When the park was created in 1941, it constituted one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Canada. In the early 1960s, the provincial government reduced its size by 98% due to pressure exerted by the forestry industry, planned hydroelectric developments along the upper Columbia River and the re-routing of the Trans-Canada Highway away from the park.
Established on 16 September 1941 by an Order in Council issued by British Columbia premier Thomas Dufferin Pattullo, the park was named in honour of Eric W. Hamber, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia from 1936 to 1941.[2] Covering approximately 1,009,112 hectares at the time of its establishment, it was one of the largest parks in Canada.[3] It shared a common boundary with portions of Mount Robson Provincial Park and Jasper, Banff, Glacier and Yoho National Parks.[4] Designated a "Class A" provincial park, it afforded the "highest degree of protection from exploitation"[5] to a vast tract of wilderness in the Selkirk Mountains and the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains.
Pattullo established Hamber as a new protected area which bridged the gap between several existing mountain parks in the hope that his action would spur the Canadian government to declare Hamber a new national park. He envisioned that a substantial increase in the national park system's coverage of western Canada's mountainous terrain would boost tourism revenue. Part of this economic benefit was anticipated to derive from improved access to the region made possible by federal support for road infrastructure within a nationalized Hamber park. The Canadian federal government, whose attention was directed towards World War II, expressed little interest in Pattullo's idea. Moreover, Prime Minister Mackenzie King preferred that national parks be spread throughout the country and not be concentrated only in the mountains of western Canada. No portion of Hamber was ever incorporated into Canada's national park system.[6]
Within the park's protected boundaries were extensive stands of commercially valuable timber. Sawmills and logging companies based in Revelstoke and Golden lobbied the provincial government to allow exploitation of Hamber's timber resources. They argued that Hamber's existence as a protected area was stifling the region's forestry-based economy.[7] The provincial government redesignated Hamber as a "Class B" provincial park in 1945. Commercial logging and mining were permitted in parks given this designation.[5]
Hamber remained undeveloped throughout the 1940s and 1950s. No tourist resorts, campgrounds, trails or scenic lookouts were constructed within the park even though a considerable section of the highway which in 1962 would be officially designated the Trans-Canada passed through it. By the late 1950s it had become clear through negotiations with the United States which would ultimately lead to the Columbia River Treaty that hydroelectric dam projects would be constructed along the upper Columbia River. One of these planned projects, Mica Dam, would result in substantial environmental disruptions within the park's boundaries caused by the flooding of the Columbia River valley above the dam. Because the highway followed this valley between Revelstoke and Golden, it had to be re-routed through Roger's Pass before the dam could be built and thereby bypassed Hamber almost entirely. In light of these circumstances, provincial officials concluded that the park no longer had a legitimate reason to exist in its current form. In 1961 and 1962 the British Columbia government redrew the park's boundaries. Most of the park was deleted, except for a rump centered on Fortress Lake in a remote part of the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The new Hamber Provincial Park consists of only 24,518 hectares, a reduction of 98% relative to its original size.[8][9]
World Heritage Site
In 1990 this park was included within the Canadian Rocky Mountain ParksUNESCOWorld Heritage Site.[10] Together with the other national and provincial parks that comprise the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, the park was recognized for its natural environment and the geological and ecological significance of its mountain landscapes containing the habitats of rare and endangered species, mountain peaks, glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, canyons and limestone caves and fossils.
Conservation and Recreation
As a remote wilderness area, no roads traverse the park. A commercial fly-in fishing camp operates on Chisel Creek Fan on the shore of Fortress Lake during the summer months.[9] The only other means of access are via hike-in or ski-in from Sunwapta Falls on the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park. It is a 22 km hike over trails to Fortress Lake. In the 1970s, construction began on a trail into the park from Kinbasket Lake via the Wood River by the British Columbia Forest Service. However, the trail was only completed to within 5 km of the park boundary and was abandoned.[11][12]
In 2014, a bridge over the Athabasca River collapsed, severing access via the only maintained trail into the park.[13]
Despite providing numerous recreation opportunities, lack of access prevents similar levels of hiking and camping found in other mountain parks. In addition to access to the park from Sunwapta Falls, an overgrown trail accesses two campgrounds (Fortress Creek and Washout Creek, decommissioned in August 2020) on Fortress Lake's north shore. A commercial fishing operation exists on the Chisel Creek fan, accessible by floatplane. Additionally, two small caves ranging from 15-87 m in depth exist in the upper reaches of the Alnus Creek watershed.[14]
^Shell Map of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba (Map). Shell Oil Company. 1956. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
^ abCronin, J. Keri (2011). "British Columbia's Magnificent Parks: The First 100 Years by James D. Anderson (book review)". BC Studies: The British Columbian Quarterly. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2012.
^"World Heritage Committee: Fourteenth Session". UNESCO. 1990. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
^Nearingburg, Ben. "Fallen Giants:One Pass, Two Mountains, and One Botanist |The Story of Athabasca Pass and Mount Brown". Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^"Golden Backcountry Recreation Access Plan (GBRAP)" (PDF). Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^Veerman, Nicole. "Hamber park cut off by JNP bridge collapse – Jasper's source for news, sports, arts, culture, and more | The Fitzhugh". www.fitzhugh.ca. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
^"Hamber Provincial Park Management Plan" (PDF). BC Parks. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
References
Bradley, Ben. (2011), "'A Questionable Basis for Establishing a Major Park': Politics, Roads, and the Failure of a National Park in British Columbia's Big Bend Country." In Campbell, Claire. A Century of Parks Canada, 1911-2011. University of Calgary Press. ISBN9781552385265.
Sandford, Robert W. (2010). Ecology & Wonder in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. Athabasca University Press. ISBN9781897425589.
External links
Official website
Hamber Provincial Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
Map of Hamber Provincial Park, 1942
January 20, 2023
hamber, provincial, park, provincial, park, british, columbia, canada, located, kilometres, north, golden, straddling, great, divide, provincial, boundary, with, alberta, park, surrounded, three, sides, jasper, national, park, protects, headwaters, wood, river. Hamber Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia Canada located 130 kilometres 80 7 mi north of Golden Straddling the Great Divide on the provincial boundary with Alberta the park is surrounded on three sides by Jasper National Park and protects the headwaters of the Wood River at Fortress Lake Hamber Provincial ParkIUCN category II national park 1 Fortress Lake and Chisel PeakLocation of Hamber Provincial Park in British ColumbiaLocationColumbia Shuswap RD British Columbia CanadaNearest cityMica Creek and JasperCoordinates52 22 05 N 117 51 59 W 52 36806 N 117 86639 W 52 36806 117 86639 Coordinates 52 22 05 N 117 51 59 W 52 36806 N 117 86639 W 52 36806 117 86639Area240 km EstablishedSeptember 16 1941Governing bodyBC ParksWebsitebcparks wbr ca wbr explore wbr parkpgs wbr hamber wbr UNESCO World Heritage SitePart ofCanadian Rocky Mountain ParksCriteriaNatural vii viii Reference304Inscription1990 14th Session When the park was created in 1941 it constituted one of the largest protected wilderness areas in Canada In the early 1960s the provincial government reduced its size by 98 due to pressure exerted by the forestry industry planned hydroelectric developments along the upper Columbia River and the re routing of the Trans Canada Highway away from the park Contents 1 History 1 1 World Heritage Site 2 Conservation and Recreation 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditEstablished on 16 September 1941 by an Order in Council issued by British Columbia premier Thomas Dufferin Pattullo the park was named in honour of Eric W Hamber Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia from 1936 to 1941 2 Covering approximately 1 009 112 hectares at the time of its establishment it was one of the largest parks in Canada 3 It shared a common boundary with portions of Mount Robson Provincial Park and Jasper Banff Glacier and Yoho National Parks 4 Designated a Class A provincial park it afforded the highest degree of protection from exploitation 5 to a vast tract of wilderness in the Selkirk Mountains and the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains Pattullo established Hamber as a new protected area which bridged the gap between several existing mountain parks in the hope that his action would spur the Canadian government to declare Hamber a new national park He envisioned that a substantial increase in the national park system s coverage of western Canada s mountainous terrain would boost tourism revenue Part of this economic benefit was anticipated to derive from improved access to the region made possible by federal support for road infrastructure within a nationalized Hamber park The Canadian federal government whose attention was directed towards World War II expressed little interest in Pattullo s idea Moreover Prime Minister Mackenzie King preferred that national parks be spread throughout the country and not be concentrated only in the mountains of western Canada No portion of Hamber was ever incorporated into Canada s national park system 6 Within the park s protected boundaries were extensive stands of commercially valuable timber Sawmills and logging companies based in Revelstoke and Golden lobbied the provincial government to allow exploitation of Hamber s timber resources They argued that Hamber s existence as a protected area was stifling the region s forestry based economy 7 The provincial government redesignated Hamber as a Class B provincial park in 1945 Commercial logging and mining were permitted in parks given this designation 5 Hamber remained undeveloped throughout the 1940s and 1950s No tourist resorts campgrounds trails or scenic lookouts were constructed within the park even though a considerable section of the highway which in 1962 would be officially designated the Trans Canada passed through it By the late 1950s it had become clear through negotiations with the United States which would ultimately lead to the Columbia River Treaty that hydroelectric dam projects would be constructed along the upper Columbia River One of these planned projects Mica Dam would result in substantial environmental disruptions within the park s boundaries caused by the flooding of the Columbia River valley above the dam Because the highway followed this valley between Revelstoke and Golden it had to be re routed through Roger s Pass before the dam could be built and thereby bypassed Hamber almost entirely In light of these circumstances provincial officials concluded that the park no longer had a legitimate reason to exist in its current form In 1961 and 1962 the British Columbia government redrew the park s boundaries Most of the park was deleted except for a rump centered on Fortress Lake in a remote part of the western ranges of the Rocky Mountains The new Hamber Provincial Park consists of only 24 518 hectares a reduction of 98 relative to its original size 8 9 World Heritage Site Edit In 1990 this park was included within the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site 10 Together with the other national and provincial parks that comprise the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks the park was recognized for its natural environment and the geological and ecological significance of its mountain landscapes containing the habitats of rare and endangered species mountain peaks glaciers lakes waterfalls canyons and limestone caves and fossils Conservation and Recreation EditAs a remote wilderness area no roads traverse the park A commercial fly in fishing camp operates on Chisel Creek Fan on the shore of Fortress Lake during the summer months 9 The only other means of access are via hike in or ski in from Sunwapta Falls on the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park It is a 22 km hike over trails to Fortress Lake In the 1970s construction began on a trail into the park from Kinbasket Lake via the Wood River by the British Columbia Forest Service However the trail was only completed to within 5 km of the park boundary and was abandoned 11 12 In 2014 a bridge over the Athabasca River collapsed severing access via the only maintained trail into the park 13 Despite providing numerous recreation opportunities lack of access prevents similar levels of hiking and camping found in other mountain parks In addition to access to the park from Sunwapta Falls an overgrown trail accesses two campgrounds Fortress Creek and Washout Creek decommissioned in August 2020 on Fortress Lake s north shore A commercial fishing operation exists on the Chisel Creek fan accessible by floatplane Additionally two small caves ranging from 15 87 m in depth exist in the upper reaches of the Alnus Creek watershed 14 Vegetation around Fortress Lake is replete with spruce and balsam consisting of a heavy understory of false azalea and rhododendron The closest communities to the park are Valemount British Columbia and Jasper Alberta Gallery Edit Fortress Lake in Hamber Provincial ParkSee also EditList of British Columbia Provincial Parks List of Canadian provincial parks List of National Parks of Canada List of World Heritage Sites in the AmericasNotes Edit Hamber Park Protected Planet Retrieved September 17 2020 Bradley 2011 p 89 Sandford 2010 p 201 Shell Map of British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan and Manitoba Map Shell Oil Company 1956 Retrieved June 22 2012 a b Cronin J Keri 2011 British Columbia s Magnificent Parks The First 100 Years by James D Anderson book review BC Studies The British Columbian Quarterly Archived from the original on January 17 2013 Retrieved June 22 2012 Bradley 2011 p 93 Bradley 2011 p 94 Bradley 2011 pp 95 97 a b Sandford 2010 p 202 World Heritage Committee Fourteenth Session UNESCO 1990 Retrieved June 24 2012 Nearingburg Ben Fallen Giants One Pass Two Mountains and One Botanist The Story of Athabasca Pass and Mount Brown Retrieved January 22 2022 Golden Backcountry Recreation Access Plan GBRAP PDF Retrieved January 22 2022 Veerman Nicole Hamber park cut off by JNP bridge collapse Jasper s source for news sports arts culture and more The Fitzhugh www fitzhugh ca Retrieved January 22 2022 Hamber Provincial Park Management Plan PDF BC Parks Retrieved January 22 2022 References EditBradley Ben 2011 A Questionable Basis for Establishing a Major Park Politics Roads and the Failure of a National Park in British Columbia s Big Bend Country In Campbell Claire A Century of Parks Canada 1911 2011 University of Calgary Press ISBN 9781552385265 Sandford Robert W 2010 Ecology amp Wonder in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site Athabasca University Press ISBN 9781897425589 External links EditOfficial website Hamber Provincial Park travel guide from Wikivoyage Map of Hamber Provincial Park 1942 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hamber Provincial Park amp oldid 1110401895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
