Jasper, back to Banff (IfPw, LL, Field, Emerald Lake)

Marlies WobbenAlberta1 Comment

ยป photo albums 2004/CANADA

Hello all!

We are back in Banff, here are 2 new photo albums and our wild adventures of the past days! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Sept. 16th (part 2) – Jasper

We intended to go elk-hunting after we got back to the campground.. but the elk went man-hunting! The bull was aggressive today, he chased a few people and even a vehicle, we heard. I had just made dinner when we saw him with his herd again, close by, and we followed them a bit. At some point we were standing next to 4 other people near their trailer when a calf wandered off and got right in front of us. Resulting the bull to come and chase after the calf to get back to the herd and then the bull stood still in the same spot the calf was in before, just a few meters away from us. In the meantime we were standing near the door of the trailer, with the picnic table between us and the bull. One man was still standing on the front corner of the trailer and even though he was staying real still, the bull looked at him, decided he didn’t like him, and charged at him. He backed off and the bull charged again, more towards the sunscreen of the trailer (that part I filmed!) and then he walked away. Phew.. you don’t wanna mess with him! But I know that I’m gonna miss the guy and his herd after we leave tomorrow ๐Ÿ™

Sept. 17th – Icefields Parkway

After breakfast and getting gasoline in Jasper we started our little journey back to Lake Louise, over the Icefields Parkway. We appreciated the scenery a lot more than when we came up (when Nico was so tired after a long day) even though the weather wasn’t as good at some points. Just when you think you’ve seen it all by now, the beauty of certain slopes, views or valleys will still surprise you. First stop we made was at the Athabasca Falls, where the Athabasca river suddenly has to squeeze all of its water between a couple of rocks and falls down into a very short canyon before it continues its way as if nothing happened. Needless to say these were the most powerful falls we’ve seen! There were a lot of paths and viewpoints around it. Next were the Sunwapta Falls (still only 50 km from Jasper) and I thought they were the prettiest. It was drizzling a bit when we were there and it turned out to be the edge of a rain- and snow shower!

When we passed the Tangle Falls alongside the road I hopped out in the rain for a shot, at the viewpoint of the Sunwapta Canyon the view was temporarily unavailable *rolleyes*. And in the Columbia Icefield area we got snow! We could barely see where the Athabasca Glacier was (normally you’d have a good view on it from the road), because everything was swallowed by the fog, or rather, the (wet) snow. The snowflakes got bigger and bigger but it wasn’t cold enough to make the landscape white. When we came around the corner of the Parker Ridge (just before the Big Bend): POOF! it was gone! A few minutes later we were driving in the sun again ๐Ÿ™‚ After the Bend we drove through a narrow part of the valley, I think I like that part the most! The mountains are so close. Near the Waterfowl Lakes we entered another shower, rain at first and by the time we were at Peyto Lake it was snow again! There was really no view at all, the road itself is at its highest point there. A bit later we drove out of it and came to a point where we had the most beautiful view over the valley with the blue river streaming through meadows with colorful vegetation, awesome! Even a bit of sunshine there. A bit further we stopped at the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge at the side of the Bow Lake. Again a very beautiful location, despite the next shower we were slowly getting into. We had a coffee at the coffee bar in the gift shop and continued our drive to Lake Louise. Shortly after 4 we arrived at the campground. Yet another nice spot in the forest. After this long drive (234 km) we deserved a night out in the town ๐Ÿ˜‰ So we went to the “village” and had dinner at the Lake Louise Village Grill & Bar ๐Ÿ™‚

Sept. 18th – Field, Emerald Lake, Banff

Last night we had nothing but rain and apparently some snow, because it was still partially white around us when we woke up (but melting quickly). After breakfast we took the Trans Canada Highway to Field (Yoho National Park, British Columbia). The clouds were so low that you couldn’t see any mountains and when we came to the Spiral Tunnels viewpoint we were standing in the rain, waiting for the freight train (that we had seen before) to arrive and go through the tunnels (the railroad made several loops, partially through tunnels, to overcome the differences in height in the valley). Freight trains here are incredibly long, so we saw the same train on three parts of the track (passing in front of us, going in the tunnel higher up the mountain AND coming out of the mountain as well). A bit further we arrived in the tiny village of Field, where we had a coffee at the local bistro/general store, called the Truffle Pigs. Weird but cozy combination! Dining or having coffee in a local, charismatic, chaotic looking, but surprisingly well-equipped grocery store ๐Ÿ™‚ I had a “love handle” with my coffee, that had at least a lot of butter, pecan nuts and maple syrup in it, mmmm!!! The mountains were still swallowed by clouds but the town looked lovely with its colorful houses across the river, just barely up the hill.

Shortly after Field we took the road to Emerald Lake, first passing the Natural Bridge, a small waterfall that found it’s way through the rock, but leaving the upper part still in one piece. Emerald Lake was looking just as beautiful in the rain as on any pics I’ve seen. It wasn’t really dark so the colors were gorgeous, and the part where the lodge is, looked cozier than I expected. Only downside was the fact that once again the mountains weren’t visible. Until we were about to leave, then one mountain in the back revealed itself a bit! Driving back the same way to Lake Louise, we encountered more rain and even snow after the Kicking Horse Pass. We stayed on the 1 (the Trans Canada Highway) to go to Banff. More rain and no views until we arrived in Banff.. the air cleared up a bit (near the Sunshine Valley, no kidding!) and when we got a nice spot at Tunnel Mountain Campground at around 3.30, we decided we wouldn’t go anywhere anymore for the day, took out the chairs and sat in the sun for a while! Banff always knows how to welcome us ๐Ÿ™‚ After a while it started to rain though and we fled into our little home – not a big punishment though, mind you ๐Ÿ™‚

Sept. 19th – Banff

It wasn’t supposed to clear up before the afternoon, but when we woke up the sun was shining! We went to Banff for breakfast at Melissa’s – breakfast to us, so we ordered Big Breakfast with eggs, sausages, pancakes, toast, bacon and hashbrowns. And coffee of course, some good weak Canadian coffee (hey, I’m getting used to it, it’s better for my heart and you get refills ๐Ÿ™‚ Now we are at Anneke’s internet cafe Double You, where we chatted a while with Anneke and Gerard about emigrating. We never really felt we had to leave Holland, but here in Canada we see how different things can be. That people can still be friendly and helpful, common courtesy is still a normal thing, that there is still so much space here and fresh air… Holland suddenly seems so much more hectic, crowded, rude and suffocating. It doesn’t hurt to dream, to think about it and to look into it!

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One Comment on “Jasper, back to Banff (IfPw, LL, Field, Emerald Lake)”

  1. hallo vakantiegangers, ongelooflijk, wat een mooi land. bij al die foto’s word ik toch wel een beetje jaloers. toch even vragen…. hebben jullie nou ook echt gemediteerd “at lake louise”? daar moet je toch wel tot rust komen. heerlijk gewoon… geniet er maar nog van want binnenkort zijn jullie weer thuis.

    heel veel plezier en ga zo door met de website want dit is echt leuk zo…

    groetjes ilona.

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