Month: October 2015

Jasper National Park: Drive to Maligne Lake…wow!

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Friday 25th September)

Never expected to see so many Elks, I suppose the timing was right and I was in the right place, a really good continuation of the day.  I got quite close too which made it more interesting, I have to say the heart was beating a bit.  When I was visiting the Athabasca Glacier, I saw a video of Elks charging at cars and causing some serious damage, I was wise to keep sensible distance and I was always ready to run just in case!

The drive was truly awesome, I had no idea what lay ahead of me and as I said before, the weather really made it for me.  The mountain drive kept me alert, and the view was just spectacular.  The road, the autumnal trees and some of the rocks on the edge of the roads were very nice.  As you can see from these photos, the most fantastic part of this drive was the forest that had been totally obliterated as a result of a devastating forest fire.  I can tell you that this experience was like no other I have had, the smell from the destroyed trees was amazing, like a huge BBQ that has just been put out during camping.  I was left with black marks on my hands and clothes as I brushed through the trees into the forest, it was actually quite sad, I don’t know if you can tell through the photos, but the forest was huge, it just left me imagining what the forest must have gone through as the fire relentlessly ripped through each square km of this land…From all the beauty I saw throughout my trip, there was something very, very special about this devastated forest, the smell, the colours, the story…wow!


  




  


  
  


  
  


  
  
  

Jasper National Park: Lake Edith and Lake Annette

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Friday 25th September)

I got up this morning and the last thing on my mind was the weather, it has been so beautiful so far that I did not think of checking the weather.  Anyway, I got up this morning and it was pouring down, it was miserable and cold…I was not happy!

I decided not to waste any time and start exploring, I ended up visiting a few lakes, a canyon and finished off with time around Downtonwn Jasper, it was also a very good day for seeing Elks…during rutting season!

I heard about Maligne Lake and Maligne Canyon but passed by a couple of other lakes on the way.  The beauty of these places I am visiting is they highlight different beauty no matter what the weather, these lakes were very nice, but some of the other stuff coming up truly took my breath away because the weather was so different from what I has experienced so far, the fact that the clouds were so low created quite a spooky atmosphere…

https://www.theswimguide.org/beach/366

http://www.todocanada.ca/city/jasper/listing/lake-annette-lake-edith/


  


  
  


  
  

Jasper National Park: Athabasca Falls

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Thursday 24th September)

I was looking forward to visiting these falls as I read that the rock formations around the area were pretty dramatic, I had decent weather so was happy to be visiting.  Walking around I was struck by the multitude of natures designs in the rocks around the landscape, really fascinating.  In some areas, as you will see, the trees were beautiful and the fact that many trees had fallen, created their own unique tapestry within the woodland area around Athabasca Falls.

One of my favorite places during this visit were the steps that had absolutely amazing rock formations on either side of them, you can see these in the few photos.  The way the water is eroding the rock is truly incredible which is why my second favourite place was where the potholes are, you could easily imagine that a human has created these with her or his hands from clay, the fact is, that these are all unique designs created by the caressing of the water over many, many years.

While walking around, you come across benches which have been placed in certain locations in memory of people who underestimated the rocks and how slippy they could be, and unfortunately fell to their death.  Being in those areas were stark reminders that you really cannot mess with nature and feel you are invincible, caution must be exercised and respect given to natures gift to us, always!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_Falls

http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Athabasca_Falls/Athabasca_Falls.htm.

http://www.todocanada.ca/city/jasper/listing/athabasca-falls-jasper-national-park/

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Jasper National Park: Sunwapta Falls

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Thursday 24th September)

I loved this place, there were so many aspects of this ladscape that were very cool and original.  For example, the pathways that were interwoven with the roots of the trees was absolutely amazing, no steps needed here, nature was providing its own staircase for the benefit and comfort of its guests…tread with gratitude.  Another thing I really liked about this place was the island of trees that was being caressed by water around its sides  with the magnificence of the mountains in the backdrop.  Although the sound of the water was refreshing and soothing, my favourite aspect of this place was the formation and the setting of the trees and their roots.

http://m.sunwapta.com/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunwapta_Falls






  

Jasper National Park: Tangle Creek and Stutfield Glacier 

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Thursday 24th September)

I read about the Tangle Falls (Tangle Creek) and the description of it stated that it was a series of mini waterfalls that interlinked together, it was if they were braiding a hair style out of water, it was so relaxing to be at these  waterfalls as they were different levels of sounds of water depending on where you stood, very nice.

Stutfield Glacier was very different from the Athabasca Glacier but still beautiful in its own sense, it was another landscape that was different from others I had seen so far.  The last photo was special at the moment I saw it,  I captured this first in my rear view mirror, I stopped on the side to take this, it was a scene of its own, not sure the photo does justice to what I actually saw, beautiful nonetheless. The sun, different colours of the trees, the grey and white clouds, the empty road and the snow capped mountain made it a captivating image and memory.

http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/canada-tangle-falls.html

http://travelingluck.com/North+America/Canada/Alberta/_6158658_Stutfield+Glacier.html


  
  


  
  

Banff National Park: Weeping Wall and Bridal Veil Falls

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Wednesday 23rd September)

Sorry again, a day too late..

I suppose when you read on a map that along your drive you will pass by waterfalls that are called “Weeping” and “Bridal Veil Falls” you really  have to keep an eye out and visit them.  The beauty of these two falls is that  they were along the way and very easily accessible.

The Weeping Wall Falls were totally gorgeous, to see this wall literally weeping was fanatastic, it was quite moving actually, as you focussed on the wall and the different areas it was “weeping” from, it was as if the wall was emotionally narrating a moving story.

I continued the wonderful drive through the mountain range, it was such a buzz, some of the switchbacks were crazy and the view I was capturing through my eyes from the rear view mirror was as beautiful as what was unfolding before me, the unfortunate thing was that I could not stop as much as I wanted to in order to capture the view I was leaving behind me.  I know this is the young boy car fanatic in me, but I wish I had a convertible sports car in many parts of this trip…including this very drive.

The Bridal Veil Falls were stunning, they were not as close as the Weeping Wall Falls, I used the longer range lens to capture as close as I could, you can make out the lovely, crisp and clean fall of the water overthe  rock edge, it is evident to see why they are named Bridal Veil Falls.

http://www.albertawow.com/hikes/Weeping_Wall/Weeping_Wall.htm

http://www.world-of-waterfalls.com/canada-bridal-veil-falls.html








  

Saskatchewan River Crossing

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Wednesday 23rd September)

I forgot to post this slightly earlier as this was my half way stop after leaving Banff National Park heading towards Jasper National Park.  To be honest, you don’t really need to stay here, but it did allow me to see more than I could have if I didn’t.  There was no phone reception and the internet you had to pay extra for and there was no guarantee of its speed or efficiency as it was more like dial up…I didn’t bother as I had to sign a form which pretty much states ‘pay us, it won’t really work but don’t question us about it’!

It was named “The Crossing”, when travellers and fur traders used this spot to cross the North Saskatchewan River on their way to British Columbia in the 19th century.  My room was comfortable and the view from my ‘balcony’ was very nice as you can see…

http://thecrossingresort.com/



Jasper National Park – Colombia Icefield, A hidden gem hike!

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Thursday 24th September)

When we were returning from visiting the glacier, our guide mentioned a hidden gem of a hike that he said if anyone who has the time and the energy to do, should do.  He pointed it out, it looked good and although it was not part of the plan, I really wanted to do it. We arrived at the depot where we transitioned from the mother snow coach to the boring standard everyday coach…I did not board, everyone else did and I decided to do the hike.

I was advised to watch my step, not just for loose rocks but lots of poo from mountain goats which were seen frequently in these mountains. The hike was great and I was full of adrenaline as I was the only one on the mountain, unfortunately I did not see the wildlife I wanted to but thoroughly enjoyed myself…and as you can see the views are totally incredible and exhilarating.

The hike (or crazy run down) was awesome!  The trees that you see that have growth on one side and not the other are perfect examples of how harsh the conditions become in this environment where the extreme weather and brutal winds kill off one side of the trees and the other side that is protected from the rough elements continue their existence, a real contrast of the beauty of life and death in nature.  Setting off I saw some wildlife on the road and decided to stop briefly at the glacier lookout bridge known as the ‘glacier skywalk’…very cool piece of engineering.

http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/explore-interets/glacier-athabasca.aspx

http://www.brewster.ca/activities-in-the-rockies/brewster-attractions/glacier-skywalk/the-experience/


  
  
  



  


  
  
  
  
  


  

Jasper National Park – Colombia Icefield, Athabasca Glacier…interesting!

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Thursday 24th September)

I took some photos of the names and heights of some of the mountains in the surrounding area and very interesting facts about the ice and the glacier I had just visited as I did not have time before my tour in the morning and because of my journey ahead, this was the best way of educating myself, absolutely fascinating, especially the artist paintings which are on display in the Glacier Interpretive Centre.  If you have a few minutes read the information and have a look at the artists paintings which are apparently a true reflection of what the glacier used to be like in the early 1900’s.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Icefield


  
  


  
  
  


  
  
  

Jasper National Park – Colombia Icefield, Athabasca Glacier

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(My solo road trip of western Canada – Thursday 24th September)

I was so excited about seeing, touching, and experiencing a glacier which is said to have formed during the Great Glaciation (238,000 to 126,000 BC)…even tasting it!  The Colombia Icefield is the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains of North America and it is the most visited glacier too.

There are options to go without a tour guide but I was not going to travel on this without experts as I had read about people dying in certain areas on this glacier. I was also happy about the timing as the centre which accommodates these visits closes sometime in October.  I read that some parts of the glacier were nearly 300m deep which was a fascinating fact and reassuring to an extent that I would not fall through!

You take a bus from the Colombia Interpretive Centre to where you take the mother of buses, the ‘snow coach’ as it is sometimes referred to and it was cool to be boarding one of only 23 of these in the world to transport us to the glacier. I booked on to the 10am tour which was the best thing I did as we were the first tour of the day and when we did get to the glacier we had the whole glacier to ourselves for about 20 minutes, after that it did get quite busy as by the time our snow coach was due to return there were already two other coaches parked up on the glacier with others on their way.

What a fantastic experience, a completely different environment and landscape to what I had seen so far on this trip and I knew that unless there was some crazy change in weather (which could definitely happen the more north I drove) this would be a unique experience. It was very cold, and at times the glacier wind was freezing and some people took refuge in the snow coach whose engine and heating was left on for that very reason. One of the best sights, other than the fact I could stand next to the thickness of the glacier we could see, was the independent glaciers hanging off two other mountains…that was an amazing sight and these can be seen clearly in the photo after the first video.

However, with every wonder and gift of the world there is always a sad reality. In the third photo down, I am stood in the car park with a bridge behind me and behind that in the distance is the beginning of the glacier, over a hundred years ago the glacier used to be where the car park is!!  The depressing aspect of this stunning glacier is where it used to be just over a hundred years ago and how much it has now receded and continues to recede, so much so that our tour guide said that this particular glacier that you see has a lifespan of between 70-80 years before it completely disappears!

http://www.brewster.ca/activities-in-the-rockies/brewster-attractions/columbia-icefield-glacier-adventure/#/0

http://www.icewalks.com/page7.html