The Canadian Rockies

After an incredibly hectic summer, my beautiful bride and I decided to dump everything and run away for a week. Our initial plan was to hike Mount Robson (the world famous Berg Lake Trail) but bad weather encouraged us to change our minds.

Instead I decided to give T. a weeklong discovery of all the best parts of Jasper & Banff National Parks. T. had very little camping experience, so it would be a welcome "shakedown cruise" to sort ourselves out, as well as an opportunity to explore through the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

One thing new for me too...since I've always preplanned trips, I figured I'd throw caution to the wind and just wing it.

No preplanning.

No schedules.

No booking ahead.

We decided to just wake up each morning and ask each other "What do you want to do today, Darling?" Strangely enough, it actually worked! Every night we found a great place to sleep. Every day we found a new campsite, trail, hotspring or other activity to engage our minds and relax our hearts...

This photo essay is the chronicle of our adventures together.

Jasper Park's East Gate (from Hinton)
Rainy, windy, chilly day in Jasper

The getaway vehicle
These sheep almost caused a huge pileup.

Near the headwaters of the Athabasca River

Approaching the Columbia Icefields

The Columbia Icefields and the Athabasca River

Just entering the treeline again

"The Racetrack"

A huge sweeping switchback dropping down a steep sustained grade

More dropping down...

Towards Wenkchemna Pass

Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

This scene is famous in Canada as it was printed on the back of our old $20 bills
Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Tammylove admiring the view

Looking towards the Consolation Lakes and Paradise Valley

Moraine Lake

Hiking up the Rockpile

Beautiful Bride and me

Our Tacoma at Lake Louise town

Temple Mountain is the big mountain at left-centre and Victoria Glacier can be seen

just above the treed ridge in the distance
Mountain scenery at Bow Lake

Bow Lake

Headwaters of the Bow River

Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon

At the top of Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon

Some Mountain Freak

Johnston Canyon

The town of Banff

Banff National Park is Canada's oldest national park (1885) that was

originally set aside to protect Cave and Basin Hot Springs

Tammylove's hand cooking supper at Two Jack Lake

Supper.

Tammylove's campfire cooking experiments were a complete success!

Some weirdo that Tammylove lets hang around.

Proof that if you feed a stray, he'll come back.

Lake Minnewanka, near Banff

Banff Upper Hot Springs, Sulphur Mountain

The mountain in the left distance is Cascade Mountain that you saw before from downtown Banff. Tunnel Mountain is the low ridge just above the trees.

A slightly different view (turned to the right a bit) showing Mt. Rundle.

The valley heading off to the right is the Bow River Valley that leads to Calgary, about an hour's drive away from Banff.

Miette Hot Springs.

This little cabin was my treat to Tammylove for camping with me.

These cabins were built in 1938 and have had only minimal upgrades.