Sightseeing around the National Parks of Banff and Jasper

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The first stop after leaving Banff, besides the hearty breakfast of artery clogging proportions, was Lake Louise which is one of the most famous sites around Banff national park. Featured is a spectacular view that can be seen on various stamps, papers, currency and other canuck approved things. Besides the site of the vast lake and the overshadowing mountains, Lake Louise is know for the imposing Chalet. Another place for the rich and famous to hang out, this monster of luxury has quite possibly the best view any hotel could ask for. The gift shop/museum inside is not meant for poor folk such as myself, as some of the more exquisite jade and other semi precious rock carvings are sold at a bank draining price. Sometime I'll grab one I'm sure. Legally I mean.

The drive from Banff to Jasper is on a small two land highway that was just one step above the "certain death" stage, as the half the road was covered in a lovely concoction of slush, ice and snow. What I find even more amazing is that most Albertans I see driving are terrible. Yeah that is right Alberta, I'm saying that a maritimer like myself who travels in crap like what you have on your roads is vastly superior. I notice this odd behavior throughout the trip actually and I see the major problem: plows are never to be seen. But whatever, I'm just having fun muahaha :)

The next stop, besides all the crazy mountains, small waterfalls and animals encountered was right across into the Jasper National Park. The place is another major tourist hotspot though by the time we got there, they boarded up for winter. Yes, the Columbian Icefield Glacier was not there. Well I should say it was there, glaciers are kind of big, but the tours were not running. Might as well have been for the best as the weather was shite and I could hardly see anything besides a lone crow whom I fed some potato chips.

So me and my dad drove off to the Sunwapta Falls next. Yet another awesome site, and we picked the perfect time of the year to check it out. A killer waterfall that is half frozen with absolutely nobody there besides us. Imagine the water surging from a nearby river to fall into a jagged ice hole formed by the water droplets slashing off the smooth rocks. Very cool.

Next was another waterfall, albit more giant in magitude. The Athabasca Falls was another wicked view of mother nature doing what it does best. There were some awesome side channels the water doesn't use anymore, so you could walk right down and check out the destruction left from who-knows how many years ago. Ah being a tourist is lots of fun.

After driving and winding around the road and taking in the beautiful view of even more mountains which make me want to build a supervillian lair in, we slowly made our way to Jasper, which will be the subject of the next blog. So go to it!

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