slash fundas: Jasper National Park

Showing posts with label Jasper National Park. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Canadian Rockies: Day 9 (Jasper and Athabasca Glacier)

Today is the last day of the tour. We left Jasper early morning on the way to the Athabasca Glacier. We had to reach there by 9 am so that we could avoid the large crowds. All through this trip, we had seen glaciers (including the Studfield Glacier we saw from the bus after we left Jasper), but we never got a chance to walk on one. Athabasca Glacier was that rare glacier where people are allowed to walk. The glacier- like all other glaciers- is receding, and we were shown the mark at which it had reached at its peak and where it is now. That was quite a difference. In another 20 years time, we were told, Athabasca Glacier would be no more.

Athabasca glacier

We alighted from our tour bus at the visitor centre opposite at the foothills of the glacier and boarded the glacier service special bus that takes us close to the glacier. From there, we take the special red bus that takes us on the glacier. The wheels of this red bus are huge that enables the bus to walk- it looked more like crawling than walking- on the bus. At one point, the road's descent (or ascent, depending in which direction you re going) seemed rather steep. It reminded me of Hong Kong's peak tram.

The red glacier bus that takes us onto the Athabasca glacier

Walking on the glacier was fun. On the way to the top- in the red bus with giant wheels- we spotted a large group of men and women who were hiking all the way up to the glacier. The bus driver told us that there is only a designated area on the glacier for people to get off and walk as the ice is weak on many areas. If you step on such places, the ice may give in and you sink inside and drown in icy cold waters down below. That's scary!

Athabasca glacier

After a brief lunch halt, we visited the last lake of the trip, the Peyto lake. Unlike the Moraine lake which had an unmistakable greenish hue, the Peyto lake had a dark blueish hue. It was one of the prettiest lake I had ever seen. It was also our tour guide Robyn's favourite lake and we finally saw the lake she was talking about throughout the trip. And I could see why she loved the lake so much. The star like shape the lake shore had taken on one end was very interesting.

Lake Peyto

That done, we headed back to Calgary from where we had started the trip. This time, we stayed opposite the Calgary international airport. In the evening, we had our farewell dinner with our friends, followed by a good night's sleep.

End of a very memorable Gate1 trip of the Canadian Rockies and I left for Victoria the next day, on my own, with very fond memories.

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Canadian Rockies: Days 11-13 (Vancouver)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-11-13-vancouver.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 11 (Victoria whale watching)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-11-victoria-whale.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 10 (Victoria)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-10-victoria.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 9 (Jasper)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-9-jasper-and.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 8 (Jasper)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-8-jasper-national.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 7 (Lake Loiuse)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-7-lake-louise-and.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 6 (Banff national park)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-6-banff-gondola.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 5 (Banff)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-5.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 4 (Glacier National Park)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-4.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 3 (Waterton)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-3.html

Canadian Rockies: Days 1 and 2 (Calgary)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-days-1-and-2.html

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Canadian Rockies: Day 8 (Jasper National Park, Spirit Island)

Jasper was cold. It was around 1 degree C in the night we were in the Jasper. The next morning felt very cold too, at about 5-6 degrees, and we had to put on layers while in the bus itself. But we were told it would warm up in the day. But if the first thing in such weather that you're going to do is to take a boat ride in a lake, you better warm up. We went past lush green forests and Athabasca river to reach our first stop of the day; the Medicine lake. It was cold and foggy and we couldn't see the lake shore from afar. Boats were lined up, all decked up and ready.

After a brief washroom and cafe stop- I wasn't the least bit hungry as we just had a heavy breakfast- we were in the boat and zipping. Two girls were in charge; one was driving the boat and the other was the guide explaining us the significance of the medicine lake and the Spirit Island. Medicine lake owes its popularity, to an extent, to Kodak. Peter Gales' image of the Spirit Island- which is at one end of the lake- and which was taken from a Kodak camera was hung at the Grand Central station in New York in August and September 1960. This island is held to be sacred by the First Nation people and hence we weren't allowed to step on it. But there were enough pathways on the shore to take pictures of it.

On the way back, was a hidden jewel that Robyn took us to. It was a canyon- called the Maligne Canyon- that appeared out of nowhere. It was quite deep, befitting a canyon, with only a narrow crevice from the ground level from where we could see the canyon and admire its depth.

Lunch was on our own back in Jasper town and my friend and I walked through the town, searching for the right place. We chose an A&W burger outlet.

A couple watering their plants at the community garden

In the evening, we took the Sawridge Inn shuttle car to bring us to town. Since this hotel is 2 kms away from the main town, it has a shuttle facility to take us to the town. But the return trip is on our own. Both my friend and I love to walk, so it was a pleasure to walk back after a very light dinner (soup only actually, as I wasn't hungry). On our way, we came across the Jasper community garden. It's a local municipality-owned place where tow residents cane take up plots and grow plants, flowers and fruits. We met this old couple who had a plot there; the wife was caring their large, white dog who she said came into their lives, the husband was watering the plants. Residents who don't have space in their houses to grow a garden can take up plots at a community garden. Indian cities would do well to have such community gardens; it's one idea I would like to import into India.

Jasper community garden

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Canadian Rockies: Days 11-13 (Vancouver)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-11-13-vancouver.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 11 (Victoria whale watching)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-11-victoria-whale.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 10 (Victoria)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-10-victoria.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 9 (Jasper)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-9-jasper-and.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 8 (Jasper)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-8-jasper-national.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 7 (Lake Loiuse)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-7-lake-louise-and.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 6 (Banff national park)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-6-banff-gondola.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 5 (Banff)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-5.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 4 (Glacier National Park)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-4.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 3 (Waterton)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-day-3.html

Canadian Rockies: Days 1 and 2 (Calgary)

http://kayezad.blogspot.in/2017/09/canadian-rockies-days-1-and-2.html

Canadian Rockies: Day 7 (Lake Louise and Jasper)

Time to leave Banff and within minutes of leaving the hotel, we were zipping on the highway, past the Vermillion lakes and beautiful memories of the previous evening's biking session I had, on the way to Lake Loiuse. Our first stop was at Moraine lake. Although its to choose a favourite lake in Canadian Rockies among more than three dozen lakes in the region, Moraine lake was my favourite. The road leading up to was wet- it had just rained early morning before we reached- and it was cold and gloomy. And the turn just before we reach the lake, we were told, was open only to few vehicles at a time and I think we were lucky to reach there just in time because just before we took the final curve, I could see the authorities preparing to shut the road. Once we alighted the bus, we had to do a mini hike to get up to a vantage point to get a good view of the lake. And it was memorising.

Moraine lake

Clear water with an unmistakable greenish hue, Moraine lake was a beauty. In my opinion, only Pangong Lake in Ladakh region in India, would more than match Moraine's beauty. We met a photographer who said he was there for five hours that day just to get the sun- which was behind us at that time- to get to the right position so he could get a clear picture of the lake. I could relate to that passion, as I'd spent hours in Ladakh, at different places, to get that picture perfect sunset.

Lake Loiuse

Next stop was Lake Louise. Another beautiful lake with a vast pathway along its shores. There was a newly wed couple there getting their pictures taken. I think they may have just got married there before we reached because I heard the Scottish piper play his pipes. My friend noticed that he had an American flag on the pipes. It's quite usual to see newly weds going to iconic places to get their pictures taken, dressed in their wedding attire. I am told the trend is slowly coming to India; newly weds have been spotted by people getting their pictures on the steps of the Asiatic library in Fort, Mumbai.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel on the banks of Lake Loiuse

The Fairmont Lake Louise hotel is very imposing in the background and I was tempted to go inside and check it out. We were told to marvel at its gardens but frankly, I didn't find them too impressive, given the kind and quantum of resources we were told the hotel has, just for its garden. The hotel was majestic, obviously. The river cafe- a lovely cafe with gigantic windows that give you a view of Lake Louise right in front- was shut, presumably for the couple that got married at Lake Louise. The centre chandelier in the lobby was very impressive with figurines holding forth.

The lobby of The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel

Lunch was at this grocery shops' corner where I had my first ice-cream sandwich of the trip. And by the taste of it, it certainly wasn't going to be my last. We chose a bench behind the stores, next to a stream and a railway track. The honk of an engine coming up from behind the tall trees was most thrilling as it pulled up a freight train. The only missing, I thought, was a comfy cottage that I dreamt I could build there and live forever, watching trains go by. By the way, we saw some really long freight trains that just didn't seem to have any last coach!

From here, the ride to Jasper town was very scenic. We reached the Sawridge Inn hotel and it was a very classy hotel. Dinner was at the hotel that night.

The Sawridge Inn at Jasper where we had stayed (below)