We like to research our destinations and this drive was always rated high. Five stars out of five would be my rating. It is breathtakingly beautiful, the roads are in great shape, there are ample turn outs for pictures and WC breaks and the drivers are respectful, polite and sparse. Our first stop was Lake Louise an exquisite alpine lake. Our server told us that it was just recently fully thawed out and is now ice free. We were amazed at the number of canoes out on the water. We continued on and saw many snow capped mountains, huge rock faces, winding switchbacks up mountain passes, waterfalls and rivers. In our four hour drive we must have said wow 200 times. That is just shy of a one wow per minute rate. There were innumerable signs alerting us to avalanche zones. That is odd since there is nothing we could do in the face of such powerful events. I dismissed the possibility of an avalanche until we saw some immense undercut snow ledges high up on the mountains. We were not able to get a good photo of the many superhuman bicycle excursionists. Some were heavily laden with packs, some were riding sleek road bikes and some were cheating with electric bikes. They were everywhere on the trip. We saw them slowly grinding up the maintains, wobbly from the effort and we could tell from the grey hair that they were not the spring chicken style of bicycle enthusiasts. After all the wows we arrived in Jasper. There were still a few wows left for us to enjoy after we got to the lodge.
These highly visual workers were putting up a sign informing the public that there filming taking place
Two people to put up this sign is why films are so expensive to make
We saw trucks and trucks of sets and equipment
On the road!
First stop is Lake Loiuse
Lots of canoes floating on these azure waters
Squeezing in for a selfie
Canoes as far as the eye can see
Oh to be a paddling
Mr. Chipmunk
Yes that water is very cold
Off we go!
Open spaces willed with Mountains
River valleys with fast flowing rivers
Many channels snaking through the valley
Huge exposed rock faces
At the top of the last pass we saw this avalanche just waiting to happen
Needless to say, a cold wind was rushing through this pass
Three sheep eating
A she female bighorn sheep
Elk Butt
Fuzzy rack!
It must be difficult to maneuver those antlers thru the trees
The lobby of JPL, Jasper Park Lodge
This is the JPLL, Jasper Park Lodge Lounge
Our cabin for the next few days
Canoes and paddleboarders
Kayaks
Crystal clear water
The bluest of blues
Cone laden conifers
Fine scenery to be seen
