Momma when she can down out of tree...we kept a close eye on her and what she would do!

6/10/07 - Part 2 - Columbia Icefields & Jasper, AB

Our main event of the day was at the Columbia Icefield. As we were loading onto the bus it became very cloudly with the clouds moving in rapidly....so we thought we would not have good viewing at all. We rode a bus out to where they transfer you onto the "Ice Explorer". The route starts with a 35% grade so you feel like you are just dropping off the edge of the icefield. This is the largest icefield south of Alaska, shimmering glacial ice and snow cover some 233 sq. miles. We rode out onto the Athabasca Glacier, which is 3.75 miles long and 270-1000 ft. deep. Just as we departed the "Ice Explorer" onto the ice, the sun broke out of the clouds and it was beautiful. I don't know whether you will be able to see the small specs on the ice in the first picture, but those are the "Ice Explorers" out on the ice. That is how huge this icefield is. Wildlife sightings today: 5 Elk, 1 Black Bear, 10 BigHorn Sheep, 3 Mountain Goats, 3 Deer

This is one of the "Ice Explorers" that we rode out onto the Athabasca Glacier on.

Pyramid Lake @ dusk

This elk was in our campground in Jasper National Park

6/10/07 - Banff to Jasper via Icefields Parkway - 186 miles

We may be living in a little house.....but you should see our yard!

The Icefield Parkway is called "The World's Most Spectacular Journey" (National Georgraphic lists it as "One of the World's Ten Greatest Drives). You see a vast wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, glaciers and big sweeping valleys. We had rain and several places it was a very wintery scene. There were a number of viewing areas that we could pull off in (and all fit) and also some we had to pass by. It took us 8 hours to travel the 186 miles. I was really tired after running around the motorhome trying to take pictures out of different windows of all we were seeing. And along with being the photographer while driving we were the lead rig today, so I was trying to follow the "bible" for traveling to Alaska called "The Milepost" which is a very descriptive large book of every mile - to see what was coming up next so we wouldn't miss anything. We saw so much splendor today it is hard to describe it.

We didn't get to the campground in Jasper National Park until 5:30 and there was a line-up waiting to register. There were no hookups left so we were in a dry camp site (that is no power, water, or sewer) and we still had to pay $25.75 for it! A little pricey for no facilities....just a beautiful heavily treed campground.

I will post the Columbia Icefields pictures on the next blog.

Shortly after leaving this morning we had a light rain which gave us this rainbow. This is Bow Lake, a beautiful pristine glacier lake....the water was a turquoise color.

A couple of our stops for viewing...with 3 of us each being 55' long it takes a BIG viewing spot for all of us to get into...you don't just decide at the last minute (however Pat did one of those "last minute stops" this morning as the lead coach!

Some of the magestic glacier mountains that we saw! It seemed like every corner we went around there was another mountain range in the distance.

These are still the Rocky Mountains, but they are also referred to as the "Canadian Rockies".

Some of the waterfalls we saw.

The one is called "Weeping Wall" it is along a massive limestone cliff....they do ice climbing here in the winter.

6/9/07 - Day trip from Banff to Lake Louise

We left our Banff campground with all three jeeps and the three dogs for a day trip to Lake Louise. It was an overcast day so not the best for pictures but the views were still beautiful. After leaving Lake Louise we drove up to the gondola area and had our snacks that we always take along....instead of buying lunches out. We watched people riding the chair-lift and gondola while munching away. On our way back to Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway....Richard was leading and spotted a bear just after he had passed it. We didn't get too see much of the cub and only the mom for a second...so no good bear pictures today. After getting back we had supper and were off to downtown Banff for a little shopping and more wildlife viewing. We saw 5 elk again in the residential areas so we think these 5 just move around to different areas. One was grazing on a pathway area and peopled were trying to walk down the path and there was no way the elk was going to move....so the people were just waiting for the elk to move on. Driving around this area has brought back so many good memories of when we were up here in 1975 with the kids! When we are in the campgrounds with families around us it makes me wish we had some of those great times back....hopefully in the future with grandkids! Our wildlife sightings today were: 11 Elk, 2 Deer, 2 Black Bear (Mom & cub)

This animal overpass, covered in sod and made to look like natural rock, was built to allow large animals to cross the busy highway without getting hit by vehicles.

We saw this tagged elk shortly after passing the two animal crossovers.

We took a side trip to Lake Moraine. It was raining pretty hard when we were here....our first chance to use our new raincoats that we purchased before we left Arizona.

The picture of this lake used to be on the back of the Canadian $20 bill.

On our way to Lake Moraine we crossed this roaring stream. We climbed down the steep embankment and Pat took this shot.

Lake Louise - the view from this lakeshore is known the world over. The large Chateau Lake Louise hotel is located right on the shoreline to the right of us (we didn't get a good picture of it.

Our flower picture for the day.

6/8/07 - Banff

One of our favorite things to do is get outdoors and see wildlife and the many wonders that God has created for our enjoyment. Right after dinner we hopped in the Jeep and hit the backroads in and around Banff. Our sightings were: 4 Mountain Sheep, 10 Big Horn Sheep, 11 Elk (5 of them were in Banff), 5 Canadian Geese

Barb always has to get a flower picture.

As we were leaving the campground this mountain was covered in clouds.

Mt. Rundle

Two Jack Lake and Cody & Addie.....our two favorite subjects for pictures!

We saw 5 Canadian Geese along the shoreline of Vermilion Lake, but by the time we stopped to get their picture they had all gone into the lake. These two were hanging out together!

These 5 Big Horn Sheep were on the road going up to Mt. Norquay. They crossed right in front of us and then just stood and looked at us....like what do you have for us!

We found these elk in the residential area of Banff.

6/8/07 - Calgary to Banff - 100 miles

We left the Calgary campground @ 9:00. All three of us wanted to top off the fuel tanks because the price is only going to get higher the further north we go until we get into Alaska. Stopped at a Petro-Canada station west of Calgary and it was a tight fit for all 3 rigs. The closer we got to the mountains the more foreboding and wintery they looked as it was a cloudy overcast day. Entered Banff National Park and found the campground without any problems. Got the internet dishes working and we headed into Banff

Beautiful countryside on our way to Banff

The entrance to Banff National Park which is the first National Park in Canada and the 3rd oldest National Park in the world, established in 1885....the fees to enter were a little pricey....$71.00 for four days!

Tunnel Mountain Campground. Pat had to be a little more creative in where he placed the satellite dish for the internet here!

Looking down at Banff.

Banff is "Canada's Highest Town" @ 4540'

The population is 5,200.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Bow Falls....."This is no babbling brook!" Banff has been concerned about flooding all week due to the heavy run-off and rain. At one point this week they were working on a possible evacuation plan for the Hospital.

6/7/07 - Calgary Campground

This is Pine Creek RV Campground where we stayed in Calgary, AB. The countryside is so beautiful up here!