Cavell Meadows Restoration Project 

Can you find the main trail in this photo?

Neither could thousands of visitors.

The Friends of JNP and Parks Canada teamed up with volunteers in 2002 - 2004 to actively restore the Cavell Meadows - a popular but damaged area of Jasper National Park.

Trail braiding and vegetation damage like this

were common in Cavell Meadows.

Clouds below Angel Glacier from Cavell Meadows

Many misplaced footsteps
 

The extraordinary foot traffic along this trail, concentrated in a short amount of time each year, has caused serious damage to the trail and meadow vegetation.
 

Poor water drainage and a lack of trail marking along the Cavell Meadows Trail has meant that hikers often left the trail to avoid mud and snow, to look for a viewpoint, or simply to find the way through the meadows. With so many people in the area, these patterns repeat. Shortcuts, braided trails, and trampled sections form quickly.

The short growing season at and above treeline means the vegetation has very little time to recover from damage. One misplaced footstep can mean decades of regrowth.

Off-trail hiking made this trail,

in two days in September 2002.

Working together to repair the damage

In 2002, the Friends of Jasper National Park teamed up with Parks Canada to restore and protect the sensitive habitat at Cavell Meadows. Working with many volunteers, the Friends and Parks Canada have repaired the trail, camouflaged and revegetated damaged sections of meadow, and established well-defined markers, maps and signs.

                                     Project Goals

• Repair and mark main trail

• Rehabilitate network of unofficial trails

• Educate visitors about the area and how our actions affect it.

• Monitor restoration success

• Involve visitors and residents in the above activities

• Involved over 150 park residents and visitors who have contributed over 2100 hours towards restoration efforts

• Rerouted 200 m of trail to improve drainage

• Camouflaged, rehabilitated, or blocked access to over 50 shortcuts and unofficial trails

• Dug 30 water drainage structures and delineated 3 viewpoints along 6km of trail

• Installed trail markers and 10 map/interpretive panels

• Created a trailhead kiosk to inform and orient visitors

• Completed 7 sets of repeat photographs at 28 monitoring points

• Surveyed 216 hikers in Cavell Meadows and installed a comment book on site

• Reduced vehicle traffic to the trailhead by renting a van for shuttling project volunteers

• Installed our expandable Donor Recognition Plaque at the trailhead

• Raised $145,000 in financial and in-kind support.

From our Trail Book:

It is wonderful to see the meadows restoring themselves as people become more aware - through your campaign, hard work and care - of the fragility of this beautiful mountain habitat.

Thank you for your efforts.

-Janet, Tuscon, AZ   July 20, 2004

These photos have been taking through our volunteer photo monitoring program.

If you'd like to help add to this important collection, check out our volunteer schedule below.

Click on the thumbnail images for a closer look.

September 2002   

 July, August 2003

September 2002   

 July, August 2003

     3 ways you can still help    

Every Footstep Counts

Every step on the trail and every step for the trail makes a difference.

1. Tread lightly

• Stay on the trail - even if it means getting your shoes muddy.

• Follow trail markers.

• Avoid the Cavell Meadows trail until snow has melted (usually mid-July).

2. Volunteer your time

Most of our volunteer opportunities have wrapped up for this project, but you can still assist us on your next hike with our photo-monitoring program. Take a look at the job description below and let us know if you can help out.
 

Volunteer Opportunities

Repeat Photography, ongoing

July - September

Choice of day within week is up to volunteer.

Best done in pairs.

Pick a friend, pick a day, and head up to the meadows!

Volunteer Photographer - Job Description

Shutterbugs can help us compete a set of repeat photographs in the meadows. These photos, taken in the same places on the trail over time, will help us evaluate the project progress.

Camera and instructions provided.

For more information and a donation form contact us or download our

Cavell Meadows Donor Information Package (PDF file)

3. Add your footstep to our donor trail - It's not too late!

There are still a few spaces left on our Donor Trail - the recognition plaque at the Mt. Edith Cavell trailhead.

If you would like to commemorate a loved one, or hold a special place in your heart for the Edith Cavell area and Jasper National Park, or simply want to support this alpine restoration, please consider contributing what you can to this important project.

We have successfully raised over $140,000 of in-kind and financial support so far and need to raise an additional $5,000 to complete the project.

All donations over $10 will be recognized by a charitable tax receipt, a thank you letter and a subscription to the project's newsletter "Footsteps". Those who generously donate $1000 or more will be recognized on our Donor Recognition Plaque and on-line.

Our Donor Recognition Plaque

now at the Mt. Edith Cavell trailhead

(Click on the sign for a larger image.)

Donor names appear on each footstep

and there is still room for more!

Thank you to our...

Footsteps - our Cavell Meadows Newsletter 

Fall 2003          Spring 2004          Fall 2004

Cavell Meadows Project Celebration - September 12, 2004

Under the first sunny sky in weeks, we celebrated the completion of this three-year project with a trailhead tea party at the base of Mt. Edith Cavell. Over tea and goodies, we were able to thank the many volunteers, staff, and donors who have made the project possible. Click on the title above for a sneak peak at this great event.