Monday, June 23, 2008

Icefields and Idiots

We were blessed this week to drive along one of the world's most spectacular mountain highways. Paralleling the Continental Divide which we've viewed while skiing at Sunshine Village (see earlier post) we drove on the Icefields Parkway by the melting Columbia Icefields, hanging Bow and Crowfoot Glaciers, and gushing Athabasca Falls. Impossible as it is to capture the grandeur of Jasper National Park in amateur photos here are a few attempts. So sad that although Banff is a world-class destination for millions of tourists each year so many miss the drive just a little further north to Jasper...even those who have it right in their own backyard.


Now here's where the IDIOT part comes in: We saw a mind-boggling 19 black bears including 2 different sets of mamas with twin cubs. With the telephoto I got some amazing shots but this one show a truly stupid human trick. The bear did finally charge a bit just to make 'em cream their drawers! ... oooh so close they were to being bear take-out.




"You are Here!" and we have to go where? I was a really good sport until hour 3 1/2 and my toes wanted to belong to a couch potato.






Finally we spotted a series of breaktaking teal-colored lakes and oh yeah...that way-cool canyon waterfall making the whole back-breaking, knee-splitting, toe-crunching experience completely worthwhile... truly... yeah..that's it... for real. And the souvenir photos of all the bear cub, moose, elk, Bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain goat, more idiot photos, waterfalls, glaciers, lake, and random mountain photos can be viewed upon request.

5 comments:

Sandel said...

You will have to make me a book so that I will know what these grand places are like. :)

Sada said...

Oh my gosh -- what splendor and wonder and beauty and blessing. I soooo wish I could be there. Wow -- I totally get those crazy people -- I'd probably be one of them!! On second thought -- maybe not -- I do have a child and husband to live for :)

BWJ said...

wow, wow, wow, not sure if it is the 13 1/2 hours or the visuals that are more impressive:) when can i come?

Dreams of a Country Girl said...

If I get in a car and drive for 8421 hours can I stay with you? Beautiful! And you are WAY brave.

I left you a response about Loving Frank...cause I know you were losing sleep over it.

Hillary said...

Jane & Charlie - we have more 6 lawyer bars for you ... if you will come back for dinner and dominoes!!! (Just trying to get more points to trade in for macaroni & cheese) Looking forward to stampeding with you next week...