Rocky Mountains Part 2 - Jasper

We left reasonably early for our drive to Jasper as it was a long one.

The drive was very picturesque as again around every corner was another mountain or river with fabulous colours. We stopped along the way at some spots to take photos of the snow capped mountains as they were just so stunning.

At one stop there was a lovely rest area dedicated to a young Canadian man named Terry Fox who  was diagnosed with bone cancer and lost his leg. He received an artificial leg and set off to run across Canada in what was called a Marathon of Hope to raise funds for cancer research, unfortunately he died at the age of 22 in 1981 but the funds were still raised and every year there is a race dedicated every year to raise funds for cancer research. A previously unnamed mountain in the Canadian Rockies was named Mount Terry Fox by the government of British Columbia and the area around it is now known as Mount Terry Fox Provincial Park. A lovely legacy for a very brave man.

We finally arrived in Jasper in the late afternoon and after some lunch did some shopping as where we were staying was self contained. We set off to find our accommodation and it was quite a long way out of town but we did eventually get there. As we opened the door of the car to check in a swarm of mozzies attacked and by that I do mean a swarm!! I have never seen so many mozzies in one place at one time. We checked and found our cabins only to find there were no screen doors only a front door so while unpacking the car our cabins got infested with mozzies as well. There were screens on the windows but they didn't let much airflow through and it was very hot. There went our plans to sit outside in the afternoon with a glass of wine and some nibbles. We had dinner in the restaurant as it was quite late and we didn't want to go back into town. After a long day we were all happy to go to bed.

We started our first full day with a pre booked tour to the Columbia Icefields. As we drive into town we saw some Big Horned Sheep licking the stones on the side of the road and we thought that this was strange, it wasn’t until later that we found out why but that is for a later blog. We got a quick breakfast at a bakery in town before boarding our bus which would take us to the Columbia Icefields which is out of Jasper on the Icefields Parkway. Our bus driver Kevin checked us in and we started our tour. 

Along the way he pointed out various landmarks and gave us a lot of information about the town and the highway we were on. Our first stop was Athabasca Falls. What a huge volume of water cascading over the rock formations which make the falls. The Athabasca River feeds the falls and it is a fast flowing river as well. It has amazed me so far that a lot of these waterways can be seen on the drive through the Rocky Mountains right next to the road. We took some photos and then were on our way again. I also took a couple of videos to show how loud the noise was as the water rushed over the falls.

First drop of the falls

Second drop of the falls

Athabasca River leading to the falls

As we drove Kevin was very informative about the area and what we would be seeing along the way. A photo stop at the Stutfield Glacier was well worth it. What a magnificent sight especially on a beautiful blue sky day. Further among the road was the Tangle Falls which technically we weren’t supposed to stop at as it has a no bus parking policy but Kevin was a rule breaker and he stopped to allow us to take a couple of quick snaps. He was very good. 

Stutfield Glacier

Tangle Falls

We continued our drive with the scenery getting more spectacular as we went. Our first glimpse of the glacier was fabulous. There were hundreds of people milling around at the visitors centre and we were lucky that we had already booked our tickets as the line to get tickets was very long.

Our bus driver took us into the Discovery Centre and explained to us where we had to be at the end   of the day as he wouldn’t be with us all day. We then made our way back to the bus to make our way up onto the glacier which was a 2 part journey. The first part was in the coach and then we transferred to the specialised bus called an ice explorer that would make its way onto the glacier. It was a slow cautious journey lead by our guide Marianne who was quite informative telling us about the bus, the glacier and the environment we were in. The Columbia Icefield is the largest ice field in the Rocky Mountains of North America. It was first discovered in 1827 by Scottish botanist David Douglas when he was crossing the  Athabasca Pass a trading route to the north of the Icefield and he climbed one of the adjacent peaks. He reported his find and then in 1884 a geology professor explored the territory between Banff and Jasper in search of this peak. He was unsuccessful but did discover the route now known as the Icefields Parkway which would be travelling on in a few days time.

It wasn't until 1898 that the glacier was finally discovered by a British explorer J. Norman Collie and his friends Hugh Stutfield and Herman Wooley. When they made their way to the summit they discovered and ice field that extended almost to the horizon. 

We had 20 minutes on the ice but it took nearly 10 minutes to get off the bus due to an idiot woman who wanted a photo every step she took off the bus and in front of it as well. This meant that we really didn’t have much time to really appreciate the enormity of where we were. There were heaps of people there already as they run the buses up and back every few minutes. 

But what a magnificent sight of this wall of ice extending all the way up the mountain. The glacier has receded a great deal as we saw where the first tours use to take off from and it was a long way down the glacier. We took some photos Peter and John had a drink from the melting glacial stream but Cheryl and I resisted. it really was a great experience which i would thoroughly recommend if you ever get the chance. 

Peter drinking from the glacial steam

On the way back to the bus I spied a lolly wrapper which someone had discarded and I just couldn’t believe that i was picking up rubbish on a glacier in Canada!!! And that others had walked past! 

Back on the bus back down to the coach and across to the Discovery Centre for lunch. Nice buffet lunch and then back to the coach for the trip down to the Skywalk a clear perspex floor that allows you to walk out and over the valley. This was something I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do as it goes out over the glacial valley and I have often had trouble with things like this. Cheryl was also apprehensive but we surmounted our fears and made it all the way around as well as stopping for a couple of photos. i was very proud of us! It is a very well constructed attraction especially with the amount of people that go over it each day. Unfortunately we didn’t get to do the lie down selfie, what a shame, not! There were so many people we were lucky to have even been able to take photos. 

Our feet on the Skywalk to prove that we did walk over the valley

The Skywalk afforded great views the whole way up the valley and was definitely worth doing. The photos don’t do it justice that’s for sure.

Our tour ended with a trip back to the Discovery Centre to wait for our transport back to jasper. This was only meant to be a 5 hour tour but ended up being close to 6 which was a great day out.

Our next stop was a shopping trip to get something for dinner that night so off we went and got our supplies and back to the cabins and the mozzies!! Cheryl and I did some washing while the boys were supposed to be organising dinner. Well by the time we had finished the washing and drying we thought dinner would be on the table but unfortunately not as all the smokers (which are not like our bbqs at home) had been taken and they had to wait and then it was awhile before they actual worked out how to use them so by the time dinner was on the table it was after 10pm! The longer daylight hours here are also very deceptive as you think you have plenty of time and then you look at it and it is after 8 when you think it is 6. We ate dinner albeit a bit reluctantly as it was so late and going to bed on a big meal like that isn’t good for you but we did manage. While it took a long time and some frustration for the boys the steaks were very nice. This was the idea of having a self contained cabin so that we wouldn’t have to go out every night and it did work out well.

Off to bed after a fabulous day experiencing a magnificent glacier and different landscapes ready for another day out tomorrow.