Page 4 of Part 4: My Life in Canada: January 2005 - December 2005!
July 2005 continued
: We left around 9.00 in the morning and were headed for Jasper. The drive from Golden to Jasper would probably be about 350km. We were going to take all day because there are several beautiful spots we wanted to stop at along the way to Jasper. We drove through Yoho National Park again and then made our way north onto the Icefield Parkway (Highway 93), one of the most scenic highways in the world. We drove by beautiful Bow Lake, such a beautiful blue coloured glacial lake. We also drove by the beautiful Waterfowl Lake. What a view that is over the Icefield Parkway and those beautiful lakes. Our first stop was at Peyto Lake, an amazingly beautiful lake with such an unusual shape. From the viewing platform you get the most amazing views over this lake with its blue-turquoise color and the surrounding mountains. The view down the valley is also amazing. There were some beautiful wildflowers to see on the way up to the viewpoint as well with some interpretive signs to explain some thing about this fragile environment.
When we were finished visiting Peyto Lake we continued to drive for quite a while and our next stop was just past the Banff National Park border into Jasper National Park at the Columbia Icefields. Here we visited the Columbia Icefields Visitor Centre and this was the place where we had some lunch as well. Wow, that Athabasca Glacier which is part of the Columbia Icefiled is easy to see from the highway. This Columbia Icefield is 325 square km / 203 square miles in size and are up to 350m/1050ft thick. Only the tip of the Athabasca Glacier is visible here. It's a great place to visit and admire these Icefields. Inside the visitor centre there was a huge display and interpretive centre with information on the area and how the glacier is slowly melting away. Very interesting and beautiful area. After we left here it really started to rain so hard. That’s what happens when you are quite high up in the mountains. On this part of the Icefield Parkway you are about 2000m above sea level…so that’s quite high and the weather can change quickly and dramatically. We also saw some Bighorn Sheep that were crossing the road in the rain. That was pretty neat to see! Wildlife is seen in this area quite often, but you have be careful when you are driving.
Some photos of our trip along the Icefield Parkway with me at Peyto Lake, Waterfowl Lake while driving and the Columbia Icefields
Our next stop was going to be the Sunwapta Falls, but it was just pouring rain so hard that we decided to continue to the Athabasca Falls. My goodness, it was just coming down! The Athabasca Falls were only about 15-20 minutes driving from the Sunwapta Falls. By the time we arrived at the Athabasca Falls the sun came out again. Strange weather, hehe, but good for us so we could go and see these beautiful falls. Athabasca Falls is possibly the most popular waterfall in the Canadian Rockies. The falls are one of the most powerful and impressive waterfall in the Rockies. If it's not raining, you may still want to bring some protection for water as you can get soaked by these falls if you get too close. I was impressed with these falls roaring through a narrow canyon. So powerful that you can feel the mist from the fall when you come close. They are not very high, but really worth to see. The other thing that's very intersting is that you can follow several trails to explore on both sides of the falls. The falls have cut into the softer limestone beneath, which has created potholes and a short canyon.
After that we finally arrived in the lovely town of Jasper surrounded by amazing mountain views. Oh, how I love this place…I felt right at home there. We dropped my brother and his family off at their Bed & Breakfast and then we went to ours. We had another great place with a full suite. The views from the patio were nice with a bbq available for us. The people were very friendly and helpful to suggest some great things to visit. In the evening we went to Jasper town so we could reserve a Scenic Cruise on Maligne Lake to see Spirit Island! We also did a little bit of shopping and some walking around in Jasper town. Jasper is a beautiful small town in the heart of Jasper National Park, the largest and most northerly of the Canadian Rocky Mountain National Parks. Jasper is a world-renowned vacation destination offering first-class visitor attractions, activities, facilities and services. The town is surrounded by rugged, unspoiled wilderness of unparalleled beauty with towering snow-capped mountain peaks, the backdrop for evergreen forests, pristine glacier-fed lakes and waterfalls!
Some photos of our visit to the beautiful Athabasca Falls, Jasper National Park
In the morning we were headed out early again and went to Mount Edith Cavell first. The drive was along a winding and quite bumpy road, but the view over Mount Edith Cavell were so beautiful! Wow, what a beautiful place. Once we got to the parking lot You can walk from the parking lot right up to Mount Edith Cavell with the Cavell Glacier and Cavell Pond which had chunks of ice floating in it that dropped of from Angel Glacier and Cavell Glacier. We followed to Path of the Glacier Trail. This trail starts from the parking lot at the end of Cavell Road and is about 1.6km (1mi) long. It's a short loop that climbs up to a viewpoint overlooking the valley bottom. Across the valley you see the famous Angel Glacier which spreads her wings out onto Mount Edith Cavell the highest peak in the region. You then follow the trail down to the valley bottom and the shores of Cavell Pond at the bottom of the hanging glacier. Cavell Pond is full of icebergs that have fallen from Angel Glacier and Cavell Glacier. House-sized chunks of the Angel Glacier often crash down the cliff sides below. The trail is an interpretive trail and signs explain how the area is now being recolonized by plants and animals.
After that we were off to the area of Maligne Lake. The Maligne Lake Road is quite a long road and on the way we stopped at Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake. Maligne Canyon was great to see. There are great views over the canyon and its bridges. We started our walk at the Maligne Canyon Tea House and followed the canyon downstream. Here the canyon is over 50m (150 feet) deep. We crossed the first and second bridge over the canyon, we decided to go back after that as we still wanted to stop at Medicine Lake before the Maligne Lake cruise that we booked for 3.00 in the afternoon. But in the passed we continued the whole way until you get to the sixth bridge. I thought it was quite an amazing place to visit. After the visit to Maligne Canyon we continued on the Maligne Lake Road and had a quick stop at Medicine Lake. This is quite an intriguing lake. Medicine Lake is a beautiful, large mountain lake that is certainly unique. It's a beautiful full size blue glacier lake in summer. However, during the fall the lake almost entirely empties. Believed to be one of the world's largest underground river systems. There are many wonderful views of Medicine Lake with several roadside rest areas, some with picnic areas. This area also offers good opportunities to view wildlife, such as big horn sheep, elk, deer and moose.
Some photos from the Mount Edith Cavell area, Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park
Once we arrived at Maligne Lake we still had a little bit time left to walk around before we would have to board the little cruise to Spirit Island. Maligne Lake is the largest lake in Jasper National Park (22 km/13.7 miles) and I have heard that it's the second largest glacial lake in the world. I find this place one of the most beautiful sights in the Rockies. There is a day-use area and you can also take boat trips, rent a canoe and choose from several hiking trails. We decided to take the Maligne Lake boat cruise to Spirit Island as it is the only way to be able to see this famous island of Maligne Lake. The boat cruise is about 90 minutes long and during the cruise you have a guide which explains a whole lot about the history, geology, wildlife and glaciology of Maligne Lake and of Jasper National Park...very interesting. The trip includes a 15-20 minute stop at world famous Spirit Island where you can admire this island from the view platform. The views along the way and then the final reward of seeing Spirit Island is a delight to the eyes! Unbelievably beautiful and in such a wilderness setting. The trip was quite expensive, but worth every penny…believe me! This was a highlight of our trip. Maligne Lake with its Spirit Island is one of the most beautiful sights one can see in the Canadian Rocky Mountains!
Some photos taken on the little Maligne Lake boat cruise to beautiful Spirit Island
Well, we got back to our b&b's by dinner time. Michael and I went to town to pick up something nice to eat. After that my mom was quite tired and wanted to rest, but Michael and I still wanted to see a little more of this beautiful place. So, we decided to drive around a little more and visit some of the lakes near Jasper town. The first spot we headed for was Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake via the Pyramid Lake Road about 7-8km (4 mi) from Jasper town. It's a winding road that will bring you tob both Patricia and Pyramid Lake. Here you will have some great views of the 2,773 meter (over 9000 feet) Pyramid Mountain. This area also offers a picnic area, canoeing, hiking and so much more. At Pyramid Lake you can also walk onto Pyrimad Island, a great spot with some interesting interpretive signs about the fragile plants that grow there. There are boat rentals at Pyramid and Patricia Lake Bungalows. After that we visited Lake Beauvert. This lake is located immediately adjacent to the Jasper Park Lodge. A beautiful green mountain lake, there is a hiking loop around the lake. It is a flat, level walk that offers many opportunities to see wildlife, the beautiful waters of the lake, Jasper Park Lodge and its accompanying golf course. It is a wonderful way to spend a couple hours and is an easy walk for most anyone. Then we also spent a short time at Edith Lake and Lake Annette close to Lake Beauvert...very beautiful places as well! We went home after that as we were going to leave early in the morning to head back to Vancouver.
Some photos taken at Patricia Lake, Pyramid Lake and Lake Beauvert
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