Labour Day long weekend....plan was hatched and off we drove down to camp and hike in Jasper. Calgary to Jasper is about 3.5 to 4 hrs.
Day 1 - Jasper National Park that's where we camped the traditional way......in tents! Unlike our neighbours all around in huge trailer campers. By the time we reached the camp ground ....after stopping at the Columbia Icefields as well as getting into town to buy some it was evening and we quickly got down to setting up the tents before it got dark.....and it started raining! What an adventure this would be!
Bow Lake. Quite a few visitors who had sopped by the side of the road to take in the view and click some photos.
Columbia Icefields. Stopped for a bit to have a look. Far away we could see the Bus rides.
A huge caribou that we saw on the way.
"Your Jasper Grocer" in town. Before going to our campgrounds we stopped here to pick some groceries for our dinner as well as for next day's breakfast!
Setting up our tents...in the rain!
Chef Francis and his 2 assistants, Lara & Nicholas! Cooking dinner on the gas stove.
Fish cooked in beer with basil pesto! Improvisation since we forgot to pick any oil! My dinner.....as the rest were having steak!
Broccoli & basil pasta for me while the rest had Chilli!
Day 2 - Woke up early as usual. Last night we had our dinner in cold as we couldn't get the woods to burn. It was too big and it had got wet in the rain. Today......we had to have fire! It was cold! Saw that our neighbour bang opposite to where we were, was up and about. I went over to say "hello" and ask if we could borrow his axe. Made sure that the woods were chopped and covered so that we have a fire going this evening.
Today we hike Mt. Edith Cavell, 11,033-ft.-high.
Nicholas chopping wood for the fire with the axe that I borrowed from our neighbour.
Our camp
Our campsite neighbours!
Breakfast - Hash Browns, Eggs, Slice of Bread and coffee!
Willing the wood to burn!
Athabasca river running at the back of our camp.
Entrance to the Edith Cavell Trail Parking. Fully packed!
The trail leading to the Kettle Lake
Cavell Glacier and the Kettle Lake
Scrambled up from the Glacier viewpoint......down below! Yes, I'm already up!!
The mountain.....with the low overhanging clouds...mist. Looks awesome!
Kettle Lake from the top
Marmot...coming out to check us out!
The lush green trail. I see snow. It's been snowing.
The dense forest getting thinner. And there's more snow on the ground.
Lara couldn't resist doing her yoga pose for me!
I still see Kettle Lake
The peak.....is the goal!
I trudge on....in the snow!
Yoohoo! I made it to the top! However no more photos as my battery ran out! 😢
Yes, we got fire tonight!
Day 3 - After breakfast, we drive to Maligne Lake for some lunch and to enjoy the view. This is also a great place for hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing and even camping. Maybe next time.
Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake Ticket Office
Maligne Lake Lodge (Restaurant and Gift Shop)
A beautiful Tim Hortons Store
Jasper's Two Brother's Totem Pole
Jasper Park Information Centre
Much needed shower and coffee!
Thereafter we head home but we have one more stop..... Athabasca Falls.
Athabasca Falls
Down to the lower canyon
Lower Lake
Columbia Icefields - This time we decided to walk up the trail from the parking lot to the foot of the glacier.
Walking the trail
Foot of the glacier
On our way down. See how high we came up. At a distance....the parking lot.
As we head back home.....to top the day....a rainbow! 😀
