Mount Edith Cavell
Encyclopedia
Mount Edith Cavell is a mountain
located in the Athabasca River
and Astoria River
valleys of Jasper National Park
, Canada
. The mountain
was named in 1916 for Edith Cavell
, an English nurse and spy executed by the Germans during World War I
for having helped allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium to the Netherlands, in violation of military law. It was previously known as la montagne de la Grande traversée (the Mountain of the Great Crossing) because it stands above Athabasca Pass
.
A close up view of the north face of Mt. Edith Cavell is visible after a short hike to Cavell Meadows. The trailhead is by the parking lot at the end of Mt. Edith Cavell road. The trail to the meadows is 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) one way, rising 370 metres (1,214 ft) to 2135 metres (7,005 ft). The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide
describes the trail in detail.
The hanging Angel Glacier
is visible from Cavell Meadows, which spills over a 300 metres (984 ft) cliff on the north face.
Access to the Tonquin Valley
trails can be found about one km before the end of the Mt. Edith Cavell road. There is a parking area across from the Mt. Edith Cavell Hostel. A short walk down the gravel path leads to the north end of Cavell Lake. There is small bridge across the stream that empties the lake. From here there are good views with the lake in the foreground and the Mt. Edith Cavell massif in the background.
The North Face route is included as a classic climb in Steck and Roper's Fifty Classic Climbs Of North America
.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
located in the Athabasca River
Athabasca River
The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...
and Astoria River
Astoria River
The Astoria River is a short river in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. It is an early tributary of the Athabasca River.The Astoria forms in the Tonquin Valley, collecting meltwater from the Fraser Glacier, the Ramparts, Mount Erebus, Mount Clithero, and Oldhorn Mountain.The Astoria River, as...
valleys of Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² . It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park and west of the City of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The mountain
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
was named in 1916 for Edith Cavell
Edith Cavell
Edith Louisa Cavell was a British nurse and spy. She is celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers from all sides without distinction and in helping some 200 Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium during World War I, for which she was arrested...
, an English nurse and spy executed by the Germans during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
for having helped allied soldiers escape from occupied Belgium to the Netherlands, in violation of military law. It was previously known as la montagne de la Grande traversée (the Mountain of the Great Crossing) because it stands above Athabasca Pass
Athabasca Pass
Athabasca Pass is a high mountain pass in the Canadian Rockies. It is the headwaters of the Whirlpool River, a tributary of the Athabasca River.The pass lies between Mount Brown and McGillivray Ridge...
.
A close up view of the north face of Mt. Edith Cavell is visible after a short hike to Cavell Meadows. The trailhead is by the parking lot at the end of Mt. Edith Cavell road. The trail to the meadows is 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) one way, rising 370 metres (1,214 ft) to 2135 metres (7,005 ft). The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide
The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide
The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson, describes 233 hiking and backpacking trails in the Canadian Rockies, including in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. The first edition was published in 1971, with subsequent editions in 1978, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994,...
describes the trail in detail.
The hanging Angel Glacier
Angel Glacier
The Angel Glacier flows down the north face of Mount Edith Cavell in Jasper National Park, Canada.It is named as such because it has the appearance of an angel with out-swept wings. It was much larger when it named in the 19th-century, but as with most glaciers worldwide, it is melting rapidly...
is visible from Cavell Meadows, which spills over a 300 metres (984 ft) cliff on the north face.
Access to the Tonquin Valley
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 which rise above Amethyst Lake...
trails can be found about one km before the end of the Mt. Edith Cavell road. There is a parking area across from the Mt. Edith Cavell Hostel. A short walk down the gravel path leads to the north end of Cavell Lake. There is small bridge across the stream that empties the lake. From here there are good views with the lake in the foreground and the Mt. Edith Cavell massif in the background.
Climbing Routes
There are several popular climbing routes, including:- West Ridge (Normal Route) II
- East Ridge III - 5.3
- North Face, East Summit IV - 5.8
The North Face route is included as a classic climb in Steck and Roper's Fifty Classic Climbs Of North America
Fifty Classic Climbs of North America
Fifty Classic Climbs Of North America is a climbing guidebook and history written by Steve Roper and Allen Steck. It is considered a definitive piece of climbing literature, known to many climbers as simply "The Book", and has served as an inspiration for more recent climbing books, such as Mark...
.
Notable Ascents
- 1961 North Face, IV 5.7, First ascent by Yvon ChouinardYvon ChouinardYvon Chouinard is a rock climber, environmentalist and outdoor industry businessman, noted for his contributions to climbing, climbing equipment and the outdoor gear business. His second company, Patagonia is known for its environmental focus...
, Fred BeckeyFred BeckeyFred Beckey is an American mountaineer and author, who has made hundreds of first ascents, more than any other North American climber.-Early years:...
and Dan Doody. July 20-21. - 1966 North Face, Second ascent by Denny Eberl and Gray Thompson. July 30, 1966.
- 1967 North Face, First solo ascent by Royal RobbinsRoyal RobbinsRoyal Robbins is one of the pioneers of American rock climbing. After learning to climb at Tahquitz he went on to make first ascents of many big wall routes in Yosemite...
.
See also
- Mountain peaks of CanadaMountain peaks of CanadaThis article comprises three sortable tables of major mountain peaks of Canada.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface. Topographic prominence is the elevation...
- Mountain peaks of North AmericaMountain peaks of North AmericaThis article comprises three sortable tables of major mountain peaks of greater North America.This article defines greater North America as the portion of the continental landmass of the Americas extending northward from Panama plus the islands surrounding that landmass...
- Mountain peaks of the Rocky MountainsMountain peaks of the Rocky MountainsThis article comprises three sortable tables of major mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains of North America.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface...
- Rocky MountainsRocky MountainsThe Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
External links
- Angel Glacier photos on Wikipedia Commons
- HI-Mt. Edith Cavell Hostel