Tag: Lake Louise

Virtual Travel – Alberta

Architecture, History, Nature, Sports, Transportation, Water Features

 

Welcome to Alberta

2017 09 03 20 Southwest Alberta

 

 

 

Where the prairies meet the mountains.

 

 

Calgary is the largest city in the province.

2017 09 03 89 Calgary

 

 

Edmonton is nearly as large as Calgary. They have a strong hockey rivalry.

Oil is the business of Edmonton, and is reflected in the hockey team’s name.  (photos of Edmonton from Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

Banff was Canada’s first national park, and remains a beautiful area.

2017 09 04 88 Banff Alberta

 

 

 

Lake Louise is renown for the turquoise water, and tourists.

2017 09 05 33 Lake Louise

 

 

 

The Icefields Parkway is a 140 mile long road from Banff to Jasper, passing numerous glaciers and waterfalls. It is one of the best drives in the world.

2017 09 05 181 Columbia Icefields Alberta

 

 

 

Jasper is home to Athabasca Falls. Tomorrow is our final stop in Canada – British Columbia.

2017 09 05 212 Athabasca Falls Alberta

 

 

 

 

Icefields Parkway, Alberta – September 2017

Nature, Transportation

The trip continued north from Banff toward the Icefields Parkway, a 180 mile drive to Jasper that takes you past numerous glaciers on the mountains. But first we made a stop for an invigorating hike up Johnton Canyon. This hike included numerous catwalks suspended above the canyon floor, as well as traditional paths. The effort lead to two great waterfalls.

2017 09 05 4 Banff Johnston Canyon.jpg

 

 

Just before the start of the Icefields Parkway is Lake Louise, a popular tourist stop – so popular there are numerous attendants directing traffic through the entire town to get to the parking lots. We stayed about 30 minutes before leaving the crowds and heading on…

2017 09 05 31 Lake Louise.jpg

 

 

Because a short drive later you were on the Icefields Parkway and has better views with far far fewer people.

2017 09 05 44j Icefields Parkway Alberta.jpg

 

 

At the Columbia Icefields they offer an option to take a tour onto the Athabasca Glacier that included a visit to the ‘Skywalk’, a cantilevered walkway with translucent floors to see straight down 1000′.

2017 09 05 75 Columbia Icefields Alberta.jpg

 

 

The special Ice Coaches were constantly ferrying people onto the glacier. They made a point about how fast the glacier is receding, you would think all the traffic can’t be helping it.

2017 09 05 153 Columbia Icefields Alberta.jpg

 

 

But still, we got to go on a glacier.

2017 09 05 159 Columbia Icefields Alberta.jpg

 

 

Our day ended at Athabasca Falls, near the town of Jasper. I have had many spectacular drives, but the Icefields Parkway is easily one of the 10 best ever.

2017 09 05 206 Athabasca Falls Alberta.jpg