Visitors gazing out from Old Fort Point now witness a transformed landscape post-Jasper wildfire of July 2024, resembling the barren vistas captured in early 1900s photographs. This evolving scene has spurred a citizen science endeavor allowing hikers to contribute to documenting the area’s renewal.
Parks Canada and the University of Waterloo have collaborated to collect photos from three specific locations along the trail: a north-facing summit view, a south-facing panoramic view, and a close-up shot of vegetation on the trail’s backside. Utilizing GeoReach, an initiative by the University of Waterloo, standardized imagery data are harnessed to monitor transformations in landforms post-forest fires alongside other natural features like glaciers and rivers.
The project integrates repeat photography to monitor landscape changes by replicating past photos for comparison. This summer, Parks Canada installed three cellphone stands equipped with cradles and camera windows along the 3.8-kilometer trail for visitors to capture and upload photos directly through QR codes or the GeoReach website.
Signs of life have emerged this summer, with vibrant grass and early plant growth amidst the charred landscape. Notably, purple fleabane, yellow arnica, and fireweed exemplify the initial stages of forest regeneration post-fire, with fireweed expected to thrive in the nutrient-rich soil created by the wildfire in the coming years.
Despite some sections of the trail retaining seemingly intact aspen trees externally, they have been significantly impacted internally by the wildfire’s heat. Aspen “suckers” are already regenerating using existing root systems, emphasizing the landscape’s shift towards a grassland ecosystem with deciduous trees post-fire.
Acknowledging the devastation caused by the Jasper wildfire complex, which claimed one firefighter’s life and displaced thousands, Parks Canada emphasizes the crucial role of wildfires in maintaining a healthy forest cycle. While the wildfire brought significant losses, it is viewed as a natural process vital for ecological rejuvenation.
Old Fort Point’s montane ecosystem, representing the valley bottom, heavily relies on forest fires for regeneration. Despite the challenges faced by those impacted by the wildfire, Parks Canada underscores the importance of wildfires as a natural element in forest ecosystems.
