Banff to Jasper - Columbia Icefields

Wednesday 22nd May 2013
Up early 7am as we need to pack up and ship out today and head for Jasper, so much to see and do along the way. Car fueled and on the way by 9.15am a cool 10C. Geoff not feeling 100% so Peter will be our driver today. We head off on the Icefields Parkway towards Jasper.
Every corner has something for us to photograph. At this rate it is going to take us sometime to get to Jasper.


Reflections on Frozen Bow Lake

 

View of Bow Lake from Lodge window

Highlights Bow Lake still Frozen, Deb purchases gloves and hat at the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at Bow Lake, she had a feeling they would be required today.
Peyto Lake where we slogged our way on the snowy pathway to see Peyto Lake and the Glacier, this lake is semi thawed and has the beautiful blue colour we had expected to see at Lake Louise. A truly beautiful sight  not what we expect to see after Bow Lake still so frozen. The walk on the snowy pathway was so worth it. New shoes we got for the trip very necessary today.

Peyto Lake - Frozen

Photo stops at Skskathewan Crossing with views of Mt Skskathewan & Mt Amery, Alexandra river, Weeping Wall Bridal Vail Falls - Betty sugested as a lunch stop we all laughed way too windy and cold here 7C back in the car. Stopping just around the corner at Parker Ridge still very cold and windy sheltered by the car.

Arrived at the Columbia Icefields Discovery Centre at 2ish where we took the 2.50pm tour onto the Athabasca Glacier in their specially built Ice Buses basically a dump truck with a bus body. James was our driver and explained Glacier and about the vehicle as we went. So interesting and amazing to see how much it has shrunk back 1.5klms in the last 150 years. Walked on the Glacier for 20 mins and it started snowing while we where out there. Views of the AA &  Andromeda Glacier - a very big and fast moving one. Yep Deb needed that hat she purchased this morning that's for sure.

On the road again at 4.30pm stopped at Tangle Creek Falls and then we came across our first "Bear Jam" - when lots of cars stop on the side of the road to view a bear. It was a Grizzly Bear grazing on the grass not far from the edge of the road. Our 1st Bear sighting photo's off course! Lucky Geoff is in the pasanger seat today with the Telephoto lens on his camera for such sightings. Sunwapta Falls with once again lots of fast flowing water which was great to see. Then another "Bear Jam" this time a Black Bear so stopped to see this one as well. Then onto Athabaca Falls - yet another spectacular waterfall.


1st Black Bear Sighting

Arrived at Patricia Lakes Bungalows 7pm, checked into our Cabin 16 for the night and off to get some dinner. Dinned at Smitty's Betty & Deb not that impress with their meals tonight. Boys happy with their choice of Burgers. Drove back via Pyramid Lake - with nice views along the way. Watch out for the mozzies they are monsters here over twice the size of ours at home. Back to our room at 9.30pm I am sure they would carry you away. Nice reflections on the lake so braved the Mozzies for a couple of quick photos. All going to bed a 11.20pm, we are a bit crowded tonight but will move to the bigger Cabin tomorrow.

Patricia Lake