Icefields Parkway to Jasper, Canada

July 8

We got up and Greg had picked up Cinnamon rolls for breakfast. It was a bit drizzly, but we got a couple last shots of the scenery.

Lake Louise

We waited for our van to come and noticed "the sisters" were also waiting. The day prior was the incident when my seat was reclined on the bus, and she barked at me to put it up. (I hadn't even sat down yet) She was very unhappy that she had to handle her own luggage and complained that Fresh Tracks owned them money for all that had gone wrong. Yikes. There were porters at the Château that would have gladly assisted her. If she had been a nice lady, we may have helped her. Her sister did it for her and whispered to me that someone is feeling prissy today.

Our tour today was also with Sundog Tours. It was a full day of sightseeing in the majesty of Canada's two most famous National Parks, Banff and Jasper. We traveled along the spine of the Rockies, on what is surely one of the most beautiful roads in the world – the Icefields Parkway.

The road seemed to be a never-ending procession of mountains, jagged snowy peaks, and numerous glaciers.

Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake

Bow Lake

Lesser Scaup

Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake

Brown-headed Cowbird

Peyto Glacier

Peyto Lake gets its’ blue color from glacier rock flour that flows into the lake during the summer. Notice the right side of the lake is shaped like a wolf's head.

Peyto Lake

Peyto Glacier

we had a picnic lunch outside at a small park at the base of the mountain

We had a nice picnic lunch and the drizzling rain decided to quit so we could sit outside on picnic tables instead of eating on the van. There was a ton of food in our lunch bags.

We made a short stop at The Weeping Wall, which is a set of cliffs, approximately 1000 feet high, located at the western base of the Cirrus Mountain just south of the boundary with Jasper National Park. When frozen in the winter ice climbers come from all over the world to do the climb. (uh, no thanks)

The Weeping Wall

Almost to the Columbia Icefields

The rain was again kind to us and stopped before we got on the bus. We had about 4 hours at the Columbia Ice fields. We had time to get refreshments before boarding a bus to get to the Ice Explorers that take you onto the Athabasca Glacier. We had about 20 minutes or so to walk about the glacier. On the buggy ride down, I had another incident with the prissy sister. Everyone was opening the windows to take photos. She tried to open hers but could not. I opened mine to get a quick shot before closing it again (it was cold and windy, and I didn't want it open long) Anyway, that made her mad that I opened mine and she yelled "shut it now" as she proceeded to slam it closed onto my arm. What a peach!

arrival at the Icefields

other buggies on the glacier

the road we traveled to get there

down a steep hill

it was really windy

the road in and out

the road we came down

Greg getting back on the buggy

We then reboarded the bus that took us to our next stop which was at the Glacier Skywalk Experience which overlooks the Sunwapta Valley. It’s a suspended platform where glass is all that separates you from the rugged and wild terrain 918-foot below. We waited for the bus to take us back to the main area where we had some time for refreshments before getting back on the van.

While we waited some Bighorn Sheep entertained us by strolling through the parking lot.

my foot on the walkway looking down

We also had a stop at Athabatha Falls which had a nice walkway to various views.

walk to Athabatha Falls

On the drive into Jasper, we saw a few Elk and encountered a Black Bear which was exciting. Had to get decent photos from the vehicle, but a delightful end to our long day.

We arrived in Jasper around 8:00 that night and got checked into the Crimson Hotel where we would spend one night.

lobby

our room

We grabbed some food at Raven Bistro where we split Feta Stuffed Falafels - House made falafels stuffed with feta cheese, accompanied by pickled purple cabbage, tomato cucumber salad, dukkah, hummus and za'atar spiced corn chips and a Bison & Boar Flatbread - Ground bison and bourbon candied wild boar belly on flatbread with aged white cheddar, topped with arugula and goat cheese. Served with spiced pear barbeque sauce. Then went next door for some lack-luster ice cream. (it was Nestle)