RELATIVES, RITES and ROUTES Day 15 September 23, 2009 Jasper to Columbia Icefields

It’s another glorious day in paradise and we managed to keep our record intact. We were the last to leave the campground as we got away around 11am. After quickly stopping for water we bid Jasper goodbye and headed south on Hwy 93 which is also called “The Icefields Highway”.

We had ventured a little south yesterday so we passed by Hardistry Mountain, Mount Edith Cavell and Athabasca Falls.

Mount Hardistry

Mount Edith Cavell

Athabasca Falls

Our first major stop was Sunwapta Falls where we had lunch after stopping on the way for many pictures. The mountains were magnificent and each one had a very different and distinct look. One of these was Mount Fryatt.

Mount Christie

Brussels Peak

Mount Fryatt

After a quick bite we headed to the upper falls and it was pretty amazing to see the amount and force of the water.

We took a few pictures and then headed to the lower falls. It was a 2 kilometer hike and when we got there the view was amazing. In our opinion they are much nicer than the upper falls. The lower falls is actually 2 waterfalls back to back through a very narrow canyon. It is glacial water so it is milky white.

After taking a bunch of pictures we started back to the camper. Now the fun began as the return was all up hill. Funny it didn’t seem like that much of a decline on the way in. However we made it safe and sound and continued down the road.

Soon after leaving the falls we followed a range of mountains called the Endless Chain Range. They had a very distinctive shape and were kind of cool.

The drive from the falls to the Icefields wasn’t that far but the scenery was again spectacular. The Canadian Rockies can compete with anywhere in the world for beauty and magnificence. As we got nearer to the Icefields we started to climb and you could see a subtle change in the scenery. The mountains got more rugged and we started to see snow and small glaciers.

Mount Kitchener

Mushroom Peak

It stayed this way until we reached Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefield Center.

We parked in the center parking lot as that was the only space available this late in the year.

We are not sure if we are going to take the big snow machines onto the icefields. Decisions will have to be made in the morning.

It was a great day and I am sure it is only going to get better.