Canada: Part 4
You Can read the other 3 posts on the Canada trip here: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.
Jasper National Park.
Jasper National Park is larger than Banff, but with fewer facilities it felt quieter.
A couple of days of cloudy and sometimes wet weather, meant that we spent some time chilling in Spooner’s Cafe in Jasper town. Also if you are ever there check out the Patricia Street Deli, they make the best sandwiches and the cranberry mayo is amazing!
Not put off we spent an afternoon on the drive up to Maligne Lake. Stopping to look at the Maligne Canyon, a 50 meter deep limestone gorge, which is so narrow it would be possible to jump across in places. Another 16km up the road was Medicine Lake. The guide book describes it as a sinking lake that has holes in the bottom and acts like a plug-less bathtub. In winter when the run-off slows, the lake drains and shrinks to the size of a small stream. Further on is Maligne Lake, a 14 mile long body of water surrounded by snowy peaks. A stunning place, but with heavy cloud all the photos I took where very mediocre.
The next day we drove up to Miette Hot Springs and walked up along Sulphur Creek and up to Sulphur Pass. Unfortunately we had to turn back just before the pass because there was still too much snow on the ground, which is not easy to negotiate while just wearing trail shoes. The weather started to clear on the way back to town, so I decided to go up to Patricia and Pyramid Lakes.
Pyramid Lake looking towards Hawk Mountain. Jasper National Park
Pyramid Lake was beautiful, in the shadow of Pyramid Mountain just 15min drive north from Jasper. We stopped off at the southern end where a sandy beach lined the shore. In the height of summer this would be a wonderful spot.
Patricia Lake looking towards the Indian Ridge in Jasper National Park
In contrast the rock shore of Patricia Lake kept me occupied while the light danced along the snow covered Indian Ridge in the background. The sun went behind some cloud so I explored the Aspen grove between the two lakes.
I have wanted to photograph Quaking Aspens ever since I discovered Christopher Burkett’s photography many years ago. One of my favourite photographers, he manages to capture amazing luminance in his images.
Quaking Aspen or Populus Tremuloides in Jasper National Park
The wind died down, and the light was luminous, the leaves were still young and translucent, and the soft light seemed to wrap itself around each trunk. Perfect!
Quaking Aspen or Populus Tremuloides in Jasper National Park
Mount Robson Provincial Park.
The next day it was time to start driving back to Vancouver. We took the Yellowhead Highway west from Jasper and soon entered Mount Robson Provincial Park. With the intent to stop off and take a look at the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. The massive south face suddenly became visable to the right and wow what a sight! 3000m from base to summit in clear morning sunlight, it was breathtaking.
Mt Robson 3954m the highest point in Canadian Rockies
We waved goodbye to the Rockies and headed south for Kamloops, then west to Cache Creek in the Thompson Valley where we spent the night.
The Sea to Sky Highway.
The next day we set off towards Lillooet and drove down the Sea to Sky Highway 99. The road to Pemberton was sublime, it contoured around mountains up and down passes with amazing scenery. After over a week of very scenic, but mainly boring straight roads it felt a bit like a revelation.
Whistler was crowded, so we carried on and found a campsite near Squamish. The next day was typically cloudy and drizzly, so we went along to Shannon Falls.
Shannon Falls 335m high waterfall near Squamish
Afterwards a surprisingly easy drive back to Vancouver and some more sightseeing before the flight home the following day.
You can see all these photographs and more in the Canada Gallery over on the main website.
