Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
When we drove into Jasper last Friday, I immediately thought of my grandma Goldie. I actually felt her I swear. Grandma and Grandpa travelled across Canada in their full-size Winnebago at least forty years ago and they too made their way to Jasper. I don’t think she hiked or biked at lot, but she sure did collect a lot of rocks; enough to make two fireplaces in her home outside of Tillsonburg, Ontario.
We had such an tremendous week in Jasper. We covered the areas of interest including the town of Jasper. It’s quite quaint with a hint of Whistler and Banff combined. We found everything we needed there including a great farmer’s market that opens every Wednesday with all the products coming mostly from B.C. It was so good to have fresh vegetables and fruit.
We also hiked the Maligne Canyon one morning; a truly spectacular expression of nature and then drove to the lake for a late lunch. Another hiking spot that was recommended was the Valley of the Five Lakes. We made it to one. That was enough for Jilly-she has been such a trouper on these hikes! To tell you the truth it was enough for me too!
The Colombian Icefields are a must see. They are located around 200 Km from the town of Jasper. Unfortunately, the whole area was closed when we were there because there was a tragic accident a few days before, ending in loss of life. Apparently, one of those tourist buses fell down an embankment. I feel for those families and can’t even imagine what they are going through.
Another spectacular glacier not to miss is Edith Cavell. To be honest, I think I like it more than the Icefields. The peak of the mountain is approx 3300 m and the hike to the glacier is so pretty; steep but pretty and breathtaking. It is a wicked 17 km ride to the trailhead so be prepared for an interesting car ride; no trailers allowed.
Another area to be explored is the Hot Springs. Unfortunately, due to Covid it was closed so we didn’t get to feel the beautiful hot water, something we were looking forward to near the end of the week. By then, it had rained a couple of nights and continued on and off throughout the day. Also, we hadn’t showered in a week so we were looking forward to the shower you have to take before plunging into the hot pool. Instead we got to bathe in the Athabasca River - a few degrees colder than the Springs. It was refreshing though.
I will for sure come back to Jasper again. We had the pleasure of seeing a black bear eat his way along the wayside, many mountain goats, sheep and elk. They are fascinating to watch. I think a drive back in the fall via BC interior is in our plans.
