Just when you thought you’ve done it all, another new adventure seems to pop up in Jasper National Park.
This time it’s canyoneering, a relatively new adventure that only got started last summer after Parks Canada conditionally approved it.
To showcase this unique adventure Joe Storms with Rocky Mountain Canyoning teamed up with Jack Steward and Colton Smith, the stars of an Emmy award winning American television show called Rock the Park earlier this month.
Wearing waterproof clothing and harnesses, the two friends rappelled down Ogre Canyon, located on the eastern border of Jasper National Park.
“We had never gone canyoneering before and this was such a great place to do it because it combines all the great things we love about canyons and mountains all into one big adventure,” said Smith.
“It was just a perfect place to try something new like that for the first time.”
Produced by Tremendous! Entertainment, the television show follows both men as they explore every national park in the United States. More recently the pair ventured across the 49th parallel to explore Jasper National Park as well as Church Hill, Man.
“Jack and I have been best buddies since the second grade so we’ve always been looking for adventures,” said Smith.
“Any time we had some off time we would head into the national parks and we’d films things with just a little GoPro camera that we’d put together and it turned into this show.”
Both men readily admit that neither of them are experts when it comes to some of the adventures featured on their show, but that’s part of the show’s allure.
“We want to show people that these are things anybody could do, no matter your age or your ability,” said Smith.
He said the pair also look for adventures that are often overlooked by the average tourist.
“One thing that we found, especially in a place like Jasper, is if you want to have an off the beaten path adventure, it’s there for you. I mean Ogre Canyon is a perfect example where you are not going to see a person out there and that’s just one of hundreds if not thousands of adventures that are in a place like Jasper.”
While the show may be focused on exploring new parts of the world, Steward emphasized you don’t have to go far to find adventure.
“What we’ve learned over the years is that you don’t need to have to go far to see the world. There are beautiful places everywhere and Canada is a perfect example of that,” said Steward.
The first three seasons are broadcast around the world and on ABC stations in the U.S. Season one is also available on Netflix and season one through three can be watched on Hulu.
“The beauty of Jasper is truly unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It was absolutely incredible,” said Smith.
Paul Clarke
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