Canada June 2014

Monday, 23 June 2014

Harrison Hot Springs

Monday 23rdrd June 2014 saw us heading further south towards Vancouver. However we had one more overnight stop to make at Harrison Hot Springs.

En route we stopped off for a break at a Trucker’s café in Merritt. It looked like something, to our eyes, from an old Western cowboy film with tumbleweed blowing down the deserted main street! By now we had come to realise that throughout our trip, customer service is paramount and this cafe was no different; you have to stop them refilling your coffee cups! We have since learnt that a fantastic event used take place in Merritt every July the toe-stompin’ Merritt Mountain Music Festive, www.merrittfest.com . They had famous artists such as Johnny Cash, the Dixie Chicks and Merle Haggard appearing; it was cancelled due to lack of ticket sales!

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Fancy lorry

The waitress was really kind and helpful wanting to fill Bob’s coffee cup all the time, she wouldn’t believe you would have to pay for extra coffee in the U.K. We hadn’t come across much volume of traffic but we had noticed that the size of the vehicles; there are no small lorries in Canada, they are all huge!

Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa www.HarrisonResort.com is a resort area adjacent to Harrison Lake. As we only had one night here we did not explore the area, although Bob did go to see the hot spring waters of which are fed to the hotel. Our room 421 overlooked the lake and the mountains beyond. There was complimentary Afternoon Tea comprising of a cake and coffee/tea, queueing up resembled rush hour at the Baths (Swimming Pool) as most of the people were wearing white bathrobes and slippers.

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Harrison Lake

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Harrison Water Lake

Saturday, 21 June 2014

Sun Peaks

Saturday 21st June 2014 we left Jasper, Alberta and the Rockies behind us and started our journey south heading for Sun Peaks Resort www.SunPeaksResort.com in British Columbia.

Just after leaving Jasper we saw an elk grazing on road side. Elk are dark brown with tan rump patches, not to be confused with Moose. Surprisingly Elk are the most dangerous animal in the Park particularly in Spring/Autumn – it might be June but here in Canada spring was only just starting! Sightings of wildlife were almost becoming uninteresting -not!

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Coffee break en route

We drove on the Yellow Head Highway, passing Kamloops. A roadside cafe was spotted for a break with lovely views of the mountains and an advertisement for heli-skiing.

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Sign for Helicopter skiing

We found a good spot for lunch by Dutch Lake.

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Sign for Dutch Lake

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Relaxing at Dutch Lake

This was obviously a picturesque spot much used by locals for swimming and sailing. We spent about an hour on the pontoon eating lunch, reading and basking in the glorious sunshine.

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Dutch Lake

Bob had assumed we would find Sun Peaks easily but if we had taken more interest in the maps a scenic route would have taken us straight there. In fact we had seen an advertising hoarding a considerable way back up the highway but did not realise a turning onto minor roads should have been taken. We travelled for quite a distance until we reached Louise Creek and realised our mistake; despite being a bloke Bob agreed to stop at a garage for advice! We were sent off across country at Agate, down a dirt- road more like a farm track. There were a few scattered properties and one small chapel but plenty of cattle and cattle-grids! When we eventually met a main road we turned right and travelled along the road until a sign was spotted that told us we were heading towards Louise Creek-oops! We doubled back (should have turned left) and finally arrived at Sun Peaks.

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Chapel in the middle of nowhere!

This is huge resort catering for the winter ski season and golfing in summer. It has large second homes, hotels, shops, restaurants and a village area which put us in mind of a much bigger Port Meirion back in Wales, many people including Brits live here permanently We stayed in the Delta Residence, a huge suite, very spacious! The resort has its own Fire Department and Community Council. A newly built school – Sun Peaks Elementary School www.sunpeaks.sd73.bc.ca -has each pupil progressing at their own pace via computers. It’s a place where the pupils learn amongst other subjects to ski, golf and fish.

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Sun Peak Resort

Sunday we went for a walk along the Medicine Trail, an interesting area devoted to plants used by the First Nation People, the Shuswup Indians, in times gone by. They used plants such as False Solomon’s Seal, Cow Parsley and Hinchberries for medicinal purposes.

We then followed the Vista Trail up through mountain woodland. Now further south we (wrongly) assumed the bear problem would have gone but ‘Bear Season’ was just starting! It was the time of year when hungry black bears, many with young ones emerged from their winter sleep looking for food. We didn’t see or hear any bears- the bears bells must have been working! We did encounter hundreds of midges who thought they had ordered a gourmet meal of Bob and Cyndi. We then took the Valley trail back to the village

Whilst on the walk we came across people on segways.We thought they would be a great fun way of exploring the terrain. Back at the village we found the hire shop www.alpine-explorers.com and booked a trip for the 3pm in the afternoon.

We were at the hire shop before 3pm, but Bob like a naughty schoolboy was sent home to change his footwear as opened toed Tevas are not deemed suitable footwear. We had a short lesson on how to control them and then off we went on a guided trip around the resort and onto rough trails. Our attention was drawn to a black bear ambling across one of the ski slopes, far enough away to admire but not close enough to be fodder!

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Cyndi on segway - very good for the posture!

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Bob on segway - very good for the posture

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Bob & Cyndi on segway

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Bob & Cyndi on segway

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Bob & Cyndi on segway

Segwaying was definitely a first for us, we loved it! We will see if these can be found in the UK - since been told they can be hired in Pembre Country Park, Carmarthenshire, not far from our home.

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Jasper

Wednesday, 18th June 2014, our first full day in Jasper we explored the town in the morning. Jasper is nestled amidst mountains and still retains a quaint ‘air’ about it. There was a huge choice of places in Connaught Drive and Patricia Street in which to dine or buy mementoes. The visitor centre was very helpful with information and answering any queries. Outside was a grassed area where yoga was taking place but we had places to go and people to see!

We drove to Pyramid Lake in the afternoon and at last had a chance to hire a canoe and go for a gentle paddle and time just looking at the spectacular scenery. We also discovered it was at this lake a secret second world project was undertaken - to build ships from ice!

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Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Mountain

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Relaxing at Pyramid Lake

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Teamwork

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Bob's bow lady

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Marvellous Action!

Thursday 19th June 2014 we set off to visit Maligne Canyon , which is 11.5 km from Jasper. Maligne Lake, which is 48km from Jasper, is the largest lake (22km) in Jasper National Park and the deepest ( 97m).

We passed by Medicine Lake , which is 27 km from Jasper; unusually, there is no surface outlet, the water flows underground emerging in such places as Maligne Canyon.

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Maligne Canyon Signpost

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Bob's bow lady

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Bob's bow lady

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Bob's bow lady

We stopped for lunch on the way to the Maligne Lake and discovered a marmot hiding under the car, neither of us had seen a marmot before. It was about the size of a cat with a long bushy tail. The marmot was very shy and it was impossible to take a photograph despite some gentle prodding with a stick – no we were not prodding the marmot! We wanted a) to take a picture and b) not run over him when we reversed the car.

Marmot - with thanks to animal clicks

On the way to a trail walk we came across a deer which, like most of the wildlife we saw was not that concerned with us humans. The trail turned into a wooded area and after experiencing regular bear sightings and armed only with a bear-bell we returned to the lake.

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Maligne Lake

On the way back to Jasper we spotted two black bears, possibly mother and youngster again very close to the road.

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Black bears

Friday we decided to book a raft ride on the Athabasca River and to look for a short local trail to walk later that day.

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Athabascar River

The tourist office suggested we forego the walk as Jasper was in a ‘bear lock down’. The official drew a circle around the town map and emphasised not to wander outside unless armed with bear spray AND know how to use it. We took his advice; we heard later that a ranger had been attacked by two grizzlies and despite making it back to her car the bears did $6000 of damage to the vehicle.

On the way to the raft egress the bus stopped in order we could see two black bears, mother and cub, walking through the tall grass just off the road.

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Black Bear

We were both looking forward to the rafting, one of us more than the other, but Cyndi calmed Bob down! We were informed that although we would not encounter large rapids there was a high possibility of getting wet and most of the customers donned fetching –NOT- yellow plastic macs. Bob’s description of us being ‘Team Condom’ did raise a chuckle

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Team Condom

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No Fear!

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Perfectly calm

The trip was approximately 9 km long and included many class 2 white water rapids. The raft was rowed by a young blonde lad to whom the older ladies took an immediate fancy, but he took it in good stead.

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Ladies eye candy!

He proved he was more than capable of steering the raft and was very knowledgeable about the area.

Yes, we did get wet as a number of rapids were hit head on.

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White water!

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Moving Water

Two young girls aged 7 and 10 were given the chance to hold the oars in the quieter stretches and steered us for the rapids every time - a great trip which both of us enjoyed!

Saturday 21st June 2014 we left Jasper, Alberta and the Rockies behind us and started our journey south heading for Sun Peaks Resort www.SunPeaksResort.com in British Columbia

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

The Icefield Parkway

ICEFIELDS PARKWAY

From Lake Louise (June 17^th) we had a long day to travel (226km -143miles) to Jasper but taking in one of the world’s ultimate drives along Icefield Parkway. With a total area of 200km² the Columbia Icefield is one of the largest masses of glacial ice outside the Arctic Circle, surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the Canadian Rockies (Athabasca, Columbia, Snow Dome); there are numerous places to stop to take in views of lakes, mountains and canyons and we took advantage of these!

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Mountains near the Icefield Centre

Our first break was on the road side at Mistaya Lake where we had a run in with, not a bear, but a very cheeky raven! We had opened the boot to retrieve something and two ravens flew down, one of which jumped onto the lip of the boot.

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Checking out the prey (i.e. us) from a high vantage point!

We shooed him away but undeterred he came back and picked up a box of kitchen foil and flew off with it to the other side of the road; Bob gave chase whilst Cyndi was doubled up with laughter! The raven then flew up the hillside and began attacking the foil with his beak; he would not have found much nourishment. It was a good job the car keys were in Bob’s pocket as trying to explain that a bird had taken them would have been embarrassing!

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Don't I look cute? Coming in stealthily for the 'kill'!

A bit further on we stopped to explore the Mistaya Canyon which was only a little way off the road. The 0.5 km trail to the canyon is located at a large parking area on the west side of the Parkway, part way up the long hill south of the North Saskatchewan River.

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Mistaya Canyon signpost

It takes about twenty minutes’ walk from the car park down a fairly rocky track, which was very slippery. Arriving at the canyon we were amazed at this beautiful spot; the scenes were stunning and the water flowed so fast it was easy to see how the rocks had been carved. The actual run of the water drops quite quickly and severely, you can access above the waterfall if you are careful and because it is mainly snow melt the colour is amazing.

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Mistaya Canyon Interpretation Board

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Mistaya Canyon

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Mistaya Canyon

Continuing on we arrived at the Saskatchewan River Crossing where it was 3˚f, although the temperature did rise to a ‘heated’ 12. 5˚f.

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Saskatchewan Crossing

From here the road climbed the "Big Bend" a huge curve in the highway that gives way to magnificent views.

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View from Big Bend

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View from Big Bend

We paused to look at Bridal Veil Falls which originates in the Huntington Glacier on the slopes of Cirrus Mountain.

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Bridal Veil Falls signpost

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Bridal Veil Falls

Its waters drain into Nigel Creek, then into the North Saskatchewan River at the Big Bend of the Icefield Parkway. It is a class 4 water fall, with a drop of 1,200 ft(370 m) and a width of 20 ft (6.1 m).

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Icefield Centre

With lunchtime approaching we stopped at the Icefield Centre to view the huge but worryingly decreasing Athabasca glacier and have some food in the visitor centre. We decided not to take the special bus onto the glacier or walk on the new skywalk but just take in the spectacular views of the Icefield and the snow covered mountains against the pure blue sky. Refreshed we carried on north surrounded by numerous stunning mountains, all in excess of 3000 metres.

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Athabasca Glacier

Our next stop was at the Sunwapta Falls. These falls have a drop of about 18.5 metres created by hanging valleys.

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Sunwapta Falls

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Sunwapta Falls

At the Athabasca Falls we saw two black bears- oh, dear, were we becoming blasé about seeing bears - no!?

Black bear at Athabasca Falls Area

Athabasca Falls is the most powerful of the falls. The full width of the Athabasca River is funnelled into a three metre gap and over the brink of the falls. The rock, Gog quartzite, in that area is as strong as steel and yet the power generated by the falls have carved huge swathes out of it!