This is the pass between Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks through the Selkirk Mountains. The Trans Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway climb up through a very narrow valley to the pass at 1330m among amazing scenery.
The pass gets 10m snowfall a year and avalanches are common and the scars left on the mountain sides can be seen. The avalanche threat is monitored carefully and is the largest mobile avalanche control program in the world. The Royal Canadian Artillery uses 105 mm howitzers to knock down avalanches under controlled circumstances. There are small lay bys along the road with concrete bases where the guns are placed. No public parking is allowed in these areas.
Thirty one snow sheds were built to protect the railway line from avalanches. It can be quite difficult to photograph these. We found the best place was to pull in on the small area at the start or end of tunnels on the Trans Canada.
In 1908 the 8km Connaught rail tunnel was built under Roger’s Pass to try and avoid the worst of the avalanches. The remains the the old track bed is now a wheelchair friendly walking trail and makes a pleasant walk. In places the remains of the old wooden snow sheds can still be seen.
There is a Parks Canada Discovery Centre at the pass and has exhibits on railway history, TCH, avalanche control and snow management and wildlife and is well worth while visit.
The Parks Canada website: www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/rogers/index.aspx
Our pictures are at the start of this gallery.
There is a picture of a snow shed here.
We visited during a five week trip to Canada. There is an overall report of the trip here.
I have written a series of detailed reports for some of the places visited for Silver Travel.
