The Rockies

 Finally we got some place with internet so uploading the last 2 weeks just now. 

The Canadian Rockies.

We arrived to Calgary (1^st Aug) after magnificent 9 days in the Rockies.

There is a good reason why this part of the world is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is just pure amazing nature.

We started in Jasper, which is a nice little town at the north part of the Rockies Mountains. We booked the nearby campsite 4 months in advance.

We arrived in the early afternoon and decided to take a short hike, so we did a 2 hours hike to the “Valley of five lakes”. It was a very nice starter to the Rockies. Easy hike with nice view of….. 5 lakes (but of course).

The day after as the weather was not a great one for a hike, we drove to Lake Maligne and did the Moose lake loop trail (easy 2.5 km hike). On the way to Lake Maligne we passed through Lake Medicine but we could not stop there due to a fire which burned the area around the lake just couple of weeks before. We also did the Maligne Canyon, which is just a short walk to see the canyon waterfalls.

The following day (26.07) we did the “Sulphur Skyline”, 8 km + 700 meter height hike to the 2050m summit. The hike was not an easy one, due to the 700 meter climbing, but the kids surprised us with their ability and will to climb. Nadav even had the courage and climbed with me all the way to the steep summit, there we really felt "on the top of the world" while looking down on all the surrounding mountains and the valley below. The way down was faster and slightly easier, though we could feel our knees. As a treat for our sore knees, at the end of the track, at the bottom, awaits hot springs pools. 4 pools, 38 / 40 / 19 & 21 degrees. We felt more comfortable in the 38 degree one. We spent there an hour and a half, while it was raining from time to time

At around 21:00 we left the hot pools and headed back to our camp which was an hour drive. On the way we suddenly seen some cars gathering along the road and stopped just in time to quickly see a Grizzly Bear looking for food before disappearing in to the forest. Just couple of km further we stopped again to watch Elks with beautiful big horns. Wildlife at best.

Monday the 27th July, after 3 nights in Jasper we headed to our next Rockies destination, Lake Louise, were we reserved 3 nights.

The way from Jasper to Lake Louise is for sure one of the most beautiful ways there is. It is called the “Icefield Parkway” and it takes you through high mountains, turquoise lakes and rivers and Glaciers which are coming down from the Colombia Ice Field. At half way we reached to the Icefield center which lies across the Athabasca Glacier. We stopped to hike on the ice and walked on the Glacier up (~ 2km hike one way) close to where the Ice Bus takes the tourists. That was pure fun.

We continued our drive to Lake Louise while stopping every few km to watch and admire the view. After such one stopped, going back on the road, we nearly ran over a strange crossing animal, later we found out that it was a Wolverine.

At the campground in Lake Louise, for the first time on our trip, we lighted a camp fire and set around the fire talking and rousting marshmallows with heresies and biscuits.

"Plain of Six Glaciers" was our next hike, 12 km hike, starting with 2 km along Lake Louise shore and then 4 km climbing up the mountain. From up you can see the beautiful Turquoise color of Lake Louise.

 

The next day we kind of used it for work and house fun where in the late afternoon we went to a short walk along the shore of Lake Medicine.

30.07 - Before moving ahead to Banff Camp site we did our next challenge, the "Will Cox Pass", a beautiful track walking on the mountain edge which leads to a magnificent view of the Athabasca Glacier.

Banff is a nice town, larger then Jasper with much more people and tourists. Nevertheless it nice walking the town. At dinner time we went to what we call Nadav's Restaurant “The Old Spaghetti Factory”, we like it.

From Banff we went to Lake Yoho and did the Wapta falls, which was great short hike.

On our last day at Banff I took the kid for a boat ride on the Minnewanka Lake, which after we started our way to Calgary saying a temporary goodbye to the Rockies. (Next encounter with the Rockies would be at Waterton).