Alaska or Bust - Canadian Travels

CANADA, eh ! (Part 1)

As we begin our travels into Canada from the border crossing, we are welcomed with grand views of Waterton Lakes National Park (Canada's sister park to Glacier NP) with miles and miles of mountainous wilderness. For many days we experienced this same type of Canadian beauty overload of high snow capped mountain peaks and green river valleys.

We knew we wanted to visit Lake Louise in Alberta's Banff National Park so that was our first scheduled stop. Lake Louise is known for it's iridescent turquoise waters and the dramatic glacier-fed backdrop. During our visit it was the start of the summer tourist season and the area was packed with visitors all wanting that perfect shot of the lake and mountains. We walked along the lake edge and the historical Chateau Lake Louise built in the early 20th Century by the Canadian Pacific Railway. We loved the grandeur of the whole area. But just as appealing was the sister lake near by, Moraine Lake, which also has the iridescent turquoise water and beautiful snow capped mountains, with less people. (Side Note: you do need a shuttle reservation to tour these lakes and we lucked out and scored two cancellation seats for our next day visit.) 

Lake Louise from the Chateau's shoreline

Us at Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Fairmont's Chateau Lake Louise

Chateau Interior

Lake Moraine

Lake Moraine

Lake Moraine looked amazing from all angles

This is not the only place where we were amazed at the beauty. We then make our way from Lake Louise northward to Jasper through Jasper National Park on the Ice Field Parkway, which dishes out the most exquisite vistas in the Canadian Rockies.  This highway is known to be one of the best scenic drives on the Earth and it did not disappoint. 

200 miles of this scenery was unbelievable  

Columbia Ice field:   The Columbia Ice field is the largest ice field in North America's Rocky Mountains astride the Continental Divide with in the Jasper/Banff NP. The ice field is about 125 miles square in area, 328 to 1,198 feet in depth and receives up to 280 inches of snowfall per year. (The photos do not portray how massive it really is.)

Tangle Falls, just past the ice fields, is a stunning multi-tiered water fall at approximately 157 feet tall

Mount Robson - The  highest peak in the Canadian Rockies - 12,972 feet

As we transverse out of the rugged snowy Rocky Mountains we begin to drop down into more of a  tempered climate of the mid-Canadian coastal mountains and find a much different terrain of greenery and vast forests. One such area is the Ancient Rainforest/Chun T'oh Whuduiut Provincial Park.  This park protects the only inland temperate rain forest in the World. We wondered along one of the trails that meandered us through 1,000 year old Western Red Cedars and various large plants, mosses and fungi. These giant Cedars are similar to the large redwoods in California just slightly smaller.  Within the forest it was damp and muggy leading to the perfect habitat for these plants and trees to thrive. 

Nice boardwalk 'trail' through some of the forest

See how large the trees are

Huge leaves. These plants love the rainforest climate. 

Continuing on, we had read about a little town in British Columbia called Chetwynd that was known for the annual chainsaw carving competition and has earned the well-deserved title as the 'Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World'.  As we arrived into town, the streets, parks and various businesses are lined with carvings like an outdoor gallery from previous years competitions. They boost over 150 sculptures but we only saw a small portion and were blown away with the artwork.

Title - A Hornet's Storm

Title - Protected Depths

Title - Guardian of the Wild

Title - Warrior's Landing

This first half (part one) through Canada was 1,150 miles, 6 days and 2 provinces to get to the start of the Alaska Highway. Up next is our start of the Alaska Highway, a 1,422 mile journey starting at Dawson Creek, British Columbia (Mile 0) and ends at Delta Junction, Alaska (Mile 1,422). 

Thanks for joining us on this continuing adventure.