Mount Edith Cavell Tour

Dogs No Dogs

Features Geological Significance · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers

The Mount Edith Cavell Tour goes through a wide variety of terrain—rocky moraine, beautiful fir forests, high meadows, and scree. Mount Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier are seen up close. A climb up to the Cavell Meadows and viewpoints reveals expansive mountain and valley views in all directions. Although it is not a long run, one can spend a long time on it looking at all the scenery at every turn.

From the trailhead sign, this run starts off on the paved Path of the Glacier Trail. The trail climbs gradually along an open rocky hillside (maybe an old moraine?) that drops off to the Cavell Pond outlet creek below, on the right. Mount Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier are up ahead on the right. As the trail climbs, looking back, Cavell Lake with Franchere Peak behind it, can be seen in the distance to the north. At the 0.3 mile mark, a trail junction with Cavell Meadows Trail is passed on the left. Continuing on, a viewing area above Cavell Pond is soon reached, with great up close views of the pond, Mt. Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier. This trail ends after 0.55 miles—turn around, return to the Cavell Meadows Trail junction, and go right onto Cavell Meadows Trail.

Cavell Meadows Trail begins by switchbacking up a rocky old moraine (?). After the third switchback, one is on top of the moraine with the moraine drop-off on the right, fir forest on the left, and awesome views of Mt. Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier, and Cavell Pond ahead to the right. After about half a mile on top of the moraine, the trail veers left, into the forest, to switchback up to the meadows. The trees thin as the trail climbs. At the 1.7-mile mark, a trail junction is reached - go right here to loop counter-clockwise through the meadows as described here. Going left takes one clockwise around the loop.

Continuing to climb, treeline is reached at about the 1.9-mile mark and one is in the open meadows, again with great views of Mount Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier, and Cavell Pond. At the 2.2-mile mark the Cavell Meadows Viewpoint 1 Spur is reached. A short 100 meters on this spur takes one to a large open, flat lookout, a great place to take a break, have a snack, and admire the views. Besides, Mt Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier, and Cavell Pond, one can see far down the valley to the north—Franchere Peak and many mountains far into the distance (possibly the Victoria Cross Ranges northwest of Jasper).

Returning from Cavell Meadows Viewpoint 1 Spur, go right to continue on Cavell Meadows Trail. Above treeline here and continuing to climb, the low vegetation gives way to scree. Cavell Meadows Viewpoint 2 Spur is reached on the right, at the 2.7-mile mark. Take this spur to climb higher to even more expansive views. About 250m up this steep rock and scree spur, at a sharp bend to the right, are perhaps the best views to the north. Here to the north-northwest are Cavell Lake, Franchere Peak, and the Victoria Cross Ranges into the far distance. To the north-northeast are Mount Tekarra with the Colin Range in the distance behind it. Another 250m up this spur brings one to a large flat spot with great views in all directions. In addition to all the distant mountains, close by are of course, views of Mt. Edith Cavell, Angel Glacier and Cavell Pond.

Returning from Cavell Meadows Viewpoint 2 Spur, go right at the trail junction to continue on Cavell Meadows Trail. As the trail descends through the meadows, trees reappear, one drops below treeline and re-enters the fir forest. At the 3.8-mile mark the trail junction with the start of the Cavell Meadows Trail loop, is reached.

At this trail junction, go right to retrace your steps and return to the parking area, by descending the switchbacks through the forest to reach the moraine, traversing the moraine and switchbacks down it to the Path of the Glacier Trail junction, and going right onto the Path of the Glacier Trail to get to the parking area.

Barren and rocky up close to Cavell Pond and to the top of the old moraine. Mixed fir forest climbing to the meadows, giving way to grass and other low ground cover in the meadows. Barren rocky scree climbing to the second viewpoint and at it.

Mount Edith Cavell is named after Edith Cavell an English nurse during World War I. She was stationed at a Belgian hospital. After Germany invaded and took over Belgium, a neutral country, Edith Cavell cared for wounded Germans. However she also helped a couple hundred English, French, and Belgian soldiers escape. Unfortunately the Germans caught her helping the Allied soldiers. In spite of having healed many German soldiers, the Germans executed her. Her last words conveyed her beliefs in helping all: "Patriotism is not enough. I must have no hatred or bitterness towards anyone." This prominent, majestic, picturesque mountain was named after her in 1916 to commemorate her and honor her heroism.