Today, we are spending a day in Jasper. When you wake up to beautiful sunshine, the last thing you expect to be doing a few hours later is having a snowball fight. Yesterday we made it to the very north of the Icefields Parkway, to a town called Jasper.
With a population of under 5,000, Jasper was our last stop. Tomorrow, we are sadly leaving the Rockies to head West towards Whistler and ultimately Vancouver.
The sub 5,000 people who enjoy life in Jasper have certainly been born into, or chosen to live in, a really quite pretty town.
For two nights we join these 5,000 people and hijack their views, their lakes and their scenery as well as pass them a large chunk of our holiday spending money. It isn’t the cheapest place in the world to live or to holiday but is a must-see town and, as we are spending a day in Jasper, worthy of some of our hard earned cash.
Starting the day while spending a day in Jasper
We start the day with breakfast at a place called Smitty’s. A typical American diner, where we withdraw any nomination we may have had for being parents of the year.
As we are reviewing the substantial menu, Max starts playing with the cutlery
“Max, you have to be careful when playing with knives,” we tell him. Or perhaps the better move would have been to stop him playing with the knives in the first place. No harm done however.
After breakfast we venture out to yet another lake called Maligne Lake. Just under an hours drive from Jasper, but with stop offs and views like this, we don’t mind the journey.
This is a snap of Medicine Lake, a stop off midway to Maligne Lake.
Perhaps with a mild case of jetlag still, and coupled with the fact he is having later nights, Max has started dozing in the car on the drives.
Spending a day in Jasper – Maligne Lake
We arrive at the lake and I head down to take some photos while Suzanne gives Max a few more minutes of sleep. One of my photos of Maligne Lake makes it into my Favourite Photos from a Canadian Road Trip.
I wander around the paved path constantly waving. Not at people, but at the clusters of midges that seem to be gathering every so often.
Maligne Lake is very similar to many of the other lakes we have visited, and surely like many of the lakes we haven’t. Stunning in its beauty, with a bolder ridden shoreline, pine tree infested surround all backed up by snow-capped mountains overlooking it all.
Inevitably, us being 3 of them, this brings the tourists. These tourists, us not being 3 of them, all seem to chose to wear Day-Glo inspired jackets of all the colours of the rainbow. Very functional I am sure, but horrendous when trying to take a snapshot of the lake and 10 of them are lined up with tripods and cameras, looking more like a cone splattered contraflow on the M25.
Regardless, the drive out to Maligne Lake and the lake itself is definitely worthy of your time.
Snow? that can only mean one thing…..
A big landmark in Max’s life. While spending a day in Jasper he had his first snowball fight. At 1,670 metres above sea level (that’s 5480 ft for the oldies out there:) snow hangs around. The kids got talent. 2 exceptional throws. One getting Mummy, the other getting me full in the face while taking his photo!
On the way back, as we rounded one of the many bends, we saw several cars pulled over on both sides of the road. This can only mean one thing. Wildlife.
We joined the gaggle of cars and people and armed with a camera jumped out to see what was on offer.
Through the trees and bushes at the side of the road was a moose. While it wasn’t a great view, we managed to get a glimpse. We had really hoped to see lots of wildlife on our trip and while it hasn’t been the animal infested frenzy we had hoped for, we are slowly seeing a few things we had hoped to.
The best snap I could get as it ambled at speed through the forest. The one thing that we want to see that eludes us this far is a bear. Black, brown or grizzly, we don’t mind.
The evening
Dinner tonight was at a place called The Inn Grill. Good service, and good food. So that is what we did when we were spending a day in Jasper.
Tomorrow sees us leave the Rockies to start our drive west. I am sure it will be with sad heart when we leave this beautiful area of the world. Still with lots to look forward to, I am sure the rest of our trip will be as rewarding.
Until I write again……Richard, Suzanne and Max
Distance covered today – 100km
Total driven so far – 671km
