 0921102135
pages =

External links

* [http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/index_e.asp Jasper National Park] at [http://www.pc.gc.ca/index_e.asp Parks Canada]
* [http://www.avalanche.ca/ Public avalanche bulletins from the Canadian Avalanche Centre]
* [http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/facility/wates.html#here Wates-Gibson hut] at [http://www.alpineclubofcanada.ca/index.html The Alpine Club of Canada]
* [http://www.weather.ec.gc.ca/ Weather forecasts from Environment Canada]
* [http://earth.google.com/ Google Earth]

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