Today, we started out exploring the southern end of Jasper National Park. We hiked the trails around the Valley of Five Lakes, which were very scenic, but the hike was cut short by rain. Then we stopped briefly at Athabasca Falls, before heading south on the beautiful Columbia Icefields Parkway (Alberta Route 93). The sun came out, allowing us some awesome looks at the mountains and glaciers along this parkway. We highly reccomend this route! We got out and walked up to Athabasca Glacier, which was a great experience. It was telling though, to see the signs indicating the glacier's position year by year (it is retreating rapidly). We then headed to Banff National Park, but did not stay long because of pouring rain. Our visit to the Banff Town Site though included a stop at the Banff Natural History Museum, which is also highly reccomended!! After a dinner at Boston Pizza in Canmore, we ended up at a hotel in Cardston, in southern Alberta, for the evening.
One of the "Five Lakes" in the Valley of Five Lakes. Several of the lakes had this deep emerald color. The rain pictured here started coming down hard, so we didn't stay long
As we left Jasper, the sun came out, giving us some nice views (above and two below)
Athabasca Falls
A small waterfall we encountered on the Icefields Parkway
A rainbow along the Icefields Parkway, as the sun came out
Some scenic mountain and glacier shots along the Icefields Parkway (above and below)
Walking to Athabasca Glacier. Just a few years ago it would have been right here, but it is melting rapidly, so now it is a hike! (above and below)
American Dipper: Athabasca Falls, Jasper Nat'l Park, Alberta
A Bighorn Sheep along the Icefields Parkway, Alberta
Common Raven: Athabasca Glacier parking area, Alberta
Clark's Nutcrackers along the Icefields Parkway
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