Sunday, August 14, 2011
Jasper Tramway
The Jasper Tramway takes you up Whistler mountain. However, it only takes you half-way up. The rest of the way requires some hiking. The hike is both long and steep. Therefore, tourist who have bad legs might want to take more rests on the way. At the summit, you should take plenty of pictures because the view is terrific. You can see a beautiful mountain range with glaciers. The hike is about two hours to three hours. It might only take one hour if you are a track and field athlete.
Also , watch your step for the trail is not paved. There are lots of rocks and the trail is very steep. So watch your step, put away your camera, and look down at your feet. Whistler mountain is one of those mountains where people fall off of when they come down.
From the summit you can also see the town of Jasper. It is a small town located in the Valley. Every body know each other and Jasper's only industry is Tourism.
Also , watch your step for the trail is not paved. There are lots of rocks and the trail is very steep. So watch your step, put away your camera, and look down at your feet. Whistler mountain is one of those mountains where people fall off of when they come down.
From the summit you can also see the town of Jasper. It is a small town located in the Valley. Every body know each other and Jasper's only industry is Tourism.
Lake Maligne
Maligne in French means wicked. However, the view is certainly not wicked. It is a magnificent lake with glacier capped mountains surrounding it. It also has small islands. One of the islands is Spirit Island. You probably seen some of the photographs in Quebec and Ontario. Spirit Island is near the end of Maligne Lake. People who have visited Spirit Island call it the meeting place of the Gods.
Lake Maligne is pronounced as Mal-LEEN. This lake has a guided cruise from one end to the other end. The tour guide explains the history, culture, and geology of the lake. When the boat reaches Spirit Island, the tour guide gives everybody on the boat ten minutes to take pictures. You can either hike up and get a broader view of the end of the lake or you can make a left turn when you get off the boat. The narrow trail gives you a lower perspective of the nearby islands.
The tour guide shows his or her audience the old forest fire on the right hand side of the lake. He said that the mountain ecosystem on the right side is healthier than the mountain on the left because the sunlight can penetrate the forest floor. Since the mountain on the left hand side has not had a fire for 200 years, the trees are so dense that the sunlight cannot reach the forest floor. Therefore, many trees on that side of the lake are dying. Animals have to get to a higher altitude in order to survive.
Some of the animal sightings include grizzly bears and black bears. The difference of these two bears are simple. Grizzly Bears have a huge hump on their backs. That hump is pure muscle because they have to be able to swim from one side of the lake to the other side. Grizzly Bears also have claws while the Black Bear does not.
Lake Maligne is pronounced as Mal-LEEN. This lake has a guided cruise from one end to the other end. The tour guide explains the history, culture, and geology of the lake. When the boat reaches Spirit Island, the tour guide gives everybody on the boat ten minutes to take pictures. You can either hike up and get a broader view of the end of the lake or you can make a left turn when you get off the boat. The narrow trail gives you a lower perspective of the nearby islands.
The tour guide shows his or her audience the old forest fire on the right hand side of the lake. He said that the mountain ecosystem on the right side is healthier than the mountain on the left because the sunlight can penetrate the forest floor. Since the mountain on the left hand side has not had a fire for 200 years, the trees are so dense that the sunlight cannot reach the forest floor. Therefore, many trees on that side of the lake are dying. Animals have to get to a higher altitude in order to survive.
Some of the animal sightings include grizzly bears and black bears. The difference of these two bears are simple. Grizzly Bears have a huge hump on their backs. That hump is pure muscle because they have to be able to swim from one side of the lake to the other side. Grizzly Bears also have claws while the Black Bear does not.
Angel Glacier and Mount Edith Cavell
When you arrive in Jasper National Park from Banff on the Icefields parkway (Route 93 or 93A), you will have to hike up Cavell Meadows loop and the Glacier loop. Mount Edith Cavell was named after a British nurse during World War one. She is honored by the Canadians for saving soldiers from both sides of the war front. However, she was executed by the British for treason. She helped some 200 Allied Soldiers escape from German occupied Belgium.
Angel Glacier is one of the glaciers on Mount Edith Cavell. The Glacier is shaped like an angel and that is where it gets its name. Every summer, the melting glacier's water goes to the lake beneath. Walk down to the lake and have a picnic. Enjoy the great photographic moment with your family.
The ice sticking out of the water remind me of pictures of the Arctic Circle. You can also walk on the glacier to take a look at the cave that was formed from the ice and glacier.
The temperature will drop rapidly, so dress in layers. The temperature in the Rockies can change dramatically. It is like there are three different seasons. However, due to Global Warming, the climate has changed dramatically. Edith Cavell no longer has as much snow as 50 to 100 years ago. Hurry to the Canadian Rockies before all the glaciers melt.
The Cavell Meadows loop is a one to two hour hike up the mountain and down the mountain. From the top , you can see the Angel Glacier. You can also see some wildlife such as the Golden striped Squirrel and a huge rat like creature that eat berries all day long. Remember to bring mosquito repellent for the mosquitoes stick to humans like chewing gun. Mosquito are everywhere. I have about 10 mosquito bites after the trip.
If you have poles, then bring your poles for the hike down. The hike down from Cavell Meadows can be both long and treacherous. There are no paved trails at the Cavell Meadows. There is also no restaurants at Edith Cavell. There are only restrooms. Those rest rooms have no running water. Remember to bring sanitizing wipes to clean the toilet seats. You should also buy your lunch from Robinson's Grocery Store before heading to Edith Cavell. They have a excellent Delicatessen. You can buy salads and sandwiches to Edith Cavell.
The glacial lake gets its color from the rock flour that come in from the melting glaciers.
Angel Glacier is one of the glaciers on Mount Edith Cavell. The Glacier is shaped like an angel and that is where it gets its name. Every summer, the melting glacier's water goes to the lake beneath. Walk down to the lake and have a picnic. Enjoy the great photographic moment with your family.
The ice sticking out of the water remind me of pictures of the Arctic Circle. You can also walk on the glacier to take a look at the cave that was formed from the ice and glacier.
The temperature will drop rapidly, so dress in layers. The temperature in the Rockies can change dramatically. It is like there are three different seasons. However, due to Global Warming, the climate has changed dramatically. Edith Cavell no longer has as much snow as 50 to 100 years ago. Hurry to the Canadian Rockies before all the glaciers melt.
The Cavell Meadows loop is a one to two hour hike up the mountain and down the mountain. From the top , you can see the Angel Glacier. You can also see some wildlife such as the Golden striped Squirrel and a huge rat like creature that eat berries all day long. Remember to bring mosquito repellent for the mosquitoes stick to humans like chewing gun. Mosquito are everywhere. I have about 10 mosquito bites after the trip.
If you have poles, then bring your poles for the hike down. The hike down from Cavell Meadows can be both long and treacherous. There are no paved trails at the Cavell Meadows. There is also no restaurants at Edith Cavell. There are only restrooms. Those rest rooms have no running water. Remember to bring sanitizing wipes to clean the toilet seats. You should also buy your lunch from Robinson's Grocery Store before heading to Edith Cavell. They have a excellent Delicatessen. You can buy salads and sandwiches to Edith Cavell.
The glacial lake gets its color from the rock flour that come in from the melting glaciers.
Schedule for Tourist travelling to Canadian Rockies Page 1
From Newark International Airport, you take Air Canada to Calgary International Airport. Upon arriving at Calgary, rent a car without a GPS system. Bring your own portable GPS. Do not go with a Tour bus because the tour company only skims the basic places. By travelling your own rental car, you have more freedom and thus more time to explore and photograph. Drive to Banff's town. First, you should go to the gondola at Sulphur Mountain. Ride the Gondola by buying a package. The package includes the Columbian Icefield, the Gondola at Sulphur mountain, and the cruise at Lake Minnewaka. Give yourself plently of time to climb to the summit of Sulphur mountain. The view is beautiful compared with the other places. The climb can be arduous for older climbers in their 60s and 70s, but it is relatively easy compared with Whistler Mountain at Jasper.
At night, you can watch the stars while at the Hot Springs which are next to the Gondolas. The Hot Springs is a therapeutic method for curing different skin problems. It is a family friendly hot springs. Remember to bring your swim wear and your towels to the hot springs.
After the hot springs, you can stay at hotels on the main street. I reconomend the comfortable beds at the Inn of Banff. That is not the Banff Inn.
At night, you can watch the stars while at the Hot Springs which are next to the Gondolas. The Hot Springs is a therapeutic method for curing different skin problems. It is a family friendly hot springs. Remember to bring your swim wear and your towels to the hot springs.
After the hot springs, you can stay at hotels on the main street. I reconomend the comfortable beds at the Inn of Banff. That is not the Banff Inn.
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