Canadian Rockies (Jasper)

polk500

So we just got back from Jasper, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies. We climbed down The Whistlers Mountain about a 5 mile hike and a 3000 foot drop in elevation. It's a lot harder then it sounds.

We took the tramway to the top at about 8000 feet the trail was about 900 feet above the tree line fantastic view.

I was surprised about how many folks from down south were there. In the parking lot for the tramway we counted 55 vehicles from the states out of probably 150 total.

So have any Polkies travel too the Canadain Rockies?

Fongolio

A couple of years ago my son and I drove the parkway from Jasper to Banff. It doesn't get much prettier. Love those mountains.

janmike

The wife and I traveled to Banff 13 years ago. Beautiful scenery.

yeahbuddy

Just got back from an extended backpacking trip in Glacier National Park in northern Montana. Though it seems there's a lifetime's worth of trails to cover in that park alone (we did a fairly ambitious 91-miles of hiking in 7 days), I couldn't help but think what was on the other side of the border with Waterton directly north, and what is even farther up with Banff up there. It also seems that with Calgary right in the vicinity, maybe Banff is more accessible than Glacier is anyway (Great Falls MT is ~3 hours driving from GNP).

I loved Glacier and plan on returning to the Rockies perhaps annually for similar trips. Maybe Jasper/Banff should be in the mix for destinations.

polk500

Doing 91 miles in a week that?s fantastic you should be proud of your self?s.

I would highly recommend doing the Banff to Jasper tour.

The scenery is unbelievable with the Continental Divide, the Columbia Ice field?s, the beautiful lakes and rivers, Elk, Bears, Cougars, Wolves and Moose the wildlife is first rate.

Lots of great Hotels and Restaurants and Camping of all kinds from Full Hook up to walk in dry camps with nothing between you and sharp teeth in the middle of the night but fabric! :twisted:

I?ve been to the Mountains many times and plan to go many more never get boring.

Cheers Roger

Willow

I have only seen it all from the air on trips stopping in Calgary and on my way to Victoria

yeahbuddy

polk500 wrote: »

Doing 91 miles in a week that?s fantastic you should be proud of your self?s.

We were happy with the end result...such a big place required big ambition and we got a lot of places. We encountered numerous moose, sheep, and even some bear...at one point we witnessed the lengths people are willing to take to get a good wildlife photo: a grizzly was wandering up to the side of the road so naturally two dozen cars pulled over to snap some pictures. Before long, the bear was within ~20 feet of the road, much to close for comfort, but several people were unfazed snapping away on their cameras as if they were documenting a prairie dog. Thankfully I have a 12x zoom camera so I got a few great ones before hiding behind some of the more adventurous photographers, after sizing them up I felt I could outrun them in the case of a rogue grizzly coming my way! :razz:

polk500

Good to hear.

And yes it was the same up here signs posted everywhere stay away from the bull elk.

So yesterday when we were driving into Jasper from the campsite here are people 15 to 20 feet away taking pictures of this cow elk on the other side of the road there's a bull elk this is rutting season! Mr bull wants Ms. Cow and a silly person who gets in the way doesnt stand a chance.Lucky for then a wardon had just pulled up and were telling the people to get back in there cars before the bull got excited and attacked then or thier vehicles.

Not sure what goes on in people's heads these are wild animals. It like they think their at a Zoo or Farm with tame sheep or something.

Cheers Roger

boomerfss

I used to live a few miles from the Rockies. My favourite thing to do was to go hiking before dawn so I could see the sun rise over the mountains. Big mountains, very impressive sight!