FROZEN TUNDRA AT ATHABASCA GLACIER, BUT WARM & TOASTY IN JASPER NATIONAL PARK - Saturday, April 29 - Sunday, April 30, 2023

Saturday, April 29

Today started out quite chilly at 29 degrees but it was bright and sunny -- and as the day progressed it warmed up to 76 degrees. As we were moving on to Jasper National Park, and had read that they didn't have the water on yet, Mel went ahead and filled the fresh water tank at Lake Louise Campground and stopped at the dump station before we left. 

We set out on our journey at 8:50 a.m. and arrived at Wapiti Campground in Jasper National Park around 12:15 p.m., traveling 145 miles in about 3-1/2 hours. 

During the drive to the campground, we climbed to 7,000 feet in elevation over mountains as we made our way to the Athabasca Glacier Visitor Center. Athabasca Glacier is one of the six principal toes of the Columbia Icefield located in the Canadian Rockies. The glacier is approximately 3.7 miles long and covers an area of 2.3 square miles and measures 300 to 980 feet thick. It loses a depth of about 16 feet per year and has receded greatly, losing more than half its volume in the past 125 years. This glacier is usually easily accessible and the most visited glacier in North America. But today there were no visitors climbing on the glacier.

(Mel points to Athabasca Glacier in picture above and below is the drifts in the parking lot at the Athabasca Glacier Visitor Center parking area.)

I was anticipating the beautiful glacier we had seen in the month of July several years ago. But as we arrived, boy were we surprised. It truly was a frozen tundra! We drove to the only plowed area, which was the parking for the Visitor Center. However, it looked like it had just been plowed open a few days earlier with at least six foot drifts all around.  The visitor center was closed due to the enormous amount of snow in the area. So we moved on down the road to get to our campground in Jasper National Park.

Before we arrived at the Wapiti Campground, we saw a few bighorn sheep. And we couldn't get one of the big males to get out of our way on the road!

As we got to Wapiti Campground, we drove around to find a spot big enough for us to unhook the truck, and then we paid for two nights ($34.50 CA/night or $69 CA total). This campsite is at an elevation of 3,500 feet. 

Our beautiful view from our campsite.

We then fixed a quick lunch and went back out to sightsee around 1:45 p.m. We decided to drive to Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake which are both along the same highway. Medicine Lake has barely any water as you will see in the picture below. 

Burnt area on the way to Medicine Lake.

Maligne Lake is a lake that is approximately 14 miles long and 318 feet at its deepest point. It is also famed for its beautiful azure colored water and the surrounding peaks, along with the three glaciers typically visible from the lake. But today, this lake was also still mostly frozen over.

And on our way back from the lakes, we saw some cars stopped, so we stopped as well. And we were blessed with a moose sighting -- a mother moose and her youngster hiding in the woods. 

Sunday, April 30

Today we didn't leave the campsite until around 11:30 p.m. The day started out at 31 degrees and soon became sunny and warm reaching a high of 80 degrees. We drove into town to get gas at the Jasper Petro Canada station, and then Mel stopped at the Jasper Brewing Company to fill his growler.  In the afternoon, Mel went for a 10 mile bike ride, while I worked on my blog and downloaded some pictures. For dinner, I made beef stroganoff.

We will be heading to Grande Prairie, AB tomorrow, so until then, stay warm and enjoy life!

Shirley & Mel

EASY DAY AROUND LAKE LOUISE IN BANNF NATIONAL PARK - Friday, April 28, 2023

After a breakfast of sausage and pancakes, we left the Lake Louise Campground around 9:30 a.m. for an easy and leisurely drive. The temperature started at around 28 degrees and made it to a high of 57 degrees. The skies were sunny as we drove the 14 miles around Lake Louise in Bannf National Park.

Driving around, we first stopped by Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise located at 111 Lake Louise Drive. This iconic hotel has breathtaking views of Lake Louise, the surrounding Canadian Rocky Mountains, and Victoria Glacier. The original hotel was gradually developed around the turn of the 20^th century by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

After that, we drove down the road to go see Lake Louise, but the road is still closed due to snow. Then we drove to where we could turn off to see Moraine Lake, but it too was closed due to snow. We’re here so much earlier than we were last time (July) when we were here and it seems as if they have had a lot of snow, so it is no wonder the roads were closed.

As we were planning to ride our bikes around the Bow River Loop Trail, we went to see if it would be passable on bike – but the same result as the roads to the Lake – totally covered with snow. So no bike rides today.

Next we decided to go to the Lake Louise Visitor Center to see if they had a video to watch, but it seems more like an information and ticket sales station than a visitor center. I did however get passport stamps, so that was a plus. 

Since we were already parked at the market area, we slipped into The Village Market (buying two pizza bread subs, and a bottle of Coke Zero), then also went to the Lake Louise Liquor Store where Mel bought a six-pack of Grizzly Paw Grumpy Bear beer, and finally we stopped to get gas at the Petro Canada gas station before going back to our campsite.

Mel went for a walk around the campground, while I caught up on my blogs. We plan to have steak and salad for dinner tonight and listen to the trains as they roll by our campsite.

Choo, Choo until tomorrow!

 Shirley & Mel