Sunday, August 21, 2022

Alberta - Mountain Time

 

Twenty years ago, we hiked to the Tea House above Lake Louise, rafted the white water of Kicking Horse River. The death of a close friend shortening our Alberta vacation, we have always wanted to return to the Canadian Rockies. 



Crystal clear weather afforded us spectacular views of the mountains in 2002. This time we weren’t so lucky. Our aggressive itinerary required adjustment with rainy weather in the forecast and a missed connection in Denver.  A cold and wet drizzle welcomed us to the mountains when we stopped at a Safeway store in Canmore to pick up breakfast and lunch supplies before heading into Banff National Park With mountains obscured by low hanging clouds, we reflected on how fortunate we have been with good weather for our trips over the years. One just does not win them all.

Alberta Under Clear Skies, 2002


From Calgary to Edmonton


We planned our first night at the 1920s era Deer Lodge, a short walk from Lake Louise. Before dinner we walked down to the lake in the cold drizzle for a photo op before dinner at the lodge. 

Chilly and Wet Evening at Lake Louise


Up early before the sun ready for a chilly and wet day, we drove back down the Bow River Parkway to hike along Johnston Creek, a very popular spot.  At 7 AM, we were the fourth car in the large parking lot; the lot was full when we left at 10 AM.



We had hiked at least part of the way to the Lower Falls in 2002 but we had completely forgotten that we had.  This  time we hiked all the way to the Upper Falls.  The weather began to clear as the morning progressed with patches of blue sky coming and going.    



We returned to Lake Louise for another photo op before continuing up the Ice Fields Parkway.  We encountered brief showers from time to time but otherwise enjoyed the spectacular views aquamarine lakes below snowcapped mountains.

Castle Rock

Bow River                                                        Morant's Curve


Deer Lodge                                                 Lake Louise


We stopped to prepare our lunch in the Peyto Lake parking lot closest to the main viewpoint. This lot was for busses and disabled folks only but we parked behind another car in a bus slot. Soon other cars did the same. After a quick look at the lake, we ate our lunch in the car as a shower passed by.





We took our time traveling up the Ice Fields Parkway stopping along the way from time to time to enjoy the views. Waterfowl Lake is especially beautiful. We watched as a shower headed our way from the North end of the lake.

Waterfowl Lake


Shower Approaching Over Waterfowl Lake


After a short hike down to the narrow Mistaya Canyon, we joined a very long line of cars stopped for road construction somewhere miles ahead – we never knew where.  Anyway, we missed the Weeping Wall altogether and bypassed the Ice Fields and other viewing spots reaching Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge about 6 PM. 





Our cabin opened on wildflowers and woods. After dinner at the lodge, we fell asleep before a fire in cabin’s fireplace burned itself out.  We woke to a clear blue sky above the mountain cliffs on the other side of the highway. 

Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge



Tangle Creek Falls
 We had scheduled a snowcoach ride from the visitor’s centre out to the Athabasca Glacier below the Columbia Ice Fields on a Snow Cat before we left home. The glacier surface was mushy; it loses about
30 cm each day.  Before the end of the century, it will exist only in photos.

We took in Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls before a nice dinner in Jasper.  Following a second restful night at the lodge, we drove the 286 miles to Edmonton to return our rental car.  Along the way, we stopped at Maligne Canyon. The early morning sun shining directly into the canyon made capturing the beautiful and narrow canyon challenging.

 

Our Friendship Force hosts were waiting for us car at rental when we arrived.





Athabasca Glacier

Athabasca Glacier

Snowcoaches

Sky Bridge


Quartzite Boulder Field




Athabasca River

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Canyon

Maligne Valley








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