25 - Jasper National Park
to Fort Steele Heritage Town Park
with visits to Banff National Park, Jasper National Park, Mt. Robson Provincial Park,
Kootenay National Park
Wednesday, September 3, 1997

Drove west on CN 16 to Mt. Robson Provincial Park Visitor Center where I got a fine view of Mt. Robson - highest peak in Canadian Rockies.

Mt. Robson, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Canada
Mt. Robson, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Canada
Mt. Robson, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Canada
Mt. Robson, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Canada
Mt. Robson, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Canada
Mt. Robson, Mt. Robson Provincial Park, Canada

As I headed back to Jasper the sky took on a high overcast as I drove to Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake. More lake information. The canyon is a really deep and narrow gorge and the scenery around the lake is outstanding. I didn't take the boat tour because it was too hazy to get good pictures and the price was $27.50 Canadian. Will probably try to come back on the way to Alaska next summer.

Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada

Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada

Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Canyon near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Lake near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Lake near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada

Maligne Lake near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Lake near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada

Maligne Lake near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada
Maligne Lake near Jasper, Jasper National Park, Canada

Along the way to Maligne Lake is Medicine Lake. At first glance it looks like a reservoir since it has a bathtub ring. HOWEVER, it is a natural lake that leaks water out through caverns underneath the lake. Velly interetin.

Returned to Jasper and headed south on Icefield Parkway and made camp at the Waterfowl Lakes campground in Banff National Park. Along the way saw a Mountain Sheep along side the road - lots of people stopped to take pictures and it just ignored everyone.

Mountain Sheep along Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Canada
Mountain Sheep along Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Canada
Mountain Sheep along Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Canada
Mountain Sheep along Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Canada

Shortly after parking in the campground I noticed a flock of Ptarmigans wandering around under the car, in the campsite, on the road. They pretty much ignored me.

Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway
Banff National Park, Canada
Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway Banff National Park, Canada
Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway
Banff National Park, Canada
Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway Banff National Park, Canada

Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway
Banff National Park, Canada
Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway Banff National Park, Canada
Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway
Banff National Park, Canada
Ptarmigan at Waterfowl Campground, Icefield Parkway Banff National Park, Canada

Thursday, September 4, 1997

It started raining about 2 a.m. and rained on into the morning.

I continued south on the Icefield Parkway to Lake Louise.

It was kind of interesting seeing the mountains and the raising clouds of mist. The mountains behind Lake Louise were kind of socked in.

Lake Louise, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Lake Louise, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Lake Louise, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Lake Louise, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada

Moraine Lake near Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Moraine Lake near Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada

I drove to Moraine Lake and there the clouds had lifted enough for a fine view.

I drove the Bow Valley Parkway to Banff and toured the Cave and Basin National Historic Site where three railway workers stumbled upon a cave full of hot mineral spring waters in 1883, they inadvertently helped create Canada’s first national park.

It all started with steam venting from a crack in the rocks on the side of a mountain. Indigenous Peoples had known of this site for thousands of years but when a trio of railway workers in 1883 noticed the vent leading to a large cavern full of mineral rich warm water they saw a chance to make money. A small structure was built so paying guests could come "Take the waters" or enjoy a warm soak.

When applying for land titles, the entrepreneurs were denied ownership. The Government of Canada saw this as the perfect first step in creating a national park system. The hot springs and 16 square kilometres surrounding the site were deemed off-limits for sale or settlement. Soon the park boundaries were widened. A town, a bridge over the Bow River and a hotel were constructed so the public could access the Cave and Basin.

Now, the Cave and Basin and the entire Banff National Park is the crowning glory of the Canadian National Parks system and is a part of the UNESCO Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.

Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
The Cave - Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
The Cave - Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada

Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada
Basin & Cave Hot Spring, Banff, Banff National Park, Canada

Did a little more driving around but the drippy cloudy weather didn't help the scenery. Eventually headed west on CN 93 into Kootenay National Park and Radium Hot Springs. Didn't stop at Radium.

Continued south on CN 94/93 as the weather cleared. However, the forecast for Banff/Jasper was more cloudiness and rain for Friday and Saturday.