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Published: September 11th 2006
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Jasper and Banff National Parks
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Jasper Tourism After half an hour in the excellent info centre the next few days' plan was decided:
Day 1 - Walk to the top of the nearest steep mountain
Day 2 - Mountain bike around the valleys and lakes until we dropped
Day 3 - Hire a car and drive to Banff and back for the last day via the sights Day 1 - Loaded up with water, the customary ham & cheese breadrolls, apples and 'Mr Noodles' we took the shuttle bus to the base of Whister's Mountain (not to be confused with Whistler in BC) and began our climb. With a 1000m to 2566m rise in elevation over only 10km it was a reasonable gradient that wound its way up through initially densely forested treedom, then through mossy, stunted woodland nearer the tree line and finally lichen covered boulders. We encountered several rodents and this famous grouse, (at least that's what he told us) on the way. After reaching the tramway station designed for non-masochistic normal human beings (and big blobby americans) at 2277m we followed a ridge line to the top and beyond to
a look out point.
Here is a snap of another mountain critter (the rather unfortunate ground squirel that is deprived of trees to climb - I'm sure they would be tree squirels if they could. My theory is that they are naughty squirels that have been banished to a land with no trees by the squirel courts - this is why there are signs everywhere that say 'do not feed the squirels!') and San having a rest that I took on my way past ;o). After a good hour admiring the unprecedented views of six mountain ranges, turquoise and blue glacial fed lakes, the Athabasca river (Alberta’s longest) and the scenic mountain town-site of Jasper, we decided to take the tramway down to save the knees.
Toptip: You may just get away with not needing to buy a ticket for the downward journey by looking fresh and fat when boarding the
tramway and save some dinner money.
We managed to convince the guy at the mountain bike shop to give us the bikes in the evening the previous day - this proved handy for the 55 second excusion to the pub that evening to sample some of
the micro home-brewed wares of
Jasper Brew Pub & Eatery - the 6060 stout is to die for (so says the welshman) and beats Guniness hands down! Excellent preparation for a hard days extreme grade 3 mountain biking it is not....
Day 2 - A slower than anticipated 9am start saw us head across the railway line to start trail 9 to the
Five Lakes. All I can say is if you have 2 arms and 2 legs, oh and a mountain bike, do this run! IT IS AWESOME! It is packed with the perfect combination of short steep climbs (that make your heart want to jump out of your chest, slap you round the face and run off with a left ventrical in the air,) rolling ups and downs along forest, open ridges and lake shores (that make you feel like a cool mountain biker), high speed forest track (that scares the shit out of you but leaves you hungry for the next fix) and tricky, steep, pebbly downhill track (that need more concentration than mastermind). The biggest fear of running over a bear's toe or head (nothing worse than a bear with a sore head) fortunately did not materialise - must have
been all the yelping and heavy breathing. San walked down a few of them... she was sane enough to! Best action session of the trip yet!
Day 3 - An even slower than expected start than the previous day - not due to the beer this time but the bloke that was late returning his hire car - a convertible (another free upgrade by chance)! See map for reference
Jasper map. First stop was Athabasca falls - see snap opposite. Most amazing bit was being able to walk down an old canyon carved a few thousand years ago and climb the walls. We also visited Sunwapta falls not as good but spectacular still. About half way down the road (103km) you climb continuously for a good 1km to reach the high, glacier clad region of the Columbia Icefields - temperature dropped more than 10 degC from bottom to top! See snaps opposite. The most chilling experience was the markers that showed where the front of the glacier was in previous years - 1980 was at the bottom of the steep walk up to the present day glacier - 1960 was at the exit of the carpark and 1950s was back
Ground squirels
Poor fellas are only called ground squirels because there are no trees up here! at the main road. Scary to think that because of man's activities this glacier may be replace by a lake in less than 100 years.... Hmmmm
Next stop was Lake Lousie the famed top tourist attraction and in our view biggest disappointment - mobbed by people, hazzy and with a huge ugly hotel at the end of the lake we figured that we should come back on a crisp winter day. A natural version of Disneyland? Should have listened to Luke whom we met in Prince Rupert and gone to the less crowded Moraine Lake.
Final stop was Banff to drop Andrew off. Good luck with the new job in Sweden And.... and enjoy the blond haired babes!
Full circle...Vancouver Revisted and Whistler
We arrived into Vancouver late at around 1.30pm and made our way across town to Harry's office. Harry, Ellen, Nicole, Courtney and Coco the dog (a spitting image of Yoda from Starwars) are friends that had invited us back to stay with them in Whistler for the weekend after our brief get together after first arriving in Vancouver mid August.
We jumped straight in the car to headed on the 1.5hour drive on
the Sea2Sky highway to Whistler, the site of the 2010 winter olympics. We arrived at their palacial traditionally styled log house at the Nicklaus North Golf Village. We met up with Wes and the girls who were also staying that weekend and a fantastic weekend insued. Pleasant walks and meals around Whistler village, a game of golf (something I never dreamt I would have done this trip let alone at this exclusive course - I'll win you next time Harry!) and scrumptuous barbie Saturday night. Also a chance to catch up on all the outstanding laundry that had pilled up - a big thing while travelling for lengthy periods we are relearning.
Sunday morning Rich decided to go for a run around some trails in the vacinity and was reminded enroute of how wild this area still is despite the extent of developments. While running along the trail he rounded a corner only to be brought to a grinding halt by a fully grown black bear only some 20m away. After sniffing the air he turned and walluped into the bushes - fortunately must have had breakfast already - but what a memorable experience being so close close to
this amazing creature! Plus as Harry said, Rich was smelling too clean from the newly washed clothes to be sambal yummy!
A drive back to Vancouver and a bite to eat with the addition of Voy and Wes KL finished off our Canada experience in style.
Harry and Ellen you are the best hosts ever! We look forward to seeing you again either in Canada, Malaysia or somewhere else on our trip! Take it easy!
Now at the airport in Vancouver..... Canada over and out..... Pass the vagabond shoes. Here we come New York New York.... Its 9/11 also.... wish us luck!
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blawan riyu
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Great Outing
Wow, it is so wonderful out there. wish you two the very best in your next outing. cheers