Back to my main page: Click here

Datagirl7's Alberta/British Columbia Trip

PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO SEE (in the order in which we went to them)

MT REVELSTOKE NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA Picture is Balsam Lake At Mt Revelstoke National Park in British Columbia, you can see The Famous Revelstoke Bears -- two large bronze bears -- near the entrance to the City of Revelstoke. In the park you can walk on the beautiful Meadows in the Sky/Icebox Trail, or see Balsam Lake and Trees. You can also walk on the Giant Cedars Boardwalk, a 600 meter boardwalk that goes through a stand of old growth Western Red Cedar trees (some of which are more than 800 years old).

At Glacier National Park (near Revelstoke) you can go to the Roger's Pass Center and learn about the scenic attractions in the area and how they keep the Trans Canada highway clear in the winter by using howitzers to create strategic avalanches.

DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA

Drumheller (founded in 1910 by Sam Drumheller) is in central Alberta's Red Deer Valley. 65 million years ago (give or take a few million), the Valley was covered by swampy lowlands and forests, and home to many dinosaurs. More recently, water cut through layers of soft rock creating the Red Deer Valley badlands. The badlands are important for scientific research because dinosaur fossils are commonly exposed by erosion. Of the many fossils often found in the valley around Drumheller, the more impressive specimens are taken to the Drumheller Dinosaur and Fossil Museum or the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology.

Horseshoe Canyon in the Red Deer Valley shows the variations of volcanic and sedimentary strata in the canyon.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology is one of the premier paleontology museums in the world. The collection includes over 50 skeletons -- the largest display of dinosaur specimens in the world -- and a rare complete skeleton of Tyrannosaurus Rex. The many displays describe the ages of the earth, the types plants and animals that existed, and how they do research and dinosaur reconstruction. The multitudinous exhibits include fossils, models of dinosaurs, and computer exhibits. You can also watch experts work on specimens through a window. A recently added feature is the Devonian Reef exhibit, a model reef with mirrors and movement illustrates the reef life of the Devonian era in Alberta, 375 to 365 million years ago. During the Devonian Era, Alberta was tropical, straddling the equator and covered by warm shallow seas, and ideal for the growth of reefs which supported myriad organisms now preserved as fossils.

Dinosaur Trail is a one hour (50km) route from Drumheller aound the Red Deer Valley Badlands. This trail is dotted with entire dinosaur skeletons amid the cacti and hoodoos (sandstone "mushrooms" that result from erosion).It goes past the Littlest Church (capacity 6), in the world. Horsethief Canyon gives a spectacular view of the Badlands and the multi-layered walled of the canyon. The trail also crosses Red Deer River using the Bleriot cable car ferry ride. The ferry is on of the last in Alberta and can carry motorhomes

CALGARY, ALBERTA

The largest city in Alberta, Calgary is located in the south-western part of the province. Calgary, home to 750,000, is a vibrant modern skyscrapered city but still has numerous grassy areas that are easily accessible. The weather in Calgary varies quite dramatically, from lows reaching -40° C in the winter (rarely), to highs in excess of 30° C in the summer. Calgary is subject to periodic "Chinook winds" of warm air from the mountains during the winter which can cause the temperature to rise by more than 15C in just a few hours.

Canada Olympic Park was the premier site of the '88 Olympic Winter Games. The Grand Olympic Tour includes a guided bus tour which takes you to the observation level of the 90 meter Ski Jump Tower so you can feel the adrenaline when you find yourself looking down the outrun of the jump. The tour also includes highlights from the '88 games and visits the bobsled/luge track and the Olympic hall of fame. The Olympic Hall of Fame, the world's largest Olympic Museum, contains interactive videos, athlete and equipment displays plus a Ski Jump and Bobsled Simulator. For the simulators, you stand on skis (or sit in a bobsled) that is/are programmed to move with the terrain displayed on the screen in front of you. David and I also luged on the iced track wearing knee/elbow pads, a helmet and protective clothing. We went from the bottom third of the track to the bottom reaching speeds of 40kph. Luckily once we were past the first turn, the luge took over and wove us through the last five curves of the track. The refrigerated track can maintain ice up to 28° C/88°F. This is me getting ready to go on the Luge ride at Calgary's Olympic Park.

Devonian Gardens: The Devonian Gardens in downtown Calgary are 2.5 acre indoor tropical gardens with fountains and waterfalls featuring 16,000 tropical and 4,000 local plants.

YOHO NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Yoho National Park affords visitors spectacular views of many falls. Yoho means Awe in Cree. The Great Divide is the geographic point where all waters flow either west to the Pacific or east to the Atlantic. A rustic timber arch marks the divide.

This area has an incredible abundance of waterfalls and many are located just off the road or at the end of a brief trail. Wapta Falls is very pretty and nearby is a Natural Bridge. Takkakaw Falls is beautiful also. Bow Falls is where Bow River falls before joining with the e Spray River. Bow Falls is formed by the Bow River flowing over the limestone bedrock between Mt Rundle and Tunnels Mountain. Bridal Veil Falls is another beautiful falls in the area. Nigel Creek is very pretty and also runs through Yoho.

Emerald Lake is -- as its name implies -- an emerald green lake with a backdrop of sharp peaks. To the north of Emerald Lake is Mount Temple, the highest mountain in the Bow Range and the third highest in Banff National Park. All the mountains in the area are white-capped with what remains of the Wenkchemna Glacier.

Spiral Tunnel is the spiral route that trains must take to handle the steep incline of the mountain range.

There are many bears in this area and people often stop on the side of the road to watch them.

JASPER NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA

Jasper National Park encompasses 10878km² of area in the Rocky Mountains. It was named after trapper Jasper Hawes and was established in 1907. It includes beautiful lakes, waterfalls, mountains and glaciers. The Columbia Icefields, the largest icefield in the Rocky Mountains, lies in the southern portion of the park. The glacier is 16km wide and 24km long and straddles the Continental Divide between Alberta and British Columbia. The glaciers are sometimes as deep as 900m. Jasper National Park is less developed than Banff National Park. The town of Jasper is the only population center within the park.

The Icefields Parkway that goes through Jasper National Park and Banff National Park was originally a make-work Depression project and was completed in 1960. It is named for the Columbia Icefield, a 389km² accumulation of ice that feeds 8 large glaciers, 3 of which can be seen from the Parkway (Athabasca, Dome, and Stutfield). This is the largest chunk of ice south of Alaska. Along with glaciers, you can also see meltwater lakes and waterfalls. We check out the new Columbia Icefields Center, a chalet-style stone building.

There are many waterfalls in Jasper National Park. Sunwapta Falls is where the Sunwapta River abruptly changes course from northwest to southwest and plunges into a deep canyon in a large spray cloud. Sunwapta is a Stoney Indian word for "turbulent river". A footbridge affords a thrilling view of the canyon and the Falls. Thundering Athabasca Falls is where the Athabasca River cuts though a narrow gorge of hard quartz-like rock. It is one of the most breathtaking falls in the Rockies. Tangle Falls is where beautiful waterfalls tumble down the Tangle Ridge.

There is and abundant roadside wildlife along the route, including elk and bears.

In Jasper, there is a Totem Pole.

Mt Edith Cavell is a craggy beauty in Japser National Park is a 3363m 11,000f. A small, powder blue meltwater lake at its bottom and beautiful Angel Glacier on its NE slope add to it's beauty. It was named after a British nurse who was executed by the Germans for helping allied troops escape.

Amythyst Lake and the river below it.

Maligne Canyon is the longest and deepest and one of the most spectacular limestone gorges in the Rockies. Sheer limestone walls confine the Maligne River's plunge. The canyon had depths of 55 meters although it is little more than 1 meter wide in places.

We see Coyotes.

Maligne Lake is in Jasper National Park in the majestic Maligne Valley. The largest in the park, this exquisite lake is the second largest glacier-fed lake in the world, at 22km long.

18km further down the Maligne Lake Road is Medicine Lake. This is an intriguing lake, because due to a unique underground drainage system that allows the water to flow to Malign Canyon and Beauvert Lake, the lake fills in the spring and drains in the fall, and sometimes actually disappears. The. Early Indians had a legend about the lake and thought that "spirits" were responsible for the dramatic fluctuations

Jasper Park Lodge is nestled amid glorious scenery.

KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Kootenay National Park encompasses 1,406km² of Rocky Mountain wilderness in the southeastern corner of British Columbia. Like all the parks in the area, Kootenay contain glaciers, massive peaks and mountain rivers to red rock cliffs and cactus-bearing slopes. The Kootenay Parkway (Highway 93) bisects the park from north to south; many of the park's scenic highlights may be experienced along the parkway.

Here you can also check out Highlane Meadows Trail, Highwood Pass and Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes.

While we are here we see movie Bookworm being filmed. They are working with a bear in a field and lots of us are stopping to watch. It stars Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin.

BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA

Banffwas originally developed as a railroad outpost. In 1883, McCardell and McCabe, two railway workers, stumbled across a cave containing hot springs; they made plans to develop the springs as a tourist attraction and make a fortune. However, in 1885, the government established a 673km² area around the springs protecting the area. This created what is now Banff National Park -- Canada's first national park (the world's third national park). This original area has been expanded to 6,640km² of valleys, caverns, hot springs, mountains, glaciers, lakes, forests, meadows and rivers. It encompasses v1,600km of trails. Banff is home to a number of outstanding geological and ecological features, beyond the hot springs. Castleguard Caves in the far northwest corner of the park are Canada's longest cave system. The park also contains Alberta's southernmost herd of the endangered woodland caribou.

The city of Banff lies 128km west of Calgary and is in the SE portion of Banff National Park. The Bow River runs through the town, and the Bow Falls is a short walk from downtown. It is the largest town within the area's four contiguous parks (Kootenay, Yoho, Banff and Kootenay). No building in town is allowed to be more than two stories high in order to prevent blocking of the magnificent view. It is not unusual to find Elk wandering the areas of Banff near the Bow River. Elk are large and usually quite passive, but are still wild and should not be approached at any time (and especially not during their mating season, when they get quite territorial). Banff is a very young town. It was only in June of 1988 that Banff residents voted to form a town.

Lake Louise was first discovered by Tom Wilson in 1882.Named after Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, it is undoubtedly the most famous glacial lake in the Canadian Rockies. It is 1730m (5680ft) above sea level. The bright azure lake is surrounded by Chateau Lake Louise at one end, the magnificent Mt Victoria and Victoria Glacier at the other, and soaring mountains all around. Silt from the melting glacial ice causes the vivid turquoise color of the lake. It's about a half hour relaxing walk (2km) to the east end of the lake. Chipmunks and birds are plentiful and friendly. I took an entire roll of film here.

The original Chalet at Lake Louise was constructed in 1890. It expanded to become Chateau Lake Louise in 1913. The depot and village site was renamed Lake Louise in 1914. Until 1930, since there were no roads yet in place, a tram delivered arriving guests from the railway station (built in 1883) in the valley to the Chateau by the Lake.

There are many other scenic lakes in Banff National Park. Moraine Lake is spectacular (it is on the $20 bill). It is one of the most photographed lakes in the worlds, and a spectacular sight is reflected in its deep emerald water -- the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Bow Lake, the source of the Bow River, sits majestically below Bow Glacier on Crowfoot Mountain and Mt. Thompson, surrounded by alpine fields of wildflowers. Peyto Lake is the highest point on the Icefields Parkway; the road crosses alpine meadows near the source of the Bow River before dropping into the Mistaya Valley. Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in the Park. Minnewanka means "Lake of the water Spirit"

The Bow Valley Parkway winds through aspen and spruce forests and meadows, with spectacular mountain views. Johnston Falls (on the Bow Valley Parkway) is where Johnston Creek drops before continuing its run through Johnston Canyon.

Two Jack Lake and Mt Rundle is quite photogenic. Mt. Rundle (2949m) was named for Robert Rundle, the Wesleyan missionary who passed through e region in the 1840s.

Hoodoos are spires carved by erosion from wind and water. There is a group of them standing like sentinels overlooking the Bow River. The native Indians believe the hoodoos were nocturnal giants who awoke to pound the passerby with rocks hurled from the mountainside.

We see Elk while in the area. They are all over the place; you can't miss them.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILDLIFE

Banff, Kootenay, Jasper and Yoho National Parks are wildlife refuges, with elk, deer, mountain goats and bighorn sheep easily visible even from the highway; the area is home to 53 species of mammals. This is a result of the wide range of habitats that exist because of the dramatic variations in elevations and climate throughout the park. When we were there, they were building overpasses over the highway so that the animals could cross safely.

Small mammals are abundant in the park, particularly Columbian Ground Squirrels, Hoary Marmots, Red Squirrels and Ground Squirrels. The Colombian Ground Squirrel is the most commonly seen animal in the park during the summer months and can be found nearly anywhere. Hoary Marmots are colonial animals that live in the alpine zone (6,800 to 8,000ft) and are one of the largest rodents in the park, weighing up to 30 pounds. Both red and ground squirrels are also seen quite frequently.

The Black-Billed Magpie is a bird commonly seen in the park. People often think that they are crows because they look very similar and are also bold, scavengers that build large, messy nests.

Moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and mountain goats also live in the park. The moose is the largest member of the deer family. They live primarily in mixed woods, bogs, streams and lakes and have the ability to dive 5m or more for plants growing on the bottoms of lakes. Elk (Wapiti) are tan-colored animals with white rump patches and are prominent in the park (they were eating plants in the yards of Banff while we were there). They are also the most dangerous animal in the park because elk mothers are very protective of their newborn calves and during the fall mating season the bull elk become extremely aggressive towards anything/anyone who threatens their dominance. Deer are very commonly seen in the park. Bighorn Sheep are also frequently seen in the park. Rams have large spirally curved brown horns and ewes have short, spiky brown horns. They seasonally migrate between the low-lying and the higher alpine meadows. Mountain goats (both male and female) have white coats, beards and short, black dagger-like horns. They spend their lives on the steep slopes and cliffs that range from the tree line to mountain tops. Several predators are in the park also: coyotes, black bears and grizzly bears. Coyotes look like medium-sized gray dogs with slender muzzles, large pointed ears, and bushy tails. They primarily eat road pizza (aka road-kill) and small rodents. Black bears primarily live in the Bow Valley and in the Saskatchewan Crossing area of the Icefields Parkway. They prefer to live in the forested valley areas rather than the higher elevation backcountry areas. Black bears are not always black but may range from midnight black to a light cinnamon brown. Smaller than a grizzly bear, black bears also lack the hump of muscle on their shoulders. They prefer to live in the open forest and are omnivorous and eat up to 95% plant matter.

This page hosted byGet your own Free Home Page