Mile 20035

 We leave Hinton, AB this morning, and the sky is showing many clouds.  We drive back into Jasper N.P. and stop in Jasper for some great breakfast at Ottos Cache Coffee Place.  After that we find the Hwy-93, the Icefields Parkway, and continue our way South.  

Good Morning Jasper N.P.

After the wildfire 2024, nature recovers, wildlife returns

 We make a stop at the Athabasca Pass Lookout, but because of the on and off rain and the low hanging clouds there is not much to see from this mountain range.  

Athabasca Pass Lookout

 A little further down the road we stop again to pay a visit to the Athabasca Falls.  Even though still some drizzle rain coming down, the falls are worth a visit.  Amazing what glacial activities over more than 10,000 years and the resulting river have carved out of those mountains.  

Athabasca Falls

 After that we continue down the road along mountain peaks the likes of Evelyn Peak, Geraldine Peak, along the Queen Elizabeth Ranges, Mt. Brazeau to the Stutfield Glacier.  

Along the way, and a waterfall I can't remember its name

Stutfield Glacier

Athabasca Glacier

 We are surprised how much that glacier has receded since our visit in 2014 and even more surprised when we come down to Mt. Athabasca and the Columbia Icefield / Athabasca Glacier.  Once again we are shown that global warming is real, and the glaciers are one natural phenomena which are showing it to us very clearly.  We continue down the road but not without stopping at many more places to look at  glaciers and mountain ranges, one more impressive than the other.  Rather later than sooner we reach the Sakatchewan River Crossing and roll into Lake Louise, AB but not without having another stop at the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint.  

Crowfoot Glacier in the mist

 Here Hwy-93 joins the TCH-1 and we move towards Banff, AB.  In Castle Junction, AB we leave the TCH and move back onto Hwy-93 to Vermilion Crossing, BC and along equally impressive mountain peaks to our left and right.  After passing through Kootenay Crossing, BC we soon reach Radium Hot Springs, BC.  

Radium Hot Springs, BC

 Our attempts to find a place to stay for the night are not rewarded.  This town is like Piccadilly Circus today and we continue to Invermere, BC where we had more luck.  Tomorrow we will continue South and leave Canada.

"The mountains are calling and I must go."  -  John Muir, letter to his sister Sarah Muir Galloway, September 3, 1873