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Published: June 14th 2018
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Another early start today, but a stunning buffet breakfast at Chateau Lake Louise, so all good!
Our drive today took us along the Icefields Parkway (one of the top rated scenic drives in the world) from Lake Louise to Jasper.
The road passes Herbert Lake (I think that's what it was) where our bus driver (great guy, Bruce, could be an Aussie with his sense of humour), slowed the bus right down so we could get photos of the reflections in the lake. Then onto Bow lake for a rest stop and more photos. Apparently the bus that arrived 10 mins before us, saw bears on the way! Most of the snow we are seeing on the mountains on the way is from a snow storm they had on Monday (lucky we didn't get to the Rockies till Tuesday!
Had to skip a lunch stop, as we had a booking for an Ice adventure on the Athabasca Glacier which is part of the Columbia Icefield!
First onto a transfer bus for a four minute drive up onto the moraine of the glacier (with our driver Scott, from Perth). Then change over onto an Ice Explorer vehicle (with
our driver Hailey, also from Perth). It takes 20 mins for the Ice Explorer to drive us up onto the glacier, first over more of the moraine, then through a tyre wash, so they don't take dirt or rocks onto the surface of the glacier, then out onto the ice, about 280m thick. Off the vehicle, into freezing cold wind and snow, for 15 mins of walking (slipping and sliding) on the ice, and photo taking. We then get to do the process in reverse, back down to the "Icefield Interpretive Centre" (ticket sales and gift shop) and back onto our bus. Drove past the Glacier Skywalk, a glass bottomed walkway that juts out from the edge of a cliff, overlooking the Sunwapta Valley.
Driving towards Jasper, saw some people looking at a moose (couldn't see the moose, was down over the edge of the road), and there was a mountain goat (on the other side of the bus, Trina saw this one, up above the bus).
A quick stop to drop off people who had signed up for the rafting optional excursion (not us!), weather was not so good by this. and onto Jasper Park Lodge, just
outside the town of Jasper, where we are staying for the next 2 nights. Saw an elk cow on our way into the lodge, actually saw this one, but behind the trees!
Given our room keys, and a map and directions (yep) to find our cabin, apparently a 4 minute walk.
Walk to our cabin is along the edge of Lake Beauvert, looks beautiful, with the forest and mountains in the background.
By the time we walked back along the lake for dinner, the sun was shining (bizarre weather in this place) and we finally saw some wildlife - squirrels! Three of them running around the ground,and climbing the trees. Very cute.
Another very nice, included, dinner at our choice of restaurants at the lodge. Went to The Moose's Nook, they weren't quite ready for us (not sure why, was half empty), so had to have some champagne with another lake view before dinner. My entree was stunning to look at, tasted good too. Forced us to eat 3 courses, when they told us how nice the Maple Profiteroles were!
When we walked back to our cabin after dinner (9.30pm), sun was still shining, and
squirrels still out. They told us it does not get dark till 10.30pm.
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