Last few hours in Canada

Canada has given us a good run. In Saskatchewan, we visited 2 providential Parks: Cypress hills and Buffalo Pound. 

Both were a little hilly nestled in e prairie. Cypress Hills was huge, had multiple campgrounds, had a pool and even a Lodge. Buffalo Pound was smaller but right on a lake. We should be in North Dakota within the hour. Goodbye Canada. It’s been fun

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Yesterday was the hikes of Jasper lakes

We hit all the lakes and found the old hotel in Jasper. Then relaxed at the campground. There, we watched a little girl flat out get down at the taco food truck,  played some music, saw the ex-pres was shot, discussed guns, then we played some more music, went to bed early and officially started our return trip home. Still trying to figure out how to never leave Canada but they don’t want us.

Check out the power stations in this bathroom. If the water was hotter they would have gotten my vote for the nicest bathrooms in all of Canada, but the koa in Cranbrook wins (so far)

Crowfoot glacier

Waterfowl lakes
Water fowl lakes

Jasper National Park

Today we had a hearty breakfast with pastries, we hiked a bunch, saw 2-3 bears (we forgot to ask their names so one was most certainly the same dude), almost a moose, 2 glaciers up close… (More far away), several lakes I can name (malaigne, medicine, Cavell), ate a lot of pizza and went to bed tired.

Rampart to Jasper

Last night as we went to bed there was a fire raging that created all this smoke in the valley as we left to go back up to the ice fields.

Over the hill at the ice fields parkway, it cleared up and we saw Athabasca falls and Sumwapta falls.

Then, we took the lift to get some amazing views over Jasper.

We ended the day with restaurant food at Jasper brewing company which was just what the dr ordered. Clay and Jenny left today and we’ll miss them.

Lake Louise to Silverhorn.

Yesterday, Ringo was being tortured by a very pretentious squirrel. This went on far too long until we relieved him of his torment. Afterwards, we headed north on the ice fields parkway to Bow Glacier Falls hike which we rated 5 out of 5 stars. Especially if you get the ice cream sandwich at the cafe at the end of your hike.

We checked out of lake Louise hardside camping and landed in Silverhorn campground. Lawsy, the views from this campground are unbeatable. The hike today was short up to Peyto lake.

Lake Louise ski area

Today we biked to the ski area and took the lifts to the top of the ski slope. On the way up 4 different people told us there was a grizzly in the meadow and we assumed it was probably fake, but actually, it was real.

After seeing the bear and the electric fence to bear proof the  visitor center we naturally decided to still exit through the gate and go for the hike to the kicking horse look out. (We did talk to three rangers about safety before going). We survived.

After dinner, we tried to sneak into the chateau. George and I got in, but they apparently didn’t want our business. It wasn’t nearly as cool as the banff springs hotel, nor as welcoming.

Lake Louise: Tea houses and Little Beehive.

Another great hike in banff national Park at Lake Louise. We all biked to Lake Louise (Ringo was in the dog pack) and then hiked to Lake Agnes where we got tea from the tea house and took a short rest. Then, we hiked to Little Beehive to have lunch. It was pretty strenuous, but absolutely worth it.

We split up after lunch and George and I hiked to the other tea house in the valley of 6 glaciers.

We walked over 30k steps.

Banff to lake Louise.

I’ve taken so many pictures the last 2 days. I’ll try to limit myself.

Yesterday we started the day with a short hike to lake Minnewanka

Then, whole gang rode the gondola to the top of sulfer mountain. The trip was short 7-8 minutes but just amazing views from the top. That was our last night in the tunnel mountain trailer court.

Today those of us with e-bikes took the road to moraine lake. The biking was easy and the pay off was outstanding.

Silly Sisters

Banff

Banff is gorgeous. It is the birth place of Canadian national parks because of the hot springs. We totally invited ourselves all through the Banff springs hotel. It’s beautiful inside and out, but we couldn’t manage to get into the spa. We did go to the upper sulfur springs which did ( and maybe still does) feed the Banff springs hotel’s spa. So, I’d like to believe that somehow my body cells made it down into their spa to spite them. Today after work, we went to lunch with Clay, Jenny and Joel. After lunch, Joel joined us on a hike through Johnson canyon. Two waterfalls and a canyon with a boardwalk. Very cool

Wasa lake provencial Park and White Swann Provincial Park

We made it further into Canada. We are West of the Rockies currently. We get to Banff on Sunday.

Working at 8 am EDT is harsh here, but you get off early and get to do cool stuff like another dog beach or the natural riverside hot springs ( lussier hot springs). I have Thursday and Friday off this week and I am looking forward to some days off with my bestie. He’s been working hard so Ringo and I can get a full day of work in.

Canadians must be so disappointed when they see the American version of a ‘pit toilet’