Tag: #Canada

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


  
  

  

  



  
  


  
  

Banff National Park: Mistaya Canyon

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(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!” →