On 08SEP, Rocky Mountaineer issued a travel update outlining changes it has been forced to make as a wildfire on Chetamon Mountain in Jasper National Park continues to spread.
The fire is reportedly affecting an area estimated at 5,500 hectares, and local officials are warning about disruptions to tourism. The town of Jasper is experiencing temporary power outages and efforts are being made to switch to backup generators, which will be the main source of power for weeks, according to CBC News.
Rocky Mountaineer's statement said: “The community of Jasper is facing a large-scale emergency due to a wildfire that has caused a complete power outage in the townsite and surrounding area. Local authorities have stated they are not welcoming visitors to Jasper until the power is restored to the main grid and the emergency is over. This is an incredibly challenging situation for this small mountain town and our team is committed to providing any support we can.”
It is unknown at this time how long the fire may interfere with train and other travel into and out of the area.
The situation impacts upcoming Rocky Mountaineer 'Journey through the Clouds' and 'Rainforest to Gold Rush' departures. To ensure guests can still enjoy their journey in the Canadian Rockies, the rail company is rerouting upcoming departures to leave from or arrive in Banff instead of Jasper. This impacts the following routes:
- Journey through the Clouds (9-10SEP) will depart Vancouver and arrive in Banff instead of Jasper.
- Journey through the Clouds (11-12SEP) will depart Banff instead of Jasper.
- Rocky Mountaineer’s team is currently working through details for Rainforest to Gold Rush (10SEP and 13SEP departures).
For the latest updates on Rocky Mountaineer changes, see rockymountaineer.com.
Meanwhile, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has said that it is “fully operational” with support from its generators, but notes that the municipality of Jasper is “facing significant challenges as a result of wildfire-related ATCO power shortages and is discouraging visits at this time.”
For the latest updates on the Jasper wildfire, refer to the Municipality of Jasper website.
