Alberta CanadaLake Louise

Alberta: Canadian Rockies and the Plains Region

July 11-13, 2013 – The North American Safari left Calgary and the Stampede and headed west to the Banff National Park. What an amazing drive! Neither Mike nor I can remember a day with as many spectacular views as we had today. The Canadian Rockies are definitely a view to behold.  This area will definitely go back on the “bucket list” – a couple of days here did not do it justice, only wets one’s appetite for a longer visit. We walked around a bit of Lake Louise and admired the blue green lake – spectacular place!  Right on the banks of the lake is he Fairmont Chateau – exquisite! We enjoyed a bit of happy hour in their bar and pretended to be “guests” J. Later in the afternoon we rode a sightseeing chairlift up to the 6,900-foot level of Mt. Whitehorse.  A gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains, lakes and all that makes up this area. We had the good fortune to see a Grizzly bear munching on some clover down on the lower part of the ski run.  She seemed very content to be enjoying an afternoon snack – saw her both going up and down the mountain.

Lake Louise

Grizzly Bear

Canadian Rockies, Baniff/Jasper N.P.

Our route continued leading us through the Banff region, each curve in the road producing yet another “jaw-dropping” view. These “Rockies” look much more “Alp“ like; jagged, tall, and oh so magnificent. Still some snow and what appear to be glaciers in places. We drove through the Columbian Ice Field Region, didn’t stop because it was VERY CROWDED. Hopefully we will get back here some fall or spring season to see more of this spectacular area.  Jasper National Park is just west of Banff, the drive revealed many waterfalls, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes along the roadsides. These last two days’ drive were so incredible; think this has got to be the visual highlight of the trip so far. Know that we have Alaska to come and will probably compete with these views.  We stopped in the town of Hinton, Alberta just west of Jasper for the evening.  We visited the Beaver Boardwalk and walked along the 2-mile boardwalk, enjoying the dusk at 9:30pm.  Saw one industrious beaver, taking a pretty good-sized log across a couple of smaller ponds to plug a leak in the larger pond. He really worked hard to stuff his “stick” into the hole. He then swam off and entered the huge lodge in the center of the pond. This habitat is home to 12 or so beavers, there were many dams in the area to show their presence; another interesting place.

Beaver Boardwalk Hinton, Alberta

Leaving Hinton we traveled west, leaving the Rocky Mountain region, heading towards the plains. Our drive was still a marvel of views.  Route 40 took us through 200 miles of small and skinny evergreen trees; a fewer number of hardwood trees were on display as well.  The afternoon’s excitement was seeing a Grizzly along the roadside. There were many road signs warning of caribou, we didn’t ever spot one, but did have several deer flirt with us – crossing the road just in front of the MoHo. When we neared our stop for the night in Grand Prairie, Alberta, we left most of the forests behind and entered a spectacular farmland area with acres and acres of rolling fields of bright yellow canola. WOW what a pop of color.

Our last day in Alberta, we continued on the “Yellow Canola Road” this landscape was brilliant despite the rainy and gray skies that followed us. The roadsides were inhabited by a number of family farms, most had a number of round silo type structures and old log cabin sheds on their property –we were curious as to the purpose of these buildings? We entered British Columbia, arriving in Dawson Creek and Mile 0 of our Alaskan Adventure.  We are so excited – the next 48 days -- the sights, sounds and tastes of things that we have been dreaming about since we initially planned this trip over a year ago.

Grizzly on the road