Speechless

5/26/2016 Thursday Start: Bow Riverside Campground, Cochrane, AB, CN  End: Whistler Campground, Jasper, AB, CN

To quote Mike, today we “drove through some of the most gorgeous scenery we’ve ever seen” on Highway 1 to Banff National Park and then Highway 93, the Ice Fields Parkway, through Jasper National Park.  I’m getting the Go Pro figured out and got some unbelievable video…now I just need to figure out how to edit it!  We started out with the truck total mileage at 135,000 miles, a nice even number; we've gone over 3,000 miles so far and still a ways to go to Alaska!

The road to Banff was a couple hours.  We drove up to the Fairmount Hotel that sits on Lake Louise.  The lake was a dazzling blue green, surrounded by purple mountains capped in white.  It took my breath away.

Bonnie at Lake Louise

Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Glacier at the Ice Fields 

 

Looking down on Ice Fields Parkway

Whistler Campground, Jasper, Alberta, Canada

From Banff we took the Ice Fields Parkway to Jasper.  Stunning views the entire way.  We almost stopped for the night to camp at the glacier in the ice fields but decided to go on to Jasper.  And here we are for the night, in a pole pine tree forest.  Good night!

Travel day in Alberta

5/25/2016 Wednesday   Start: Waterton NP, Alberta, CN  End: Cochran, Alberta, CN

We had an easy day today.  We stopped in Ft McLeod to see the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Barracks and then on to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump.  They were interesting but overpriced, lesson learned, check to price of attractions ahead of time.  

We drove onto Cochran to a beautiful RV park with full hookup and our own little lawn.  The weather was sunny and comfortable and cooled off once we got settled in. We’re onto Banff and Jasper National Parks for the rest of the week.  I’ll post an update if I have a connection.  No pictures today, mostly farmland and grass prairie as far as the eye could see.

Waterton National Park is not to be missed

5/24/2016  Tuesday  Start: Glacier National Park, MT   End: Waterton National Park, Alberta, CN

Of course, the day we leave the sun came out and the mountains were glorious! 

Morning at St Mary's Campground

As we drove to cross the border at Port of Chief Mountain we were presented with soaring peaks with their tips covered in snow.  The border crossing was uneventful, with some paperwork for Mike’s shotgun completed in short order. 

We are staying one night at Waterton National Park, Alberta, Canada.  It is high end, with hot showers (yeah!), full hook ups, spacious parking and drop dead gorgeous scenery.  I can’t get enough of the mountains!  

We took a 4 km hike to the Bertha Falls.  

border crossing

Bertha Falls 

My hiking buddy!

view from the trail to the falls

We walked to the village that adjoins the park and had some huckleberry frozen yogurt.  Later we luxuriated in the hot water of the showers and had a home cooked meal.  Mike did the laundry while I cleaned house and baked some cornbread.  Mike then got to watch some TV and I figured out the wi-fi to bring our posts up to date while sitting in the recliner outside in the evening sun.  Absolute heaven.