A great northern road trip and exploration of a long heard about but never realized national park. We after stumbled into another set of cheap flights to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the wheels started to turn on planning and logistics. We would fly into Canada and do a large loop through the Canadian parks and down and through the US national park. Along the way we would take in the hikes, views, and all the other offerings of the great parks.
Thursday (June 27th)
- Early flight out of CLT to DIA to YYC
- Uber to rental picked up the Toyota Camry
- Costco supply store right across the street
- Small drive to Banff during some rainy weather
- Stayed in Highland Inn
- Walked downtown, gin distillery, chocolate shop
- Pool and hot tub session was nice
Friday (June 28)
- Alpine drive, saw all highway animal tunnels
- Moraine lake was full and closed as we pulled in early in the morning
- We changed plans and hike from Lake Louise
- Took the 6-plain glacier and tea hut hike( rain to nice weather)
- Baby Whory marmots harassed us on the hike
- We stop to take in the Lookout view point and had Alpine Tea at the hut. They had a pet wet shaggy dog.
- On the way back took the High-line trail to big bee hive
- Hike down lake Agnes and its tea house. Here we were yelled at little fat pika
- Long line at camp check-in along the river
- Pasta Dinner at Timberwolf.
- In bed by 6:30
Saturday (June 29th)
- We had an Alpine start at 5am
- Moraine lake rock pile and shoreline hike
- Raven eaten trout
- Nevko hikes Tower Babel
- Drive up to the Icefields Parkway
- Peyto lake viewpoint hike
- Parker Ridge hike saw the backside of the Columbia Glacier, Mt Athabasca, and Saskatchewan arm of the glacier
- Columbia Icefields
- Saskatchewan river crossing
- Pot hole river
- 2 larges water falls
- Stop and turn around in Jasper. Refuel with gas, Dr Pepper and subway
- Leaving town hit Bear jams, Moose jam, and Goat jam
Sunday (June 30th)
- Drove through Koontiny National Park
- Cross the Continental divide
- Tried to fine the chipping Columbia ground squirrel heaven
- Relaxation and swimming in the “Radium Hot Spring”
- Stopped at the Koontiny trout hatchery. River otter ruined the stop by sneaking in and eating all the big fish
- Cross the USA/CA border, greeted with american gun fire
- Driving through Montana, we notices larges field of a yellow plant (canola)
- Stop at Costco resupply with pizza and bread
- 45 mpg in the car from Jasper
- Stopped at Agar village and lake McDonald lodge
- Alexis goes beer shopping at gas station, to get her huckleberry beer fix
Monday (July 1st)
- 5am start
- Avalanche creek hike, 1st one on the trail and had our bear bells on
- Saw a Furry black mink and baby ducks
- Photoshoot at the lake before anyone got there, but saw hordes of people on way out
- Drove going to sun road, shuttled to Logan pass.
- Bighorn sheep jam right at the entrance
- Hidden lake hike , snow fields slip slides
- Interacted with mountain goats and hoary marmots
- Saint marry coffee stop for fix
- We too the long way back , thru east glacier and two medicine rapping around the park
- Stopped at the Glacier lodge
- Saw the Northern Pacific rail line back
- Saw Goats licking rocks underneath a interstate bridge
- Big dinner at the “Wandering Gringo” burrito. Talked to the awesome hippy owners
Tuesday (July 2nd)
- 4:15 alpine start
- Photography at going to sun road, east side was fogged in.
- Animal count, 2 fox, ptarmigan, 2 grizzly bear; black bear
- Coffee and window washing stop on the otherside of the park again
- Iceberg lake hike, traversed a hill side to the lake
- At the Hotel there was a black bear jam
- Refreshed with ice cream and huckleberry soda
- Visited Sacred dance cascade and Saint Mary’s falls
- Big photoshoot with Alexis and her ice cream
- Saw the Train station
Wednesday (July 3rd)
- Little coffee shop and burrito from “trap line” gas station.
- Wet rainy drive up over the pass
- Took the Chief highway to Canada, lots of cows in the road
- Crossed us/ca border
- Day hiked Bertha lake through wildfire remnants
- Steep switch backs , fish swimming in lake , fire scars
- Ate at “Watertown Wieners” and “Trappers” for chili
- Stayed at The Prince of Wales Hotel. Sat, drank , and listened to stories from staff
Thursday (July 4th)
- Morning bought boat shuttle tickets to cross the lake
- Long hike up to crypt lake
- Marmots, natural tunnel, steel ladder, cable lines,
- I ran around the lake, crosses the USA / Canada border saw that Fly-Fishing was very easy for others
- We found hole coming out of ground which was fueling all the waterfalls
- Rainy Drive to Calgary, saw bear and moose
- Took the “Cowboy trail” to town
- At night, stayed in fancy delta hotel 19th floor. Hot tub and sauna
- Dinner at silver dragon China
Friday (July 5th)
- Calgary Stampede parade.
- Horses, cow, tanks, marching bands
- Bank Bar – bank and baron.
- Met 2 Canadians , Scott and Travis. Loved America. Passed us later and yelled “Americans” ya us
- Got in to Stampede grounds
- Farm animals , big fair food, poutine, Stranger things branding
- Cattle penning show
- Heavy horse show with Calgary orchestra
- Grandstand events
- Chuckcart racing
- Impressive stage assembly, tank tractors
- Trailblazer concert. Cow party, flames with aerials, Argentina whip tap dancing, Animal rave party, Lazerman show
- Got done at Midnight, sleep in days inn
- Flight back in the morning
