Canadian Rockies (May 2011)
I decided to visit my old playgrounds in Canada: Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. When I was working in Toronto as a young man, I used to go skiing to Banff and Lake Louise almost every winter. Also, when I was living in British Columbia, I often took friends and family who would visit me to these National Parks. I think this part of Canada is one of the most (if not the most) beautiful areas in the world.
Days 1:
I took an early morning flight from San Jose to Calgary, Alberta, via Salt Lake City International Airport. Both legs of the journey were fairly short and uneventful. Views of snow-capped peaks from the SLC International were a preview of the scenes to come.
Upon arrival at the Calgary International in the early afternoon, I picked up a car that I had reserved and took off toward Banff, located approximately 130 km (80 miles) to the west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. I was actually going to drive past Banff and Lake Louise because I had a room reserved for two nights at Glacier View Inn, situated on the upper floors of the Columbia Icefield Centre - about 180 km (112 miles) northwest of Banff.
As had been forecasted, weather was not great with occasional light showers, and I was not able to enjoy majestic mountain peaks until I was on the Icefields Parkway, a highway that connects the village of Lake Louise in Banff National Park with the town of Japsper in Jasper National Park. To drive on the Icefields Parkway, one has to have a park pass. I had purchased a Parks Canada Discovery Pass which entitles me to enter, for a period of one year, all national parks, marine conservation areas and historic sites administered by Parks Canada. (Now, I have an incentive to visit more national parks in Canada.)
One of he first scenes that caused me to stop and admire was Crawfoot Lake which was covered with very thin ice that appeared green. (Two days later on my way back the ice was all gone.)
As I drove on, the weather improved, and I enjoyed well-known view points such as the Weeping Wall and the Big Bend along the Icefields Parkway. I reached the Columbia Icefield Centre at about 6 p.m.
The Glacier View Inn is on the top floor of the Columbia Icefield Centre. Although it is isolated and offers very limited facilities, the fact that it is right at the Columbia Icefield/Athabasca Glacier is a great advantage especially for those who would like to explore the Icefield before numerous tour buses arrive in the morning. Since I had a "glacier view" room, I had a great view of the glacier from the window:
After all the tourists leave, the place is pretty much dead, and there isn't much to do other than to explore the "toe of the glacier." I would ride one of the Icefield Explorer vehicles on another day.
Days 1:
I took an early morning flight from San Jose to Calgary, Alberta, via Salt Lake City International Airport. Both legs of the journey were fairly short and uneventful. Views of snow-capped peaks from the SLC International were a preview of the scenes to come.
Upon arrival at the Calgary International in the early afternoon, I picked up a car that I had reserved and took off toward Banff, located approximately 130 km (80 miles) to the west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. I was actually going to drive past Banff and Lake Louise because I had a room reserved for two nights at Glacier View Inn, situated on the upper floors of the Columbia Icefield Centre - about 180 km (112 miles) northwest of Banff.
As had been forecasted, weather was not great with occasional light showers, and I was not able to enjoy majestic mountain peaks until I was on the Icefields Parkway, a highway that connects the village of Lake Louise in Banff National Park with the town of Japsper in Jasper National Park. To drive on the Icefields Parkway, one has to have a park pass. I had purchased a Parks Canada Discovery Pass which entitles me to enter, for a period of one year, all national parks, marine conservation areas and historic sites administered by Parks Canada. (Now, I have an incentive to visit more national parks in Canada.)
One of he first scenes that caused me to stop and admire was Crawfoot Lake which was covered with very thin ice that appeared green. (Two days later on my way back the ice was all gone.)
As I drove on, the weather improved, and I enjoyed well-known view points such as the Weeping Wall and the Big Bend along the Icefields Parkway. I reached the Columbia Icefield Centre at about 6 p.m.
The Glacier View Inn is on the top floor of the Columbia Icefield Centre. Although it is isolated and offers very limited facilities, the fact that it is right at the Columbia Icefield/Athabasca Glacier is a great advantage especially for those who would like to explore the Icefield before numerous tour buses arrive in the morning. Since I had a "glacier view" room, I had a great view of the glacier from the window:
After all the tourists leave, the place is pretty much dead, and there isn't much to do other than to explore the "toe of the glacier." I would ride one of the Icefield Explorer vehicles on another day.
Day 2:
I got up early and drove toward Jasper. (I had decided to tour the Icefield on the following morning.) Although it was somewhat foggy, the weather was improving. A mountain ridge that seems to go on forever, appropriately named Endless Chain, was fantastic:
I made numerous stops to admire the impressive peaks that are over 3,000 m (10,000 ft) tall bracketed the Parkway. I stopped by the Sunwapta Falls (created by the Athabasca River) and had a short walk, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the falls and the canyon:
I continued driving toward Jasper along the Athabasca River, which originates in the Columbia Icefield and flows northward eventually emptying into the Arctic Ocean. It flows through many gorges and falls, the most impressive one being the Athabasca Falls. Although it's only 23 m tall, the amount of water and the depth of the gorge it has carved are impressive:
I spent about an hour exploring the trails around the falls, and then drove on to Jasper. Unfortunately dark clouds started to move in!
Whistlers Mountain towers over the town of Jasper, a popular destination for all seasons. Since it was way past the lunch time, I had a great steak sandwich at one of the many restaurants that line the two main streets.
Since it was way past the lunch time, I had a great steak sand witch at one of the many restaurants that line the two main streets. After a leisurely lunch, I checked out various points of interest in the small town and then headed to ride the tram (ropeway) to the top of Whistlers Mountain. Unfortunately dark clouds had moved in, but I figured it was worth a try.
As anticipated, what would have been magnificent views were obscured by dark clouds, but the town of Jasper as well as the Yellowhead Highway, leading toward Prince George, British Columbia, were visible.
Since it appeared as if the weather might turn ugly, I decided to call it the day and drove back to the hotel at the Columbia Icefield Centre.
Day 3:
I organized my belongings and checked out of the Glacier View Inn because I wasn't sure if I'd be back from the Icefield Explorer ride in time to check out. I got on one of the earliest vehicles. The vehicle, according to the driver, cost $1.25M to construct! It traveled very slowly but very steadily down a steep lateral moraine onto the Columbia Icefield.
I got up early and drove toward Jasper. (I had decided to tour the Icefield on the following morning.) Although it was somewhat foggy, the weather was improving. A mountain ridge that seems to go on forever, appropriately named Endless Chain, was fantastic:
I made numerous stops to admire the impressive peaks that are over 3,000 m (10,000 ft) tall bracketed the Parkway. I stopped by the Sunwapta Falls (created by the Athabasca River) and had a short walk, while enjoying the sights and sounds of the falls and the canyon:
I continued driving toward Jasper along the Athabasca River, which originates in the Columbia Icefield and flows northward eventually emptying into the Arctic Ocean. It flows through many gorges and falls, the most impressive one being the Athabasca Falls. Although it's only 23 m tall, the amount of water and the depth of the gorge it has carved are impressive:
I spent about an hour exploring the trails around the falls, and then drove on to Jasper. Unfortunately dark clouds started to move in!
Whistlers Mountain towers over the town of Jasper, a popular destination for all seasons. Since it was way past the lunch time, I had a great steak sandwich at one of the many restaurants that line the two main streets.
Since it was way past the lunch time, I had a great steak sand witch at one of the many restaurants that line the two main streets. After a leisurely lunch, I checked out various points of interest in the small town and then headed to ride the tram (ropeway) to the top of Whistlers Mountain. Unfortunately dark clouds had moved in, but I figured it was worth a try.
As anticipated, what would have been magnificent views were obscured by dark clouds, but the town of Jasper as well as the Yellowhead Highway, leading toward Prince George, British Columbia, were visible.
Since it appeared as if the weather might turn ugly, I decided to call it the day and drove back to the hotel at the Columbia Icefield Centre.
Day 3:
I organized my belongings and checked out of the Glacier View Inn because I wasn't sure if I'd be back from the Icefield Explorer ride in time to check out. I got on one of the earliest vehicles. The vehicle, according to the driver, cost $1.25M to construct! It traveled very slowly but very steadily down a steep lateral moraine onto the Columbia Icefield.
