July 24, 2001, Tuesday- after raining all night and early morning, we headed out to see the sights and get some exercise. First, we hiked an hour along the Bow river. Next we grabbed some lunch and ate in the park, followed by hiking around the Cascade Pond. By car we covered three lakes and then headed up the 1A highway to the Johnston Canyon. This wonderful 3 mile round trip was along a glacial stream having two major waterfalls. Somehow we did the 2 hour round trip in about an hour. We were cruising!

 

FEEDING TIME ALONG THE BOW RIVER	DEBI AND SUSAN AT THE BOW

The best part of the day was Debi's "Hat Trick". First thing in the morning she noticed a coyote outside our coach door. Along the Bow River we came across some cow and calf elk nursing. Near the lake loop we came upon several "mountain goats". On our trip of 1A we found two sets of big bull elk feeding near the highway. Three different wild animals in one day….pretty good!

 

CLOUDS SWEEPING ACROSS THE MOUNTAINTOPS	MOUNTAIN GOAT SHEDING THE WINTER COAT

It's interesting to watch how different folks interpret "watching wildlife". Most of the folks along the road left their cars and were up close and personal….much too close for us…to the elk. One lady came to view nature from the inside of her Lincoln Limo, and was shooting with her camera resting on an open door window. To each their own.

 

BULL ELK ANYONE?	NOTICE THE CAMERA POINTING OUT OF THE LIMO WINDOW.....DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS

UPPER FALLS AT JOHNSTON CANYON	SUSAN & DEBI AT THE FALLS

Steaks on the grill capped a great day!

 

LARRY AND HOBBES WAITING FOR OUR ICE CREAM AT THE FALLS

July 25, 2001, Wednesday- good news from Cummins…..they have the starter, and with luck will install it on Monday morning. Still no word on our windshield.

After a slow start (Debi's on vacation and deserves not to have to rush out of bed), we cruised over to the Cave and Basin area where we hiked for an hour and a half up to the Sundance Canyon. By the time we reached the end, I could feel my feet starting. This evening during dinner, the swelling in two toes began, and by the time we arrived home, I had to limp to get to the prednizone. Unfortunately this was the third time in the last couple of weeks that I've needed the drugs.

DEBI, LARRY AND HOBBES AT THE BOW

 

Spoke to Steve…he and Becky are running 90 minutes late on the flight out of Denver….so their arrival will be most likely after midnight. Maybe we'll delay tomorrow morning's activities by an hour J .

Dinner was at Earl's, a western Canada chain….lively, reasonably priced and user friendly. Sitting at the bar, while waiting for our table, the bartender gave us samples of any of the wine or beers to aid in our decisions. Nice change of pace!

July 26, 2001, Thursday- we picked up Steve and Becky at their B&B…strange woman that owns the place. When Susan knocked on the door to ask for Steve she was told that she would tell him we're here. It turns out that one of the many many house rules….registered guests only.

 

LARRY STUDYING THE MAP- WHERE DID I GO WRONG?	500 TO 700 YEAR OLD STUNTED TREES

We headed up towards the Columbia Icefields. In the midst's of our talking, laughing, etc. I continued on the trans-Canada highway 1. Unfortunately at a rest stop 45 minutes past Lake Louise, I realized that the correct way was up highway 93. So, with egg on my face and a mia culpa in my voice, I begged forgiveness from this tough crowd for taking a 90 minute excursion. So, instead of a 11 AM arrival, it was almost 2 PM. But, the icefield is unbelievable. It's 125 square miles and drains into three different oceans….the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Arctic Sea. It's depth ranges from 300 to 1000 feet deep. Unfortunately it's currently receding at 30 lineal feet per year.

 

WHEEL WASH RIVER FOR SNOW COACH	SUSAN DRINKING GLACIER WATER

The snow tour buses are incredible machines easily capable of climbing the descending the 32 degree, 18% grades from the staging area to the glacier face. Being ecologically minded, they even have a wash pool of the glacier water to remove dirt and debris from the snow tour buses, thus keeping the face of the glacier free of dirt which would cause faster melting.

GLACIERS FLOWING EVERYWHERE	BECKY, STEVE, DEBI, SUSAN & LARRY ON THE GLACIER

 

After the official tour, we hiked up the face of the glacier from the parking lot, about a mile hike, with Hobbes in tow, and then a good distance up the ice flow. Hobbes was having a ball. I headed back with him early since the ice crystals were sharp and I feared that his feet would be cut.

 

LOOKING UP THE GLACIER FIELD	SUSAN, BECKY, STEVE, LARRY AND DEBI IN FRONT OF THE SNOW COACH

This area is so hostile, that the surrounding trees look dwarfed, but are 500 to 700 years old.

SUSAN, DEBI, BECKY, STEVE & HOBBES ON THE ICEFIELD	STEVE ON TOP OF THE WORLD

 

Returning down the highway we came across a large bull elk with a 7 point rack, feeding on the edge of the roadway.

7 POINT RACK

 

Dinner was at the Deer Lodge in Lake Louise. Perfection in every dish. By far, the best dinner yet. Caribou, elk, tenderloins, scallops and salmon…delicious!

With a full day of sun and physical activity, everyone was ready to crash upon our return after 10 PM.