Canadian Rockies

I got a good start out of Sandpoint, ID and found myself at the Canadian border about 10AM.  I had needlessly worried about a long line entering and only one semi and one personal vehicle was in front. I soon found myself laughing at ME as I had begun to sound like Dustin Hoffman in Rainman. Driving in Canada posed challenges I had overlooked.  First, the speed is not MPH so there I was every time I saw a speed sign doing my math.   I saw sign at the border that read 60 MPH = 90 KPH and realized "drop the last zero and multiply by 6". So there I was, "8 x 6 is 48; 6 x 6 is 36." After a while I did have to laugh. Also, the fuel is HIGH which I expected but I was short in my calculations for liters to gallons.  Hey, what the heck....once in a lifetime for me!

I noticed right away that high water was on either side of the road.  As I traveled, listening to Canadian radio, I heard that the snow pack is over 200% average pack.  Locals are hoping for a Spring that does not have it all melting faster, of course. The photo below shows a marshy area that was designed to cover runoff near Mount Broadwood.

I found myself in at the Fernie Visitor Centre about midday.  There was a nice trail right there and since the weather report was for rain later in the day and the next, I took off for a short hike.  I am glad I did as I ran across signs indicating the area would soon be subdivisions!  I left Fernie and actually had to back track some to get into the Canadian Rockies.  Soon after passing the park gate I encountered a brown bear rambling up a rocky hill.  I wondered if I was lucky or it would be a sign of many to come.  I arrived into Banff about 6PM and sought out lodging.  I was tired and checked into Best Western Siding 29.  They only had a king suite with a Jacuzzi tub....oh, too bad for me!  That would be a nice treat after a light dinner in the downtown area. 

The next morning, after listening to weather forecast, I decided to do a morning hike at Lake Louise.  I was surprised to see that the lake was nearly all frozen and the trail adjacent very snow packed.  I was able to walk half of that trail only as avalanche areas at the end were not yet cleared for the season.  Nevertheless, I was struck by the beautiful aqua color of the water and ice.  

Lake Louise Hotel has a lot to do to be ready for summer!

Lake Louise almost completely frozen. 

This was a tribute to Canadian Pacific Railway.  In 1889, CPR brought Swiss mountain guides to the Canadian Rockies to give rail traveling guests guided hikes and climbs.

The picture does not really show how vivid the aqua color is.

 After a snack at Lake Louise I took off for Jasper, Alberta...just about 3 hours away!

Below is a glimpse of a glacier seen from the road trip to Jasper.  On that drive I would encounter a grizzly bear near the road and two blacks bears!  As I write this, I am not able to inject bear shots, but I did post on Facebook!

 Ralph is feeling the altitude! If you look closely, you will see the road behind trees.

In another hour after this stop, I encountered the Jasper Icefields.  Go to this site and poke around!(https://www.jasper.travel/shareholders/columbia-icefield/)

It was as though I stopped in a postcard....a cold one!  The center offers a 3 hour trip out and back to an avalanche and to a skywalk!  It was windy and cold and did not sound appealing to me! From the Icefields to Jasper I found the road HARROWING, HEAVING AND HAUNTING!  I was enjoying the ride, but I am always one to walk on the edge a bit.  A good part of that distance had portions covered by fallen rocks and timber.  Crews were on the road, but it certainly was tricky!  

My last glimpse of the Canadian Rockies!

One thing I learned was top off the fuel at every opportunity.  I was lucky twice on this road trip!  What a grand 9 day trip prior to my getting busy at Glacier!  I can't imagine how heavy the traffic will be in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper this summer!  I am grateful the weather held out, passes were clear and traffic was pretty light.  Now...off to work!