Of Cornices and Canyons FIJ
Faith in Jasper Article: Of Cornices and Canyons I recall reading not long ago about one of Canada’s pre-eminent mountain climbers having summited Mt Assiniboine, the Matterhorn of the Rockies. The exhilarating sense of achievement, the awe of spectacular vistas, were tragically short-lived, as the snowy edge he stood on proved to be an insubstantial cornice that gave way to a terrifying plunge below. Less than solid snow is no substitute for solid rock and because we have substance, what we stand on must also have substance. Consider an ice walk through the canyons between town and Medicine Lake. A few weeks back I took two younger friends into a couple of the lesser explored canyons. James, a U. of A. Engineering student had been in town for 8 months helping with the soccer field project, Arissa is the high school’s new music and science teacher, and together we ventured into the Park’s shadowy, but magnificent, cracks on a bright Sunday afternoon. ...