Under Construction ….

The Rockies Road Trip … and the bestie ❤

Thu, 6th June: Capilano River RV Park, Vancouver
Apparently if you’re in Vancouver to explore the North Shore mountains, downtown, Stanley Park, or you’re just passing through en route to Whistler or Vancouver Island, this park is the best choice for Vancouver RV parks & campgrounds. However, if you’re heading to Vancouver Island, they are just 10 minutes from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.

As we are Whistler-bound, it's great because we are just minutes from the famous Sea-to-Sky highway and only 90 minutes to the slopes of Whistler Blackcomb! Capilano RV Park is conveniently located no matter what your travel plans may be! Oh yeh, and we are just an hour from the airport … we will be picking up an important guest to http://www.pitkinsaroundtheworld tomorrow 🙂

After a smooth ride and entry through customs and immigration, we head directly to the RV Park. In glorious afternoon sunshine we set up 'Camp Angela' and, whilst Neil heads out to get a few bits and pieces I set about cooking tea. The evening is spent in the Lounge making a welcome poster and Neil does what he does best – he sets about planning the itinerary for the next two weeks … EXCITED.COM!!!!!!!

Fri, 7th Jun: Capilano River RV Park, Vancouver
Angela arrives today YAY!!!!!! We cannot wait … however, it is a little disappointing as we get up to rain today … wtf!!!! It's been a long time so we cannot complain 🙂 but we would have loved to welcome Angela in the sunshine which we have been experiencing. You never know it might brighten up by the time she lands – 2.15pm 🙂

We don't want to 'cook' in the rain so we head off to the local McDonalds for our coffee and breakfast. With good wifi we set about catching up on the blog for the last few days and prepare ourselves for Mrs Jones' arrival.

1.00pm is soon upon us and we are heading off to Vancouver International Airport for the VIP arriving from Manchester. At the airport we begin the anxious wait and, according to the flight information board, flight 245 Air Transat from Manchester touches down at 2.20pm and Mrs Jones is officially on Canadian soil!!!!!!! Neil goes off to Tim Hortons for a double double whilst Theresa calms her nerves with a glass of red wine. Angela soon vibers Neil to inform us that she has cleared immigration and is just waiting to collect her bag. We anxiously look out for her in the crowds of passengers exiting the terminal and there is no sign of Angela 😦 Neil's phone suddenly rings and it is only Angela from the exit door … somehow in all the excitement we missed her coming through but we are soon rushing with our home made sign to officially welcome her to Vancouver 🙂

After an emotional reunion we head to the car park for the journey back to Capilano RV Park. By this time the sunshine has broken through and we have an eventful journey back to the park lol. Whilst sitting at traffic lights on a dual carriageway we suddenly had a whiff of weed floating into the car … looking across to the car next to us a guy and his girlfriend were openly smoking weed and the smell was extremely strong. I shouted across "is that weed" "is it legal" to which they replied yes and yes! Hilarious, they then proceeded to throw a small bag through our window which landed in my lap. We were gobsmacked as the lights turned to green and they go off into the distance … only in Vancouver eh????? Angela is immediately on the back foot saying "ahhhh, don't scare me". Welcome Ang 🙂

Back at camp we settle in where Neil moves his belongings into the smaller tent as Angela is too scared to sleep on her own. We decide to throw Angela in at the deep end and head off on our first adventure to Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. This is Vancouver's oldest visitors attraction thrilling since 1889! It is an area of swaying canyon views, beautiful forests and breathtaking lookouts. We walked over the Capilano Suspension Bridge with a span of 450ft and the Cliff Walk, a triumph of engineering to build and for many, an act of courage just to walk on. The Cliff Walk takes you beyond the cliff face far above the Capilano River Canyon. We also walked aloft the Treetops Adventure where we had a squirrel's eye view of a thriving coastal rainforest on this unique series of cable bridges suspended between tree friendly platforms that reached as high as 10 storeys.

From here we drove to a lovely restaurant where we ended the day with a lovely meal and a few beers before heading back to camp and falling into bed.

Sat, 8th Jun: The Listel Hotel, Whistler
Up early today and Neil is breaking the tents down around us at 7.00am. After a quick cereal breakfast we are leaving Capilano and heading north on Highway 99 to Whistler (150miles), a resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains, probably one of the most famous skiing resorts in the world and the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Over two million people visit Whistler annually, primarily for alpine skiing and snowboarding and, in summer, mountain biking at Whistler-Blackcomb. The awesome pedestrian village has won numerous design awards and the Whistler Valley is flanked by glaciated mountains on both sides.

Once in Whistler we are disappointed to find that the Riverside RV Camp Site is full so we head back to the Visitors Information Centre. Here we find a fantastic hotel right in the heart of Whistler Village … The Listel. Angela takes a 45min catnap whilst Neil and I do a quick recky of the village and grab a drink at the Irish Pub – Dubb Linn Gate. Dubh Linn translates from Black Pool and refers to the dark pool of water, which lies beneath the heart of Dublin. Located near St. James Brewery, where Guinness originates, these dark waters are said to be the inspiration for Arthur Guinness’ perfect pint since 1759!!!!

As we have learned with previous pubs, this one was designed, crafted, and transported piece by piece across the pond to the Pan Pacific Whistler in beautiful British Columbia.
After a couple of pints we wander back to wake Angela up to check into the hotel and, despite the weather not being perfect, decide to head up the Whistler Mountain on the Peak to Peak Gondola.

The Peak to Peak Alpine Gondola is a world record breaking gondola that takes you from the top of Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb Mountain opposite. This gondola breaks three world records; it is the highest lift of its kind at 436m (1427ft); it has the longest unsupported span at 3.024km (1.88miles); and it completes the longest continuous lift system in the world.

A the top of Whistler Mountain we are like three young kids as we play snow tubing for 15mins down a small hillside. We are giggling like school kids and I nearly wet myself on more than one occasion pmsl. After this excitement we catch the Peak to Peak Gondola across to Blackcomb Mountain which is an amazing ride and we cover the distance of 1.88miles in approximately 11mins. Here we relax with a coffee and doughnuts in the Mountain Cafe and, much to our surprise, get to see Hoary Marmots,

the largest North American ground squirrel often nicknamed "the whistler" for its high-pitched warning issued to alert other members of the colony to possible danger. They are scurrying about alongside the verandah 🙂 how cute 🙂 and respond to our noises to get their attention for pics 🙂 They are a large, bulky, ground squirrel, with short, heavy limbs, and a broad head. The word "hoary" refers to the silver-grey fur on their shoulders and upper back; the remainder of the upper parts have drab- or reddish-brown fur.

The final calls for the 5.30pm ride back down the mountain are heard and and, once again, enjoy the scenery all around us as we float through the clouds. The sun is shining as we get off the gondola so we have a stroll around the village before refreshing ourselves al fresco at the Amsterdam Bar. We people watch as revellers start their evening out. It's not long before our bellies begin to grumble and we head back to the Dubh Linn Gate to eat drink and be merry in time for the bands appearance at 8.00pm.

Finally, warm and fuzzy we amble out at about 9.30pm and head back to our room to laze around, freshen up and fall contentedly into our nice warm beds.

Andrew and Cynthia ????? FOOOOD

Sun, 9th Jun: Pinegrove Campground and RV Park,
After a nice continental breakfast and catch up on facetime, we leave Whistler and again head North on Highway 99 towards Kamloops. After about one hour we find ourselves on a beautiful mountain road on the way to the town of Lilloet, a community on the Fraser River. Lillooet is an important location in native history and culture and remains one of the main population centres of the St'at'imc (Lillooet Nation), and today it is one of the southernmost communities in North America where indigenous people form the majority. Just over 1/2 of the people in Lillooet and area are St'at'imc. Considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited locations on the continent.

We drive through a gorgeous scenery of forests, snow capped peaks, raging rivers, waterfalls and crystal clear lakes. We make a stop in Cache Creek – an historic junction community – for coffee and stop off at a viewpoint to drink it with the muffins which we acquired from our breakfast. As we have made good progress on the drive today and the campsite in Kamloops is not very appealing, we push on northwards. Our efforts are rewarded just 30mins later when we come across a stunning family run campground in a forest called Pinegrove.

It is a fantastic site in the small woodland area and the owner directs us to a pitch with a gazebo under which we put up our tents. After setting up camp we all head up to the camp shop where we choose the evenings 'gourmet dinner' lol. We settle for sausages, pork loins, mexican rice and hash browns. Neil soon starts the camp fire and, before long we are cooking on it for the first time. It is most enjoyable and, with the table laid, we have a super duper al fresco dining experience. Following this we enjoy our wifi free evening of music, chat and introducing Angela to the world of S'mores – NOM NOM NOM. Washed down with a hot cuppa it's a nice end to another perfect day. All that is left to do is sit around the fire, relive the last couple of whirlwind days before tiredness sets in and we fall into our sleeping bags to dream of sights of the Rockies tomorrow 🙂

Mon, 10th Jun: Mt. Robson Lodge & Campground, Mt. Robson National Park
After leaving our beautiful surroundings, we headed north on the I5 towards Jasper passing through the beautiful town of Barriere situated at the confluence of the Barriere and North Thompson Rivers in the Central North Thompson Valley … gorgeous! The location of the town was originally the site of a fur trading post, and derives its name 'Barriere (originally and alternately, Barrière) from the rocks/nets placed in the water by first nations people to act as fish traps, forming a barrier to boat passage on the river.

Before long we are travelling through Clearwater in the North Thompson River valley where the Clearwater River empties into the North Thomson River which originates at the toe of the Thompson Glacier in the Cariboo Mountains. For much of our journey, the highway is paralleled by this river finally leading into Blue River. It is at Blue River we discussed the possibility of a River Safari but decided against it this early in the holiday … we may even get to see a bear for free crossing the road on our travels!!!!!!

We stopped in the beautiful "let the mountains move you" village of Valemount. Here we visited the Tourist Information Centre and picked up details of a great 'world famous' walk for tomorrow called The Berg Lake Trail. On entering here, we caught the first glimpses of the incredible Rocky Mountain Range. Having stocked up with necessities for tea for Chef Angela, we leave Valemount and were greeted with the impressive sight of Mt Robson in the foreground, its summit being covered in cloud. Mount Robson is the most prominent mountain in North America's Rocky Mountain range; it is also the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. Mount Robson is the second highest peak entirely in British Columbia. The south face of Mount Robson is clearly visible from the Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16), and is one of the most photographed features along this route.

Shortly after leaving Valemount we came across Mount Terry Fox, a peak in the Selwyn Range of the Canadian Rockies in Mount Terry Fox Provincial Park. In 1981, the previously-unnamed mountain was christened in honour of Terry Fox, an amputee long-distance runner and cancer research activist who grew up in British Columbia. Following this humbling stop, we turned eastwards on Highway 16 where the views of Mt Robson became incredible. We pulled into Rearguard Falls Provincial Park, a provincial park protecting the waterfall of the same name, which is on the Fraser River just above its emergence into the Rocky Mountain Trench. Rearguard Falls is one of only two waterfalls on the 1,375km long Fraser River and is a fantastic looking whitewater rapid area of the river. The sound of the falls is deafening!!!!! These falls mark the upper limit of the 800 mile migration of salmon from the Pacific Ocean. Only a few chinook, largest and strongest of the salmon come this far and you can see them if you are here in late summer.

Shortly after we found our 'home' for the night at Mount Robson Lodge and Campground. Another really unique site this time nestled alongside the Fraser River in the foothills of the Rockies and in the shadow of the magnificent Mt Robson 🙂 Experts now, Camp Angela is set up in record time and, once the fire is sorted, we are all settled for another relaxing evening by 5.30pm. Chef Angela serves up a gorgeous tea of piri piri chicken and garden potatoes … another surreal meal in a great dining area 🙂 A restful evening is had enjoying each others company before our great walk tomorrow.

Tue, 11th Jun: Mountain Memories Guesthouse, Jasper
After being disturbed at 1.00am this morning by late arrivals setting up camp next door (ANGRY FACE), we awake pretty groggy. The way the torches were being waved about, we thought they were looking for ET in our tent!!!!! However, this does not last long as we woke to a beautiful sunny day and the peak of Mt Robson could be clearly soon in all its dramatic splendour… summit and all! After a gorgeous bacon and mushroom sarnie by the Fraser River we piled into the car and headed for the Visitor Information Centre below Mt Robson.

After a quick wifi fix we drove 2km to the world famous Berg Lake Trailhead …… within Mt Robson Provincial Park.

The monarch of the Canadian Rockies, Mount Robson, at 3954m above sea level is one of the spectacular scenic attractions preserved in this beautiful park. Picturesque waterfalls, massive blue glaciers, pristine lakes and lush valleys endow this special place. Mount Robson Park is situated within the north continental range of the Canadian Rockies and is one of the oldest and largest parks in BC. With the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies and the headwaters of the Fraser River, the park was given status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990.

The Berg Lake Trail is a world renowned hiking and back country experience. We started walking in a forested valley of cedar, hemlock, birch, aspen, lodgepole pine and Douglas fir. As we ascended the dense coast-like forest gave way to a sub alpine terrain of Englemann Spruce and sub alpine Fir. We walked alongside the raging whitewater snow fed Robson River which was simply stunning to admire. After a couple of hours we came to the start of Kinney Lake where we crossed the river and saw this beautiful lake for the first time… its turquoise waters looking mesmerising against the backdrop of the forested Rocky Mountains!!!! We continued around the lake for approximately 45 mins until we reached Kinney Lake Campground. Here we took off our shoes and paddled in the freezing cold water and sat on the warm pebbly beach and soaked up the atmosphere with nobody else in sight. Angela decided to sunbathe on the rocky beach and subsequently got bitten to death by mosquitos. Then when she stood up had the overwhelming urge to pull her knickers down as she thought insects were invading her lower regions It was in fact very small stones which had stuck to her back rolling down into her nether regions!!!!! Hilarious !!!!

WATERFALLS

From Kinney Lake the Berg Lake Trail continues for another 16km into the Valley of a Thousand Falls, past Berg Lake and onto Robson's Pass. Fed by the massive Mist, Berg and Robson Glaciers, visitors often see huge sections of ice break off or 'calve' into the blue/green silt laden waters of the Berg Lake. However, we were turning around at this point and retracing the 7km we had already walked back to the trail head. The Berg Lake trail rewarded us with differing views of Mount Robson and its spectacular north face and Rearguard Mountain just behind it. At our stop at the camp we were literally surrounded by mountains … stood there you wouldn't think there was any way out!

Our drive to Jasper continued on Highway 16 and began to run alongside the railway track of the Rocky Mountaineer. On the journey we officially entered Jasper National Park at Yellowhead Pass where we discovered that we had to pay per day to be in the national park – oops, lol. The drive was a tired one and that, coupled with the fact that we'd lost an hour as we entered into the state of Alberta (!!!!) had us arriving at 6.30pm. All this led us to decide against camping tonight … we hadn't purchased any groceries for tea and nobody was keen to set up camp. We drove into Jasper and, on discovering that a motel would cost $150+ per night came across Mountain Memories guesthouse – with vacancies! – for our accommodation that evening.

We had a lovely one-night stay in May 2013. The location is in the heart of Jasper, in walking distance to many restaurants. Our gracious host, Gloria, showed us our rooms. There is a separate side entrance and the rooms are in the basement. Everything had been recently renovated, and was clean and welcoming. There is a small fridge in each room along with supplies to make coffee or tea. We all slept well–quiet and comfortable. Parking was on the street but was no problem. Free wi-fi was a plus. The rates were very reasonable. We would certainly stay again. Thanks, Gloria!

JASPER, ALBERTA, CANADA — Welcome to Jasper, Alberta, a mountain town that’s just waiting for you to visit. There are tons of activities and services available for you, your friends and your family to enjoy in Jasper National Park. Check out our live, user-controlled downtown Jasper, Alberta web cam to get a sense of the town before you leave. It’s like a sneak peek into your vacation!

Need a place to stay? Our list of Jasper accommodations will get you started. With a large list of cabins, bungalows, hotels, and private homes, you’re sure to find something that suits your needs. Use our booking engine to begin your Jasper, Canada vacation. Check out our list of shuttle and transportation services to get around Jasper during your stay. If you know someone who is getting married–or maybe you are the lucky one!–check out great deals on Jasper wedding accommodations.

Nature lovers will love Jasper, Canada. There are a ton of outdoor activities available! Golfing near Jasper has never been better. If you’re itching to ride awesome whitewater, check out the Jasper Rafting Alliance for great deals on the Sunwapta River.

Jasper is the gentle giant of the Rockies.
Offering visitors a more laid-back mountain experience – with equal options for adventure, discovery and relaxation. As one of Canada’s oldest and largest national parks, established in 1907, Jasper was once seen as an island of civilization in a vast wilderness. More recently, it has become a popular getaway from urban life, and a special place to reconnect with nature.

With nearly 1000km of trails, thousands of campsites, wildlife beyond measure and the largest Dark Sky Preserve on the planet, there are endless ways to enjoy the magic of Jasper National Park.

Jasper is such a beautiful unique town and the guesthouse perfect at $80 a night we decide to stay for 3 nights in total.

Showered and refreshed we excitedly head out for a 'night on the town' … and what a fun time we have for a couple of hours 🙂 A short stroll from our accommodation, we come across Jasper Brewing Co., opposite the train station where we got to see the Rocky Mountaineer pull into town for the night 🙂 We plonk ourselves here and enjoy a few beers, great food, and a coffee liqueur to wash it all down with. Happy and fuzzy we get back to the guesthouse by midnight where we all fall contentedly into bed – separate ones of course!

Wed, 12th Jun: Mountain Memories, Jasper
We had a lazy lazy lazy morning, facetiming and chilling. Once showered and changed we enjoy the Tim Hortons coffee brought back by Neil. After this we got our backsides into gear and as it was overcast headed first for the launderette. A couple of hours later with clean dry clothes and after a quick subway we head to the cycle shop to hire three mountain bikes.

We cycle off through Jasper and into the trails heading for Cabin Lake. Before long we are surrounded by wilderness and it only takes a few minutes for us to come across our first wild deer. We continue on a beautiful trail often having to push our bikes because we (mostly Ang and I) cycle up the inclines. After about one hour we arrive at the eastern shores of Cabin Lake ……….. From here it is downhill for the next 10 mins until we come across an unbelievable viewpoint. We can see across a huge valley to the rocky peaks in the distance. To the east we can see the redundant ski lifts of the Marmot Basin ski area.

We continue our journey back down the trail (the best bit!!!!!!! mostly downhill :-)) and it is at this point that Neil whilst showing of his skidding techniques, overdoes it and falls off … scraping the camera in the process. Not long after we hear the whistling and whooping of Angela catching up with us as she free rides down the hill videoing herself as she goes … another big kid. In doing so she almost spooks the elk we are taking pictures off lol. However he is much more interested in continuing to graze and we end up with fab picture opportunities anyway 🙂

We arrive back in town about 6.30pm (following our 3hr cycle ride) and marvel once again at the arrival of the Rocky Mountaineer train. Following more pic opportunities, we head off to Earls Restaurant and Bar for a well deserved beer or two. We sit on the terrace outside where we have more stunning views of Jasper and the surrounding mountains. Time flies by and before we know it it's 10.30pm and we are amazed that it is still light outside … amazing! As we have not eaten we order a few appetisers and more drinks … and 5hrs later and after settling a bar bill of $167 ($25.00 of which was food lol) we leave. Passing the late night garage we stock up like kids with chocolate to enjoy with a late night cup of coffee back at the guesthouse.

zzzzzzzzz another fandabidosi day … 🙂 …

Thu, 13th Jun: Mountain Memories, Jasper
A great nights sleep means we wake at 9.00am … immediately we get up and ready for the day. Ang and I go horse riding at Jasper Riding Stables on Pyramid Lake Road. It is an amazing set up – good old fashioned hospitality – and we are immediately impressed and at ease with Carolynn, our guide. I loved my horse Stu and Ang had a great time on Harley. We rode the Ridgeline-Cottonwood Loop, a 12km / 2hr trail ride to Cottonwood Creek and the ridge line of the Athabasca River Valley. Carolynnn pointed out places of interest (including the beaverdams) and told us stories along the way … it was wonderful as were the views.

Neil meets us back at the ranch and drives us to Coast Pyramid Lake Resort ………
The Coast Pyramid Lake Resort is the only resort in Jasper with exclusive access to the tranquil Pyramid Lake, a picturesque setting on a terraced hillside surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. Guests of Coast Pyramid Lake Resort receive 20% off boat and bike rentals, as well, guest can purchase a variety of reservation add-on activities like river rafting, horseback riding, golf, and glacier tours through the front desk. Open from the end of April to the end of October, it is the best location to explore Jasper.

Here we picnic in the car overlooking Pyramid Lake. Neil has been shopping and we make picnic of hot chicken crusty cobs NOM NOM NOM.

The last few days have caught up with us and we all feel a little weary so we head back to the guesthouse to relax and catnap. Between baths we all fall asleep and before we know it is 6.00pm.

We plan to go to Dead Dogs public house for dinner where there is also a live band playing tonight at 9.00pm. Whilst Ang and I get 'dressed' Neil heads off to Maligne Canyon ………..
Maligne Canyon is a natural feature located in the Jasper National Park near Jasper, Alberta, Canada. Eroded out of the Palliser Formation, the canyon measures over 50 metres (160 ft) high. Popular for sightseeing and exploration, the area contains waterfalls, stream outlets, birds and plant life.[1]

Maligne Falls

Eroding Rock in the Canyon
In the greater Pacific Northwest, Maligne Canyon is seen as different and odd geologically but is common within the northern Rocky Mountains. These canyons show the characteristic of Karst topography and is common in this region due to its easily soluble nature. Flowing out of Medicine Lake, the Maligne River flows about 15 kilometers upstream as a full size river, but very quickly disappears into seeps in the ground and completely vanishes from the surface not far from the lake for most of the year. The smaller streams that feed the valley below that point rebuild the river by the time it reaches the top of the canyon. The river drops down the canyon and intersects the bedrock layers where the underground river flow. Also at this point numerous large underground streams join and greatly amplify the flow. The canyon has been deteriorating since the churning and swirling of the water making. The effect of this has made the width 2 metres (6.6 ft) across at some points and a depth of 50 metres (160 ft). Limestone is one of the most dominant minerals within the canyon. It has become deposited in a shallow tropical sea by plankton which secrete limestone.

for a bit more sight seeing. On his return we make the 10min walk to Dead Dogs as planned … there is a great atmosphere and the band is good but, after the food, we are again feeling weary. We head off to Jasper Brewing Co., where we went on Tuesday, for a nightcap before heading back for an early night … 11.30pm pmsl … for our big day on the road tomorrow!

Fri, 14th Jun: Banff
We left Jasper on a misty rainy morning heading south on Highway 93. For a short while we took the more scenic old highway 93A heading towards the Athabasca Falls. It was on this highway that we saw our first grizzly bear 🙂 We learn that it was a female and photos were scarce as she sauntered over the road into the forest.

Shortly afterwards we came across Athabasca Falls.

Athabasca Falls is a waterfall in Jasper National Park on the upper Athabasca River, approximately 30 kilometres south of the townsite of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and just west of the Icefields Parkway. A powerful, picturesque waterfall, Athabasca Falls is not known so much for the height of the falls (23 metres), as it is known for its force due to the large quantity of water falling into the gorge. Even on a cold morning in the fall, when river levels tend to be at their lowest, copious amounts of water flow over the falls. The river 'falls' over a layer of hard quartzite and through the softer limestone below carving the short gorge and a number of potholes. The falls can be safely viewed and photographed from various viewing platforms and walking trails around the falls. Access is from the nearby parking lot, which leads off Highway 93A just northeast of the falls. Highway 93A takes off from the nearby Icefields Parkway, and crosses the falls on the way north to the town of Jasper. White water rafting often starts below the falls to travel downstream on the Athabasca River to Jasper.
It is a Class 5 waterfall, with a drop of 80 ft (24 m) and a width of 60 ft (18 m).[1]

Leaving the falls we rejoin Highway 93 which is also known as The Icefields Parkway. This is because it runs parallel to the enormous Colombia Icefield.
ICEFIELDS PARKWAY
The Colombia Icefield, an echo from the last ice age, spans the Continental Divide and the boundary between Jasper and Banff national parks. Headwaters to three major river systems, the icefield feeds eight major glaciers and brushes against some of the highest mountains in the Rockies. Winding 232 glorious kilometres through the heart of the mountain parks, the Icefields Parkway has been called the most scenic drive in the world. Around every corner, the route offers fresh wonders – from pristine lakes and broad sweeping valleys brimming with flora and fauna to the venerable and ever-receding Athabasca Glacier.

About one hour later we stopped at the Icefield Centre just as the rain began to ease. The whole journey from Jasper had so far been shrouded in mist and rain spoiling the views of the mountain tops. At the Centre we drove down to the car park and walked to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier. This was a magnificent sight and just one of the glaciers that protrudes from the Colombian Icefield.

Colombia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield is an icefield located in the Canadian Rockies, astride the Continental Divide of North America. The icefield lies partly in the northwestern tip of Banff National Park and the southern end of Jasper National Park. It is about 325 km² in area, 100 to 365 metres (328 to 1,197 ft) in depth and receives up to seven metres (275 in) of snowfall per year. The icefield feeds eight major glaciers, including:
The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six principal 'toes' of the Columbia Icefield, located in the Canadian Rockies. The glacier currently recedes at a rate of 2–3 metres (6.6–9.8 ft) per year[1] and has receded more than 1.5 km (0.93 mi) in the past 125 years and lost over half of its volume. The glacier moves down from the icefield at a rate of several centimetres per day. Due to its close proximity to the Icefields Parkway, between the Alberta towns of Banff and Jasper, and rather easy accessibility, it is the most visited glacier in North America. The leading edge of the glacier is within easy walking distance; however, travel onto the glacier is not recommended unless properly equipped. Hidden crevasses have led to the deaths of unprepared tourists.
The Icefield Interpretive Centre, closed during the winter (mid-October to mid-April),[2] stands across from the glacier. It is used as a lodge and for ticket sales for sightseeing on the glacier. Standard buses transport tourists to the glacier edge, where they board specially designed snow coaches for transport over the steep grades, snow and ice part way up the glacier.
The glacier is approximately 6 km (3.7 mi) long, covers an area of 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi), and is measured to be between 90–300 metres (300–980 ft) thick.
Surrounded by mountains

We continued down the Icefields Parkway until we came across Num-Ti-Jah Lodge ………………… on the Bow Lake just north of Lake Louise in Banff National Forest is a treasure but then again, the entire Canadian Rockies is one unending series of esthetically arresting moments. The Num-Ti-Jah lodge was built and run by arguably the most iconic frontiersman of the Canadian Rockies, the legendary Jimmy Simpson. It borders the underrated Bow Lake (underrated due to having the misfortune of being a stone's throw from its supermodel big sisters Lake Louise and Moraine Lake). However, when you combine the lake with the lodge, it is an experience not to be missed. I highly recommend staying at the lodge. You can feel the 100 years of stories speaking to you with every creak kneaded out of the wooden floors with your next foot step. After a night's stay, I rose at 6:30am and peaked out the 3rd story window just in time to see a young grizzly bear ambling across the parking lot with the occasional sudden startled lurch prompted by the persistent dive bombing attack of a mocking bird. Roused by this unexpected morning performance, I got dressed and took a nice morning hike around the lake perimeter singing that familiar Canadian Rocky song, "Yo Bear!" Unforgettable.

Partially refreshed Neil continued the driving whilst Angela and I fell asleep only to wake an hour later as we pulled into the lovely town of Banff. As it was still drizzling with rain and the ground was sodden with the previous showers this morning we decided against camping and looked for lodgings. We parked outside the Visitors Information Centre and, as luck would have it, Neil spotted a vacancy sign just over the road. Off he went to explore 'Banff Beaver Cabins' and the owner, Laura, showed us around a beautiful backyard cabin called 'Bear' that was available for the next couple of nights. We were blown away by the quaintness of the place and booked up immediately. We were all shattered at this stage but needed to press on and not waste any time. The weather had brightened up amazingly so we did a recky of the town before plonking ourselves in an Irish Pub – St James Gate – where we enjoyed a few pints of the black stuff. Afterwards, we got a curry takeaway from Masala which we devoured at 'home' before hitting the sack for a good nights sleep.

Banff
Experience the authentic and vibrant community, modern amenities and beautiful surroundings of the Town of Banff.

Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, Banff is a town that makes you feel at home and exhilarated with wonder all at the same time.

There is no other place in the world where you can find a vibrant community of artists, athletes, families, outdoor enthusiasts, restaurateurs and hoteliers nestled in a 6,641km2 national park. This is a town that truly celebrates its heritage, lives and breathes mountain culture and never takes its backyard for granted.

With modern amenities and more than enough accommodations, restaurants and activities to choose from, Banff is a premier destination for authentic hospitality, mountain culture, relaxation and amusement.

Once “Siding 29” on the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Town of Banff was intended to be a tourist town from its very inception. The park’s first superintendent, George Stewart, even oriented the town’s first street in such as way that it would offer the best possible views of Cascade Mountain.
Banff /ˈbæmf/ is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately 126 km (78 mi) west of Calgary and 58 km (36 mi) east of Lake Louise. At an elevation of 1,463 m (4,800 ft), Banff is the community with the second highest elevation in Canada after Lake Louise.
The Town of Banff is the first municipality to incorporate within a Canadian national park. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership.
Banff is a resort town and one of Canada's most popular tourist destinations, known for its mountainous surroundings and hot springs. It is a destination for outdoor sports and features extensive hiking, biking, scrambling and skiing areas within the area. Sunshine Village, Ski Norquay and Lake Louise Mountain Resort are the three nearby ski resorts located within the national park.
Banff was first settled in the 1880s, after the transcontinental railway was built through the Bow Valley. In 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway workers stumbled upon a series of natural hot springs on the side of Sulphur Mountain. In 1885, Canada established a federal reserve of 26 km2 (10 sq mi) around the Cave and Basin hot springs, and began promoting the area as an international resort and spa as a way to support the new railway.[4] In 1887, the reserve area was increased to 673 km2 (260 sq mi) and named "Rocky Mountain Park." This was the beginning of Canada's National Park system.
The area was named Banff in 1884 by George Stephen, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, recalling his birthplace in Banffshire, Scotland, now simply Banff. The Canadian Pacific built a series of grand hotels along the rail line and advertised the Banff Springs Hotel as an international tourist resort.
The Banff townsite was developed near the railway station as a service centre for tourists visiting the park. It was administered by the Government of Canada's national parks system until 1990 when the Town of Banff became the only incorporated municipality within a Canadian national park.
In 1985, the United Nations declared Banff National Park, as one of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, a World Heritage Site. Banff remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in Canada.
One of the most notable figures of Banff was Norman Luxton, who was known as "Mr. Banff". He published the Crag and Canyon newspaper, built the King Edward Hotel and the Lux Theatre, and founded the Sign of the Goat Curio Shop, which led to the development of the Luxton Museum of Plains Indians, now the Buffalo Nations Museum.[5] He and his family helped organize the Banff Indian Days and the Banff Winter Carnival.
In 1976, the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (IAU/WGPSN) officially adopted the name Banff for a crater on Mars, after the town in Alberta. The crater is at latitude 17.7° north and longitude 30.8° west. Its diameter is 5 km (3.1 mi).[6]

Sat, 15th Jun: Banff Beaver Cabins, Banff
We awoke bright and early and headed to the Tunnel Mountain Trail which is a 3km switchback trail to the top of the Mountain at a height of 1690m. Tunnel Mountain, likely due to its easy grade and location in the heart of Banff, is a very popular hike. The trail has a gentle grade for most of the way, with a few mildly steep sections. The top offers a panoramic view of the stunning Banff town, the Bow valley and river, the famous Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and grounds and the surrounding wilderness. From the summit and on the way up we were also rewarded with stunning views of Mountains surrounding the valley including Mt Rundle (2948m), Cascade Mountain (2998m), Mt Brewster (2896m), Mt Norquay (2615m) and Sulphur Mountain (2295m). Sulphur Mountain is the peak from which the Banff Gondola rises majestically to the top of for more views. We descended the trail the way we had come and returned to our cabin for refreshments spotting a deer on the way – as you do!

Aptly named as it was once suggested to construct a 275 m (902 ft) tunnel through the tiny mountain. A General Manager who was furious at the suggestion, exclaimed "Are we going to hold up this railway for a year and a half while they build their damned tunnel? Take it out!". An alternative route north of the mountain was found saving millions of dollars. The idea of a tunnel was scrapped altogether, but the mountain is still called Tunnel Mountain to this day. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth hiked to the top of the mountain during their 1939 Royal Tour.

Rejuvenated we headed off to explore further by car. At Lake Minnewanka we drove a circular scenic route and took in Lower Bankhead, Upper Bankhead, the lake itself and Two Jack lakeside campground. Lake Minnewanka ("Water of the Spirits" in Nakoda) is a glacial lake 28 km long and 142m deep, making it the longest lake in the mountain parks of the Canadian Rockies – the result of a power dam at the west end. The lake is fed by the Cascade River, flowing east of Cascade Mountain, and runs south through Stewart Canyon as it empties into the western end of the lake. The area is rich in animal life e.g. elk, mule deer, mountain sheep and bears.

Dams were built in 1912 and 1941 to supply the town with hydro-electric power. The most recent dam (1941) raised the lake 30 m and submerged the resort village of Minnewanka Landing that had been present there since 1888. Because of the presence of the submerged village, submerged bridge pilings, and submerged dam (the one from 1912) the lake is popular among recreational scuba divers.

It is here that we first experienced the Big Horn Rocky Mountain sheep just standing in the road. A mile further down we saw a group of them making their way out of the forest and what fine proud animals they were 🙂 posing for pics! It was amazing just how close you could get to them!

From Minnewanka, we continued onto Johnson Lake for our second walk of the day. Due to its low elevation, the trail around Johnson Lake is a fine walk. There is a lot of variety in the forest of the lower Bow Valley, and this short trail samples much of it, as well as a couple of marshy areas where waterfowl and muskrat are seen. By hiking around the lake we enjoy continuous views of Cascade Mountain along the sparsely forested north shore. At the far end of the lake, the trail crosses an earthen dike, where we get good views down the length of this peaceful lake to Cascade Mountain. We walked the 4km circumference hoping to catch a glimpse of a grizzly but this was not meant to be today 😦 There were many visitors and locals to the area on this warm sunny Saturday afternoon.

Our exploration then takes us to Norquay Viewpoint along a steep road up the side of Stoney Squaw Mountain (1884m). At this viewpoint we were again rewarded with stunning views of the town and the surrounding Rocky Mountains in their glorious splendour on this very clear sunny day 🙂 Mount Norquay is one of the popular ski areas of Banff and there's probably no better place to get the lay of the land around Banff than here.

We drive back downtown, park the car back at the cabin and walk into town for the excitement of Bike Fest 2013 and some dinner. Bike Fest 2013 is a 4 day $21,000 prize cycling competition. 500 cyclists from Western Canada and the US participate in five competitive events in 'Canada's finest bike race'. We witness the end of a 22 lap men's race and the start of a 25 lap race … all very intriguing and exciting.

Feeling hungry we head to Wild Bills for dinner … we have a drink and wait for Angela as she goes off to do some shopping. On her return we enjoy our dinner before heading back to the cabin where, once again we spend the evening blogging, washing and packing for our onward journey to Lake Louise tomorrow.

Sun, 16th Jun: Fathers Day 🙂 @ Lake Louise Campground, Banff National Park
We woke up today to Father's Day messages and cards 🙂 beautiful xxxx Kieran and Lauren had posted their cards to Angela and she had brought them out to us. Neil was very surprised indeed to be receiving cards so far away from home and was quite emotional. We shared facetime with Lauren and I managed to contact my Dad. After huge thanks to the proprietors Laura and Lloyd for a great stay, Ang and I headed over to Roots to finalise the purchase of some pressies before jumping in the car once more and heading off on a 60km journey to the village of Lake Louise and Lake Louise Campground, a Banff National Park site.

The campground here is surrounded by an electric fence!!!!! This is the best means to safely guide bears around the tenting area as they travel through the bottom of the valley and to prevent them from being attracted into the campground to forage on natural plant foods or improperly stored human good or garbage. We soon erected the camp, headed to the small village to purchase our evening meal supplies, and then went off to find the Gondola at the Lake Louise Ski Hill.

We had been told that the gondola was the best grizzly bear viewing spot and scenery in the Rockies! The ski hill parking lot and day lodge also has an electric fence surrounding it to protect the bears from contact with mortals. We opted for the open chair gondola and cruised for 14 glorious minutes to one of the world's greatest views! From the top, at 2088m of Mt Whitehorn, the spectacular scenery was mind-blowing … it really did not look real as it was picture postcard perfect 🙂 In the distance we could see Lake Louise in all its turquoise glory. Alongside it was Chateau Lake Louise. There were fantastic views of many peaks including Mt Temple (3547m), Little Temple (2583m), Mt Aberdeen (3151m) and Mt Fairview (2747m) to name a few of the giants.

Following this we walked the short distance to the Wildlife Interpretive Centre. It is here that we discovered why this breathtaking area is prime habitat for that most magnificent of creatures – the iconic grizzly bear. We browsed through the many displays and presentations then wandered the 'Trail of the Great Bear' with one of the knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, Nikki, for our own close, unforgettable encounter with local flora, fauna and learning how to trace the wild animals here and identify evidence of them passing through the area.

We returned to the base of the gondola ride where we stopped in the beautiful lodge for a coffee before heading off for the short drive to the lake itself! Here we spent half an hour soaking up the atmosphere and the breathtaking scenery in the warm sunshine 🙂 A very strange experience was also had here …. a harley convoy of sheriffs turned up for pics with Lake Louise as the backdrop. Very friendly, they allowed the crowds to take their own pics and to sit on their bikes for personal pics of their own … which we were eager to do, lol.

Weary we all decided to head back to camp to make the most of the gorgeous weather and relax for the rest of the evening. Neil cooked up yet another superb dinner and once we'd cleared up we sat around one of our best campfires yet listening to music, making s'mores, drinking beer and chillaxing …. happy dayzzzzzzzzz 🙂

Lake Louise has become symbolic of the quintessentially Canadian mountain scene. This alpine lake, known for its sparkling blue waters, is situated at the base of impressive glacier-clad peaks that have long been at the heart of Canadian mountaineering. At about 2.5 kilometres long and 90 metres deep, the lake offers a surreal paddling experience in the warm summer months and one of the most scenic skating rinks in the world in winter.

The hamlet is named for the nearby Lake Louise, which in turn was named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939), the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. The hamlet was originally a station along the Canadian Pacific Railway route built in 1890. The hamlet of Lake Louise, located just minutes from the lake itself, has been developed over the last century to serve the needs of people visiting this astonishingly accessible and picturesque area of Banff National Park. Located nearby, Moraine Lake, with its indigo blue waters surrounded by the Valley of the Ten Peaks, is another one of Canada’s most iconic lakes. For vacationers seeking the purest of alpine experiences, Lake Louise is a protected mountain destination that is located in close proximity to world-class hotels, postcard perfect lodges, dining options and both summer and winter activities.

Mon, 17th Jun: Canyon Hot Springs, Albert Canyon, British Colombia
After a very late night and a fairly late morning by our standards, we left the stunning area of Lake Louise heading west on Highway 1 towards the town of Revelstoke. Only that morning we had managed to book a White Water Rafting adventure with a company called the Kootenay River Runners. Based 20km west of the town of Field ………. We had booked on a rafting trip called the Kicking Horse Classic and we headed off eagerly to find their 'base camp. En route we stopped at an amazing town called Field ………… on the Kicking Horse River. Here we grabbed a coffee and some cash from the Standing Order….. and was amazed that the town only had a population of 142. Continuing west on Highway 1 the scenery was again simply stunning as we passed through Yoho National Park ………….

FIELD / YOHO
Offering breathtaking mountain scenery, plentiful wildlife, comfortable accommodations, and world-class outdoor recreation, the townsite of Field, British Columbia is the cozy alternative for those seeking small-town charm and big-time adventure in the heights of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Nestled just west of the continental divide within Yoho National Park, Field is a scenic 2 ½ hour drive from Calgary, Alberta. The Trans-Canada Highway takes you from the prairies to the peaks as you travel through Banff National Park, passing Lake Louise on your way to Field.

Winter Thrills in Canada's Rocky Mountains

Enveloped in a cold mist, Mt. Stephen towers over the village of Field.
The winter months bring with them a deep blanket of snow that covers the Rocky Mountains in a rich peacefulness. Field is an ideal starting point to enjoy the winter playground that the mountains offer. Perfectly situated between two internationally renowned ski resorts, the legendary Lake Louise and the powder paradise at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Golden, BC. Rise and shine in Field, check the snow reports, and get an early start at the mountain with the most powder!

Yoho National Park also boasts an incredible network of cross country ski trails that start right from the townsite of Field. Snowshoeing and dog sledding are also popular ways of enjoying the snow near Field. Lastly, the Field and Yoho Valleys are host to a variety of world class ice climbing routes, making Field a major destination for ice climbers from around the globe.

Outdoor Adventure in Yoho National Park
In the summer, get back to nature with unequalled backcountry hiking and camping, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. Scramble to the summit of a mountain peak. Get the adrenaline pumping with access to an abundance of rock climbing and bouldering, fantastic whitewater rafting, and the best cross-country and downhill mountain biking trail networks in the Rockies. Hike Lake O'Hara's extensive network of sub-alpine trails, wildflower-carpeted alpine meadows, and vividly coloured glacier-carved lakes. Spectacular waterfalls, rugged rock formations, and wildlife abound in seemingly-unending forest surroundings that truly feel alive. Field BC puts you in the middle of outdoor adventure at its best.

Yoho: A Brilliant Setting For Discovery
Year round, enjoy clean air, majestic mountain panoramas, and wild rivers and lakes featuring an artist's colour palette ranging from crystal-clear to emerald and turquoise.

Boasting a rich human and natural history, the Field townsite and Yoho National Park are a goldmine for enthusiasts of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the ingenious Spiral Tunnels, early explorers of the Rocky Mountains, and people with a fascination for the prehistoric lessons offered by well-preserved fossils of ancient marine life at the world-famous Burgess Shale fossil beds.

Stay Awhile in Yoho National Park
Small town charm and mountain-sized adventures await right at your doorstep, and there's plenty of comfy bed and breakfast-style lodging in Field.

We soon found the base camp of Kootenay River Runners and was greeted by our guide for the day Vernon. The company has been introducing adventurous travellers to the delights of river rafting since 1976. They have guided thousands down the Kicking Horse, Kootenay, Colombia Rivers and Toby Creek as they carve their way through some of the most impressive mountain landscape in the Canadian Rockies.

After a brief steak and salad lunch we were soon getting into our white water rafting gear which included wetsuits fleeces waterproof jackets and boots, helmets and of course the obligatory life jacket. Nerves kicking in we headed to the river where we had a brief introduction from one of the guides. Nervously we clambered into our boat having been teamed up with three american Chinese people … a father and his son and daughter.

The first 15 minutes was extremely calm and sedate and Vernon took this opportunity of acquainting us all with the basics of white water rafting … left side forward, right side reverse, over left and most importantly of all HOLD ON!!!!! It wasn't long before we were crashing through exhilarating rapids, Angela in the middle position on the right hand side seeming to attract all of the water that hit the boat. We were soon all screaming and hollering as we crashed through rapids such as Roller Coaster, Last Waltz, Cable Car Rapid and Goat Rapid. After about 45mins all three rafts pulled to the side of the river and we all clambered out and walked around the bend of the river on foot to view two huge rapid areas called Shotgun and Portage. The purpose of this stop was for the guides to assess the rapids to see if anything had changed in the previous 2-3 days. Boulders can often move in the river and logs can alter the course of the rapids. Satisfied we climbed back into the rafts and headed downstream straight into the two rapids. This was totally exhilarating and a real buzz for our 'team'.

Many smaller rapids followed until just before we were due to leave the river we came upon Twin Towers … another frightening rapid which gave us a further buzz. Just after this we pulled in to the river bank at Glenogle where we were met by the old school bus which took us back to base camp. Unbelievably we had covered nearly 16km of the Kicking Horse River!!! and what an awesome way to do it 🙂

Back at base camp we got out of our gear and thanked the experts for their guidance before climbing into the car for our onward journey. Tired, we decided to stop at Canyon Hot Springs, 35km short of Revelstoke. In doing so, we had re-entered British Colombia, climbing over Roger's Pass (where the time change meant we had gained an hour)…..
Rogers Pass (elevation 1,330 m or 4,360 ft) is a high mountain pass through the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia used by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Trans-Canada Highway. The pass is a shortcut across the "Big Bend" of the Columbia River from Revelstoke on the west to Donald, near Golden, on the east. The pass was discovered on May 29, 1881, by Major Albert Bowman Rogers, a surveyor working for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Rogers Pass is in the heart of Glacier National Park, in the midst of mountains popular for ski mountaineering, camping, hiking and mountain climbing ever since the region became accessible in 1886. The location has tourist services including the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, a hotel and National Park services. Rogers Pass is commemorated as a National Historic Site of Canada.[1]
Rogers Pass is a narrow valley surrounded by a number of mountains. It is formed by the headwaters of the Illecillewaet River to the west and by the Beaver River to the east. Both of these rivers are tributaries of the Columbia River, which loops about 240 km around to the north of the pass. It was named after Major Rogers who first surveyed the pass.
Rogers Pass is known for its winter snowfall, which amounts to about 10 m per year. Because of steep mountains, avalanches are very common in winter. When the railway first went over the pass, 31 snow sheds with a total length of about 6.5 km were built to protect the railway from the avalanches. Snow sheds for the Trans-Canada Highway were built later, including large ones in 1962. To keep the Highway open during the winter, the Royal Canadian Artillery uses 105 mm howitzers to knock down the avalanches under controlled circumstances so traffic is not caught in unexpected avalanches.

into Glacier National Park ………….
Glacier National Park is located in the U.S. state of Montana, south from the Canadian borders of Alberta and British Columbia. The park encompasses over 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km2) and includes parts of two mountain ranges (sub-ranges of the Rocky Mountains), over 130 named lakes, more than 1,000 different species of plants and hundreds of species of animals. This vast pristine ecosystem is the centerpiece of what has been referred to as the "Crown of the Continent Ecosystem", a region of protected land encompassing 16,000 square miles (41,000 km2).[3]
The region that became Glacier National Park was first inhabited by Native Americans and upon the arrival of European explorers, was dominated by the Blackfeet in the east and the Flathead in the western regions. Soon after the establishment of the park on May 11, 1910, a number of hotels and chalets were constructed by the Great Northern Railway. These historic hotels and chalets are listed as National Historic Landmarks, and a total of 350 locations are on the National Register of Historic Places. By 1932, work was completed on the Going-to-the-Sun Road, later designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, which provided greater accessibility for automobiles into the heart of the park.
The mountains of Glacier National Park began forming 170 million years ago when ancient rocks were forced eastward up and over much younger rock strata. Known as the Lewis Overthrust, these sedimentary rocks are considered to have some of the finest fossilized examples of extremely early life found anywhere on Earth. The current shapes of the Lewis and Livingston mountain ranges and positioning and size of the lakes show the telltale evidence of massive glacial action, which carved U-shaped valleys and left behind moraines which impounded water creating lakes. Of the estimated 150 glaciers which existed in the park in the mid-19th century, only 25 active glaciers remained by 2010.[4] Scientists studying the glaciers in the park have estimated that all the glaciers may disappear by 2020 if the current climate patterns persist.
Glacier National Park has almost all its original native plant and animal species. Mammals such as the grizzly and mountain goat as well as less common ones such as the wolverine and lynx are known to inhabit the park. Hundreds of species of birds, more than a dozen fish species and even a few reptile and amphibian species have been documented. The park has numerous ecosystems ranging from prairie to tundra and the easternmost forests of red cedar and hemlock normally found in large numbers closer to the Pacific Ocean. Though larger forest fires are uncommon in the park, in 2003 over 10% of the park was impacted by fires.[5]
Glacier National Park borders Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada—the two parks are known as the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and were designated as the world's first International Peace Park in 1932. Both parks were designated by the United Nations as Biosphere Reserves in 1976, and in 1995 as World Heritage sites.[6][7]

Located in British Colombia's spectacular Selkirk Mountains between Mt Glacier and Mt Revelstoke National Parks, Canyon Hot Springs offered us complete rest and relaxation in its natural mineral hot springs whilst overlooking the beautiful mountain scenery. There were two pools … the cold pool at 86 degrees F and the hot pool at 104 degrees F !!!!! After our 'hot' baths we showered and settled for a pizza and coffee whilst catching up with the world via the wifi in the site's lobby before we headed off for some much needed zzzzzz's.

Tue, 18th Jun: Skana Lake, Kaleden
After a drizzly night we woke to a dry morning and, as the sun popped up above the mountains, we immediately set about drying out the tents and tarps. After a brief wifi catch up in the cafe, we headed to Revelstoke …………. on Highway 97. At this beautiful town we sat at a table outside on the quaint street for breakfast … eggs benedict for me and Neil …. Almond and Blueberry French Toast for Ang.

Leaving Revelstoke we continued on the 97A through the towns of Sicamous ……. Enderby …….. Spallumcheen …….. and at the town of Vernon we stopped for a Maccie D lunch and called into the Walmart there to fill up with supplies. We continued through the towns of Lake Country ……… Kelowna ……… and West Kelowna ….. and this area is known for its wineries – another beautiful area indeed. As it was still early we decided to push on to the small town of Kaleden ……. where we found a lovely campsite on the banks of Skaha Lake.

After setting up camp we cooked tea (fajitas) in our wonderful 'kitchen' with its gorgeous views. Relaxing for the rest of the evening we were joined for s'mores by the geese and ducks AND carp … a wonderful evening was whiled away 🙂 Ang headed to bed about 11.00pm whilst Neil and I made the most of the remaining wood which we still had. We stayed around the fire drinking and reminiscing for another good hour or so … happy times 🙂

Welcome to Kelowna, located in the Okanagan Valley, BC

Cradled within a glorious range of mountains; a sanctuary blessed with pristine lakes, pine forests, abundant gardens, orchards and vineyards, sandy beaches, and superb amenities.

A variety of accommodations offer myriad choices; lakeside resorts, hotels, quaint motels, luxurious vacation rentals, cozy B&B's, cabins, RV parks and campsites. When you're planning a holiday that is family friendly, romantic, or ideal for a group of friends, you'll find the perfect lodging in Kelowna.
As the largest city located on stunning Okanagan Lake, Kelowna is a recreational lakeside paradise with miles of beautiful parkland and several sandy beaches that provide wonderful opportunities for swimming, boating, water-skiing, windsurfing and fishing. Even Kelowna's mainstreet ends at a beach!

Soak it all in on one of many outdoor patios. Stroll along the lakefront boardwalk and explore the local treasures being sold by the artisans or kick off your shoes and enjoy a free concert in the park.
Kelowna is emerging as Canada's newest golf destination, offering a whopping 101,382 yards of golf heaven. From easy-going to ego-shattering there are 20 golf courses to choose from.

If you're a wine enthusiast, touring Kelowna is a must. There are more than 29 unique wineries offering tours and tastings for all pallets.

Or take in the arts and culture, the heritage, the winter activities, the list goes on… and on… and on.
Get advice from real travelers for your Kelowna vacation

Wed, 19th Jun: Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, Harrison, BC, Canada
We awoke to only the second rainy day of Angela's stay with us … but boy did it rain!!! It stayed with us all day so we set about drying the camp gear before putting it way and decided to get some miles behind us today. No activities for us today.

Leaving Kaleden we headed west on Highway 3 through the towns of Keremeos …… Princeton …….. and Manning Park ……. before driving over Allison Pass ….. towards the town of Hope. It is Hope where we had originally planned to spend the night. However, we had made such good progress and, as it was still raining, we decided to push on for one more hour to Harrison Hot Springs … well, we couldn't not really could we Ang 🙂 Neil called into Visitors Information where he acquired a list of accommodations for the area. We treated ourselves to a night at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa and oh what a treat it was 🙂

A gorgeous hotel where we bathed in each of the 5 hot pools in turn lol 🙂 After this Ang and I slumped out in our luxurious room and entertained ourselves with some room service … happy dayzzz! Neil headed into 'town' to partake of beverages at the local hostelry lol and, when he returned decided on another dip in the hot pool before bed. We had a short but lovely stay at this resort. An idyllic location for our final night before visiting Jo and Clive. It gave us the opportunity to tidy ourselves and our luggage up before entering back into the civilised world 🙂

The hot springs at the south end of Harrison Lake has always hd a reputation as a place for healing. Called "Waum Chuck" by local First Nations, the springs were believed to be a place of supernatural origin andof great benefit to those who drank the water.

In 1873, Joseph Armsrong purchased 40 acres around the spring. He was a wealthy businessman who had made his fortune in the Cariboo gold fields. The completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway line through the nearby town of Agassiz in 1885 was closely followed by the opening of a road between the hot spring and train station.

In 1886, the St Alice Hotel was constructed at the south end of Harrison Lake. A wood frame structure, the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1922. By 1926, the new hotel was ready for opening and it was named the Harrison Hot Springs Hotel. Situated at lakeside on over 700 acres of grounds, the hotel has been expanded and improved upon ever since.

Through the 20's and 30's the hotel was a popular retreat for guests from Vancouver and Seattle. Through the 1940's the war years and following the hotel served as a war casualty retraining centre and as a convalescent home for female members of the armed forces.

Under the ownership of the House of Seagram from 1953 to 1974, the hotel experienced several expansion projects including the addition of the forum Ballroom, the West Tower and Wing and the Health Pavilion. In 1989, Itoman O Canada, a large Japanese corporation, added the East Tower and Conference Centre. The 90's saw the addition of two outdoor pools and the upgrading of the hotel's marina.

The addition of Healing Springs Spa in 2001 brought the now Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa into the 21st Century. Now under the ownership and management of Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, British Columbia's favourite getaway enters a new era of renewal and looks forward to welcoming all guests seeking a place to rest, relax and rejuvenate.

Thu, 20th Jun: Jo & Clive 's Apartment, Kitsilano, Vancouver
A late checkout of 11.30am saw us taking our time sorting and re-packing our belongings in readiness for our return journey to Vancouver today. Another wet rainy day awaits us and, before we jump in the car, we head to The Hungry Chef for brunch … NOM NOM NOM.

Our 'wet' journey takes us 2.5hrs as we got stuck in traffic on entering the City … it's been a long time. Once in Vancouver we soon locate Jo and Clive 's place by Kitsilano Beach ……

We park the car in a non-permit area before making the short 5min walk to The Burrito Bros restaurant ……. where we have a drink for the half an hour we wait for Jo to return home from work.

Wonderful evening

Meal at The Boathouse ……….

Walk back to the apartment for chat n bed.
Made most welcome

Fri, 21st Jun: 29 years today since N&I met! Jo & Clive 's Apartment, Kitsilano
Jo and Clive have headed off to the gym early today before going on to work. Neil Angela and I relax for the morning and have a nice lazy morning. Neil and I take the short walk to Viva ……….. a favourite of Jo and Clive 🙂 We return to the apartment and once Angela has packed for her return home tomorrow, the three of us head off for a walk to Granville Island ………………

It was a great walk alongside this part of the Pacific Ocean and, once at Granville Island, we head to The Keg……………… for refreshment. After a couple of hours reminiscing over our time together we make the return walk. By this time the sunshine is out and the beach is buzzing with locals. Kitsilano is certainly a vibrant place to live … right in the middle of everything. The sunshine 'forces' us to call in at The Local …… a mere 5min walk from Jo's apartment. Here we sit outside and partake of some more beverages and soon Jo and Clive join us on their return from work. We decide to have dinner here and a truly wonderful few hours is had. Before we know it, we are heading back to the apartment to prepare for our departure tomorrow. Clive falls asleep on the sofa signalling that it is time to wrap up the evening for much needed zzzzzz's.

Sat, 22nd Jun: Angela's Birthday and departure to UK … Us to Idaho …
6 Motel, Ellensburg
We awoke to Angela's 46th birthday … Yay … Neil served her a cup of tea in bed whilst she opened her one and only card so far … off us, lol!

We had said our goodbyes to Clive the previous evening as he was off to Whistler early today to compete in a mountain race called The Whistler Mudder. After showers and packing the car … And Angela's sleeping bag!!!!!! … We headed off for brunch to one of Jo's local haunts – The Keg …….. Following a delicious breakfast we headed back to Jo's apartment where we caught up with last minute facetime. After a thankful goodbye we headed off for the smooth journey to the airport. There was a huge queue at check in so after about 45mins we left Angela to it and following an emotional goodbye we left her behind 😦

On the road again we were soon at the US Border and passed through immigration with no problem … Having left the weed with Jo pmsl. Not for Jo I hasten to add … They have friends which they can offload it to :-). We were now on the last leg of or epic road trip to Victor Idaho.

We headed south to Seattle on the I5 before veering eastwards on the I90. We drove through the Snoqualmie Pass ………. which dissects the summit of Snoqualmie Mountain at 6278ft. Continuing on the I90 through Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest ………. we eventually stopped in the small town of Ellensburg luckily grabbing me of the last remaining rooms in a Motel 6 due to the Rabbit Convention in town lol. Neil went out a brought back a pizza takeout which we devoured before relaxing and watching tv before bedtime.

MILEAGE !!!!!!!!!!!