We’ve been in Jasper for two days it has turned cold and rainy. Summertime in the Rockies. It is beautiful here when the cloud cover breaks up and you can see the mountain ranges on all sides. There are wild rivers, blue lakes and wild animals in the forests, an alpine Disneyland. We’ve had a few good hikes, mostly dry in broken cloudy days between the thunderstorms. We rode up Mount Whistler on the Jasper Tram and were lucky enough to be able to see most of the area through the clouds that were racing by in the fierce wind. I climbed up a ridge behind the tram lookout lodge for my alpine experience in 32 degree weather wind gusting to 25mph. After a thorough face freeze and ear aches in both ears I felt in had had enough fun in the frigid arctic environment, that I soon retreated back to the lodge.
Today we took three excursions, to Athabasca Falls, Maligne Canyon and to Lake Maligne. The falls were quite spectacular, not so much in height but in the way the water had carved out chasms in the rock. The Maligne Canyon is a narrow rock canyon 100 feet deep, again cut through rock in various shapes. Lake Maligne was supposed to be one of Canada’s most beautiful alpine lakes and I sure it was. Unfortunately, when we got there it was snowing! So much for the scenic boat ride were planning to take on lake. We settled for a lunch of a hearty beef stew while watching the snow come down. On the ride back to town cars were backed up to stare at a bear by the side of the road. There was an illuminated sign on this road warning people to stay in their cars if they encounter wild animals on the side of the road. Of course, no one paid any attention and piled out on to the road. One guy with a huge camera came running out of the brush, we all thought, and I’m sure he thought, that the bear was coming to get him. Reminded me about the joke about the bear and the tennis shoes.
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