Friday, October 25, 2013

Icefields Parkway

Leaving Lake Louise behind we entered the Icefields Parkway continuing north toward the Columbia Icefields and Jasper.
In this post, still on day eight, I'll focus on a few of the lakes we stopped at and some of the vistas along the parkway, and on day nine I'll feature the glaciers and a few waterfalls.
Considered to be one of the most scenic highways in the world the Icefields Parkway did not disappoint. It offers everything from glaciers,  rushing waterfalls, emerald lakes, and snow-capped mountain peaks.
For 143 miles from Lake Louise to Jasper the parkway winds along the shoulder of the Great Divide and passes by the spectacular mountains of the Eastern Main Ranges of the Canadian Rockies.
 
 
Bow Lake is the largest lake on the Icefields Parkway and is the headwaters of the Bow River that flows through Banff.
 One of the most dramatic observations of the Rocky Mountain lakes is the difference in color between them. Some are green, some blue, and many shades in between.
 Num-Ti-Jah Lodge can be seen across the beautiful Bow Lake.
 
Crowfoot Glacier
 
Peyto Lake and Mount Patterson
Peyto Lake (pea-toe) is so beautiful it's hard to believe it's real. It's like walking into a landscape painting, only in the painting there are not a hundred tourists all jostling for the perfect spot to get their photo.
 From our vantage point the lake looked more like foam than a body of water. Truly incredible!
 
Peyto Lake has an interesting shape. It looks like the head of a sitting wolf.
 
Meltwater from the Peyto Glacier flowing into Peyto Lake.
 
 
 

Cirrus Mountain and a sweeping view from the Big Bend Overlook.

 A waterfall cascades down the mountainside at Big Bend. I don't recall seeing a name for the falls so I'll call them the Big Bend Waterfall......I'm so imaginative.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Saskatchewan Crossing area where the three rivers of the Saskatchewan, Mistaya and Howse meet to form the North Saskatchewan River which eventually drains into Lake Winnipeg.
 
 
 
I was disappointed in the lack of wildlife sightings in Canada but we finally saw one huge elk beside the road.
 
We stayed at the Lobstick Lodge in the beautiful alpine town of Jasper.
 
 
 

11 comments:

  1. Amazing photos. The views are enough to want to make sure you want to stay and pick out all the different things to see.
    Cher Sunray Gardens

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    1. Thanks Cher....it's an amazing place and so much to see!

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  2. Pearl, The sweeping view from the Big Bend Overlook is Sunwapta Pass. So beautiful! I really, really want to go back!!

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    1. Carolyn....do you happen to know if that waterfall had a name? I could have spent the entire two weeks there!

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  3. I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying your posts of the trip. Not traveling AT ALL right now (my husbandis ill), I am extra grateful for the ability to travel vicariously through my blog friends. This is the trip we have planned for next summer, so I getting lots of ideas and praying that we will be able to do it!!

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    1. I read on your blog about your husband and I pray for a full recovery. I hope you'll be able to do this trip. It is absolutely worth it. My pictures don't do it justice!

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  4. Oh My Heart... The photos are totally amazing... It's no wonder you loved that area so much.. I did see the wolf's head (in that lake shape)... That's neat!!!!! I hope to see some of that beauty sometime. Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Betsy...you and George would so love this area. There's so much more to see than what we got to see being on a bus but we crammed quite a lot into the few days we had!

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  5. These scenes are breathtaking. Did they tell you about any movies being filmed in these locations? Love the elk. Reminds me of the first moose I saw up close and personal in the boundary waters of Minnesota and Canada.

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  6. Nobody mentioned movies. Are some being filmed?
    Was really hoping to see moose but I guess they were all hiding!

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  7. Pearl, Those falls are the Bridal Veil Falls. It originates in the Huntington Glacier on the slopes of Cirrus Mountain. It's waters drain into Nigel Creek, then into the North Saskatchewan River. The Big Bend Falls, also known as Sideways Falls are on the other side of the road. Southbound travelers will see the falls across the valley when rounding the bend.

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