Canada

Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Vancouver

Posted on May 20, 2024 by JimG

Hell’s Gate

May 20th, 2024

It was another day on the Rocky Mountaineer.  I had no complaints, the service on the Rocky Mountaineer was top rate. I had learned about the Rocky Mountaineer from my father who wanted to take a trip on it.  Unfortunately, he never got around to making that happen.  I hoped that he was there along with me.   He was a traveler at heart and would have loved this.

When we got to Vancouver, we were dropped off at the Fairmont Hotel which was across the street from  the Pan Pacific, where we stayed when we started the trip.  We decided to have dinner at the Pan Pacific hotel since we enjoyed it so much.   After dinner, as we were leaving the hotel, we passed the area where we gathered before starting our trip.  I realized that a new group would be gathering the following morning. I found myself wondering how a week could have passed so quickly, we had seen a lot of great things and met a lot of good people.

As with all trips, I found myself sad that the experience was coming to a close but it was also a reminder that time flies, and I needed to start thinking about my next adventure! Continue reading →

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Lake Louise to Kamloops

Posted on May 19, 2024 by JimG

May 19th, 2024

We boarded the Rocky Mountaineer and set out to Kamloops.  It was another day of taking in the sights while eating and drinking.   There were beautiful lakes, rivers, waterfalls and wildlife.  Whenever there anyone spotted wildlife, they would call it out.   We saw a lot of eagles and long horn sheep.

When we first sat down, I thought we lucked out, our seats were right in front.  After a few hours, I realized that we weren’t so lucky.  There was a travel group towards the back who kept coming up to the front and crowding around the front windows to get their pictures.

We went through Kicking Horse and the spiral Tunnels.   The original track had a grade of 4.5% and the first train to attempt the “Big Hill” derailed.  The solution was to build spiral tunnels after a system used in Switzerland.  Although it was an interesting experience, major portions of the spirals were underground.  The attendants would ask, “which way do you think we were turning?” and none of us had a clue! Continue reading →

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Lake Louise Train Station

Posted on May 19, 2024 by JimG

May 19th, 2024

We were picked up at our hotel and taken to the Lake Louise Train station where we had coffee while we waited for our train. The train station is worth stopping at if you are in the area, it is filled with antiques and old pictures and also serves as a restaurant.   The dining options in Lake Louise were somewhat limited, had i known this was also a restaurant, I probably would have dined there.

The train station was built in 1909 and recently restored.  I found myself imagining what it would have been like to travel before we had jets and highways.  As I looked at the antique Dictaphones and typewriters, I wondered how many young people would know what these were.  I overheard someone say on how they had to take typing in high school and how much they hated it.

Knowing that Lake Louise was the playground for the rich and famous, I wondered which dignitaries and Hollywood stars passed through these walls.

Continue reading →

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Lake Louise, Canada

Posted on May 18, 2024 by JimG

May 17th-18th, 2024

I had read that Lake Louise is probably the most photographed lake in Canada – I can see why.  the majority of the lake is surrounded by snowcapped mountains and glaciers. Due to the elevation, the lake does not thaw out until June.  I would love to come back and see it in the summer and I would love to come back and see it in the winter when you can go ice skating on it.

The Chateau Fairmont, our hotel, was the only hotel on the lake. The hotel has an elegant and old feel. The restaurant with large arched windows looking out on to the lake. The hotel has a very interesting history that started back in 1890.  It became a popular filming location and Hollywood hotspot.  John Barrymore, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, and Superman himself, Christopher Reeve passed through its doors.

When I inquired about the town and what there was to do, I was told that there was not much of a town, a gas station, grocery story and a few hotels with restaurants.   This was a place to hike, relax, and eat. Continue reading →

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Jasper to Lake Louise – Athabasca Glacier and the Icefield Skywalk

Posted on May 17, 2024 by JimG

May 17th, 2024

As we continued towards Lake Louise, we went up in elevation and the ground was covered with snow.  We were headed to the Columbian Icefield center where we would board an Ice Explorer and journey to the icy slopes of the Athabasca Glacier.  During our adventure, we would learn all about glaciers and ice fields.   It was very educational but riding on the Ice Explorer was the highlight  The explorers had 5 foot wheels and were designed to go up and down steep inclines.  The tour guide joked about it being the slowest roller coaster, which it felt like.

We stopped for a buffet lunch at the Icefield center and then headed to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, a suspended glass floored walkway above the Sunwapta Valley.  I do not like heights, I wasn’t sure if I was going to stand at the edge and take pictures or if I was actually going to walk out on it.   I was brave and walked out on it but I focused on the view instead of looking down through the glass.    I walked around it once and decided not to go around a second time.

Below the walkway, we spotted a large goat who was resting on the mountain.  I was amazed at how they could climb on these steep cliffs and not fall.

As we waited for the bus, it started to snow.  We started chatting with the two women who were sitting next to us on the bus, it turns out they live not too far from us in Los Angeles and are from Buffalo, NY, two hours away from where I grew up.  It is a small world. Continue reading →

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Jasper to Lake Louise – Athabasca Falls

Posted on May 17, 2024 by JimG

May 17th, 2024

We headed out to our next destination, Lake Louise,  we had a few stops along the way including Athabasca Falls, National Glacier Park and the Glacier Skywalk.   Lake Louise is at a much higher elevation, as we headed towards it, the weather changed from spring back to a winter wonderland.

Our fist stop was Athabasca Falls, unfortunately, it was a rainy morning which doesn’t make for the best pictures. Like Maligne Canyon, there were plenty of deep gorges but what was different about these falls was the amount of water that was running trough it. Continue reading →

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Pyramid Lake, Jasper

Posted on May 16, 2024 by JimG

May 16th 2024

Our final stop of the tour was pyramid Lake.  On the way we spotted a bear with her cub.  During our trip, we have seen a lot of wildlife including Moose, elk, long horn sheep, Mule deer, and eagles, but the minute someone says bear, everyone jumps and rushes to that side of the bus/train to get a picture.

Throughout the trip, we have seen sign after sign that tells you to remain in your vehicle when you see wildlife.  We have been told over and over again that if we are on foot, to stay at least 100 feet from the animal.  Cars pulled up behind the bus and immediately, people started to get out of their cars to see the bear and cubs.   Our tour guide opened the door and said to one person, “You do realize that what you are doing is illegal”, he responded yes and kept taking pictures.  Sadly, if there was an incident, it would be the animal who would pay the price.

Pyramid lake was beautiful, the sun was shining, the lake was a beautiful turquois from the glacier water, there was a bright green field in front of Pyramid mountain.  My picture looked as if it was a postcard. Continue reading →

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Maligne Canyon, Jasper

Posted on May 16, 2024 by JimG

May 16, 2024

Maligne Canyon is one spot that I would go back to and spend more time. There are a total of six bridges crossing deep gorges with views of various waterfalls, we got to see two of the bridges.  I think I could have probably spent the better part of the day.   I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

On a side note, as I stood above one of the canyons, I pulled out my cell phone to take a picture.   I wondered, how many cell phone could be found at the bottom down below.   I quickly switched to my camera knowing that it had a camera strap.

On the way out of park we stopped at a lookout that had views of Jasper. Continue reading →

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Maligne Lake, Jasper

Posted on May 16, 2024 by JimG

May 15th, 2024

Our tour then headed on to Maligne Lake, a picturesque lake.   At the lake, I read a plaque on how the first Europeans to visit the lake was in 1908. I couldn’t help but think about the drive and determination of the early explorers.  It took us close to an hour via a bus on paved roads to get to this lake which is pretty much out in the middle of nowhere.  Although the lake was known by the native people, it must have been quite an undertaking to explore the area while mapping it out.

On our way, the tour guide pointed out a large rock at the edge of the stream and said that it was the place that Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy sang filmed “Indian Love Call” in Rose Marie.  My mother was a huge fan of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy so I snapped a photo of the rock.  Later, I looked at Youtube and wondered if this was really the spot.  According to Wikipedia, some footage was taken in Canada but the actors were filmed in Lake Tahoe.  Who knows, it made for a good story!

We stopped at the lake but since it was partially frozen, the lake was not officially opened. Normally, the tour would include a boat ride on the lake.

 

 

Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake
Maligne Lake
Indian Love Call Rock
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Lake Medicine, Jasper Canada

Posted on May 16, 2024 by JimG

Thursday, May 16th, 2024

As we got coffee, I noticed they sold beer.  One of them was called “Jasper, the Bear Ale”, I found it funny.

We boarded our tour bus “333” to explore the sites around Jasper.   It was a small group on a large bus, plenty or room to spread out.  Our first stop was Medicine lake which is a mysterious lake due to the fluctuating water levels with no visible drainage channels.

Even the Indians wondered, “where do the waters go?”, and thought it was due to the spirits.  In more recent times, they discovered sinkholes and underground cave systems, like a bathtub with a drain, the water is drained out through the bottom.

We spotted a lot of wildlife around the like including an eagle, a couple of Moose and a Mule Deer.

Continue reading →

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