Trip Update #10 Jasper to Fernie

In our last report, I told you about the snow storm we got caught in. When it was over there was 16 inches on the ground where we camped. As we approached Jasper NP, the snow quickly disappeared at ground level. The mountains were covered with their first of many snowfalls for the season. When we took a dip at the Miette Hot Springs, we found out they had 24 inches of snow, and the snow caused a three day road closure to the springs. We were told that this was quite unusual weather, but it seems every place we go is having unusual weather.

We took advantage of the one clear day we had in Jasper and took the Tramway to the top of Whistler Mountain. The views of the snow covered mountains were outstanding. We hiked various trails for several days and saw numerous elk and big horn sheep. We drove down the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise and Banff. On a side trip to Yoho NP, we saw the Spiral Tunnels. Trains go into the tunnel in one direction and emerge out of a lower tunnel going in the opposite direction. Because the trains are so long you can see the same train going in opposite directions at the same time. You just have to see it.

While in Banff we enjoyed the Banff Hot Springs. (Do you see a pattern here?) We also visited the Cave and Basin hot springs area. Although no longer open to bathers, it is an important historical site. The discovery of this hot spring led to the Government of Canada establishing its first national park here in 1885. Tropical fish grow wild in the marshy lakes downstream from the spring, and birds winter over instead of flying south.

For a little diversion, we headed for Calgary. The idea was to do the luge and bobsled runs that are open to the public. In a classic case of poor timing, the outdoor bobsled run did not open until Oct 1 and the indoor luge run was closed for maintenance. We did visit the ski jump tower and some of the other facilities on site, but nothing to get your heart pounding. The ski lifts were modified to handle mountain bikes. From the number of dirt bikers we saw, I would say this was a successful conversion. The following day we visited the Calgary Zoo which was OK.

From Calgary we went back to the mountains to an area called Kananaskis County. This is a little know area, south of Banff, used mostly by locals. We went from full campgrounds at Jasper, to having the entire campground to ourselves. We are currently in Fernie, B.C.