Month: October 2015

Banff National Park: Mistaya Canyon

On By mubeenazamIn Uncategorized1 Comment

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

I am amazed at how powerful water is and can be and how we are often reminded and sometimes forget that water can not be underestimated…in any way.  I visited this place as a person mentioned while I was in Banff that this was a spectacular canyon that I should try to visit.  In my opinion, it is an example of natures artistry at work that no human can re create, and this piece of art is constantly changing and will continue to change.  It was so peaceful listening to the roaring water as I looked at the serene curves in the limestone rocks where each layer tells its own story.  I could have easily spent much longer here as I would have loved to spend more time at different parts of the canyon as each aspect of the canyon had its own individual beauty, at times as if they were separate canyons in different locations.  I am left amazed again.

Mistaya Canyon is a canyon in the western part of the Alberta province of Canada. It is formed by the Mistaya River. Tourists who are visiting Banff National Park often visit it because of its distinctive curvy canyon walls and because it is easy to access, being just off the Icefields Parkway.

http://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Mistaya-Canyon-Falls-2728/

http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Mistaya-Canyon-near-Banff-AB-1641






Banff National Park: Peyto Lake…a true gem, you won’t believe this!

On By mubeenazamIn Uncategorized1 Comment

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

Ok, I have seen some beautiful things in my life in different parts of the world, but what this blog is about is something that I don’t think I will ever forget about and will long to visit again.  It is something that I take great pleasure in showing photos about and when my friends and family have seen the video, I watch it with them as if I have never seen the video before and I am left awe struck just like the first time.  From my whole trip, there has been no other place that has left people’s senses bamboozled and struggling to differentiate between reality and non reality, I witnessed over the course of over 45 minutes visitors reactions as they approached the balcony to view this, you may react the same way?

Peyto Lake is a glacier-fed lake located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The lake itself is easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. It was named for Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area.

During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake, and these suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise colour. Because of its bright colour, photos of the lake often appear in illustrated books, and area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists in the park. The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.
The lake is fed by the Peyto Creek, which drains water from the Caldron Lake and Peyto Glacier (part of the Wapta Icefield), and flows into the Mistaya River.

http://banffandbeyond.com/is-peyto-lake-really-that-blue/



  

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Banff National Park: Herbet Lake, Bow Lake and Num-Ti Jah Lodge

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

Banff was truly brilliant and set me up for the next part of my adventure and that was the drive towards Jasper National Park.  The drive through the Icelands Parkway is said to be one of the most scenic and breathtaking views you can experience and honestly, there were times when I was left totally speechless and I could not even string a sentence together to myself…and that is saying something!  The plan for this part of the trip was to stop at as many places as possible and to cover as much distance as I could before my next stop which actually was not hours and hours away but I was aware that there was much to see.

Bow Lake is a small lake in western Alberta, Canada. It is located on the Bow River, in the Canadian Rockies, at an altitude of 1920 m.  It is one of the lakes that line the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park along with many other such lakes.

Herbet Lake


  

Bow Lake

http://albertatravel.org/Bow_Lake.htm


  
  

Num-Ti Jah Lodge

http://sntj.ca/
  
  
  

Banff National Park: Agnes Lake, Agnes Teahouse and Little Beehive 

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

Someone in Banff told me that if I visit Lake Louise and I have time I should do the hike to Agnes Lake and then have some tea at the lovely Agnes Tea house…I obliged and it was a bit of a treat to be honest. The hike was not too demanding and lovely throughout, a few steep switchbacks, great views and gorgeous trees.  Just before you go up the steps to the lake and the tea house, you are greeted with a waterfall which is a pleasant surprise.  The tea house is beautifully made and the lake is small but very pretty.   The walk after that was to Little Beehive where you a re blessed with some incredible views, especially of Lake Louise.

Lake Agnes is a small mountain lake in the Banff National Park of Alberta, Canada.  It has a surface of 0.52 km² and is located approximately 3.5 km (one-way) hiking distance from Lake Louise. A teahouse is situated along the eastern shore at an elevation of 2134 metres (7002 ft). A hiking trail continues down the northern shore, making a 180° turn before ascending to the Big Beehive. Just before the trail starts the arc, a scrambling route up Mount Niblock can be found.  The Little Beehive can be ascended to the east of Lake Agnes. At the top, there are excellent views of the Continental Divide.

Lake Agnes was named in honour of Lady Agnes Macdonald, second wife of Canada ‘s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Lady Agnes visited the small lake in 1886, and her words, “This is lovely!” still ring true today. Hikers are treated to a mixture of trail that begins in old-growth forest of spruce and fir before leading to an open view of the waters below (the magical blue of glacier-fed Lake Louise )

Time: Half-day (approx. 4-hour return trip)

Distance: 7 km (4.5 miles) return

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Elevation Gain: 367 m (1,204 feet)

Map: Lake Louise, 82 N/8 East

http://www.lakeagnesteahouse.com/getting-here.php

http://www.banff.com/banff-hiking/lake-agnes-teahouse/








  


  


  

Banff National Park: Lake Louise and Mirror Lake

On By mubeenazamIn Banff National Park, Epic Solo Road Trip, Lake Louise, September 2015, UncategorizedLeave a comment

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

While I was  searching and planning my trip, one of the most common places I came across known for its sheer beauty, especially at particular times of the day was Lake Louise, it was something I was very much looking forward to.

Continue reading “Banff National Park: Lake Louise and Mirror Lake” →

Banff National Park: Lake Moraine – ‘Sentinel Pass, Larch Valley’ a quintessential hike!

On By mubeenazamIn Banff National Park, Epic Solo Road Trip, Morraine Lake, Sentinel Pass Hike, September 2015, UncategorizedLeave a comment

(My solo road trip of western Canada – Tuesday 22nd September)

I had read that there were many different hikes available in this area, I really wanted to challenge myself and do a hike that would really get my heart pumping and my adrenaline rushing…

Continue reading “Banff National Park: Lake Moraine – ‘Sentinel Pass, Larch Valley’ a quintessential hike!” →

Banff National Park: Lake Moraine…very, very special!

On By mubeenazamIn Epic Solo Road Trip, Morraine Lake, September 2015, UncategorizedLeave a comment

(My solo road trip of western Canada – Tuesday 22nd September)

I was told by so many people who I had spoke to before and during my trip that I must visit Moraine Lake, I think you will agree through the photos and the videos that they gave me the correct information, Continue reading “Banff National Park: Lake Moraine…very, very special!” →