Beautiful, Magnificent Jasper & Banff NPs

---

Happy Birthday, Barbara and Peggy!

We left Hinton ready to see Jasper and Banff National Parks after hearing so many times how beautiful they are. And believe me, they did not disappoint. Jasper started out with Jasper Lake and the Athabasca River. Then Pyramid Mountain, covered with snow came into view. Around each curve, it got more beautiful, more snow on the mountain tops, more glaciers, more green lakes and rivers. It’s slow going because you hate to pass up any overlooks. The Canadian Rockies are what the Rockies should look like; rocky.

At the Columbia Icefield Kerry, Bob and Gena decided to walk up to the glacier. I only went partway up and watched them as they crawled in places and dragged poor Moe up the steep spots. The wind coming down off the glacier was cool, and my eyes were drawn to the snow and ice above and the pale green glacial pond below.

We saw bighorn sheep again, rams this time, and even a grizzly bear grazing at the bottom of a hill at the overlook for Crowfoot Glacier. We wondered why folks were taking pictures down instead of up.

We stopped at the Lake Louise Campground for tents, which is surrounded by electric fence to keep the bears out. After setting up the campers, we rode up to Lake Louise to see its famous views. The water was emerald green and the glaciers above were startling. There were clouds covering the tops of the mountains, but the scene was still magnificent.

We were told we didn’t need to go to Alaska, just go to Jasper and Banff. While I wouldn’t give up Alaska for anything, I would love to come back to Alberta for these two wonderful parks. They’re certainly easier to get to than Alaska is.

---

Photos

Tangle Falls
Jasper NP, AB

Columbia Icefield
Jasper NP, AB

Athabasca Glacier
Jasper NP

Bighorn Sheep
Rams this time, in Banff NP

Bow Glacier
Banff NP

Crowfeet Glacier
Banff NP

Grizzly Bear
Banff NP

Lake Louise
and Victoria Glacier, Banff NP

Comments

[peggy]

Again, I know I am repeating myself, but how incredible these scenes are. I get more jealous every picture I see!!!!! Wouldn't Mom have loved seeing this? Thanks for the birthday wishes, missed your voice tho. Love ya and keep on sending the beautiful pic's.

[big sis]

Thanks for the b-day song, Kerry. AND wishes Charlie. Just another 71st birthday......................uhhhhhh really????????????????